Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1908)
SUNDAY, MAY 10, 1908. THE MORNING ASTOItlAN, ASTORIA, OREGON. 0 linaoA 8YNOPSIS OP PRECEDING CHAPTERS. Chapter I At the suburban borne of Chnrlci Wttlnwiight, "high finan cier," he and hit broker, Scott Cibbs, hatch up a scheme to corner Borough treet railway stock, They rely upon the aupport of Dick Horrigan, bom of the neighboring city, who It coming to diicuit matters. Alderman Phe Ian, the thorn In Horrigan'i aide, whom Wainwright is anxioua to con ciliate, is also coming. Among the members of Wainwright's household are his niece and nephew, Dallas and Perry Wainwright, and his secretary, Thompson, a secretive young man In whom the financier has implicit confi- dence. Judge Newman, ft neighbor of . Wainwright, whose continuance in ' office depends upon Horrigan's favor, requests Walnwright'a . Intervention with the boss, Another visitor to the Winwrlghts' Is 1 Alwyn Bennett; In loe with Dallas, who la calling to ask her about her rumored engagement to Cibbs. Perry Is In love with Synthla Carrison, also a neighbor. II Cyn thia is the daughter of bank presi dent who nine years before the open ing of the story was ruined by the dealings of an unnamed dishonest financier 'and shot himself. His son thereupon disappeared. Mr. Bennett congratulates herself upon the imma culate record of her son's defeased father. Dallas refuses to marry Alwyn unless he does something worthy of his fsmlly and education, Thelan and Horrigan face each other, III. Phelan defies Horrigan. Judge Newman is turned down by the boss, but at Walnwright'a request Horri gan becomes suspicious of Thompson, but Wainwright scoffs at the Idea, Horrigan and Wainwright makes a corrupt deal whereby the former, for a big constdeation, is to procure from the board of aldermen a perpetual franchise for s the Borough street railway. The boss is worried by the reform movement threatening i hit power at the coming election and is casting about for a candidate for mayor with a clean word. He hits upon Bennett, who has had some slight political experience. The lat ter accepts, but warns Horigan that, if elected, he will be absolutely honest and independent' IV. Bennett is elected and ap points Cynthia his private secretary. Phelan tells him that the financier who caused the ruin of the Garrisons was Wainwright, who is also the pow er behind the crooked Borough fran chise bills, with Horrigan and Gibbs. Dallas and Mrs. Bennett visit the city hall. V Gibbs tries to induce Bennett to sign the bill. The mayor's talk with Dallas is interrupted by Horrigan. CHAPTER VI. WAT a strange man!" ex claimed Pallas Wainwright In wonder, as the anteroom door slammed behind the boss. "And what utterly abominable manners! Who Is ho. Alwynr rilorrlgan." " "Itichard Horrlgnn. the"- "Tbe boss. Yes. He has pleasing way of stamping tuto this office on- asked, as If be owned It and as If I were bis clork. But today's behavior was the worst yet. It's got to stop!" "But don't do or say anything reck less, Alwyn. Promise mo. Kemeuibor how strong he Is!" "Tbero'a no danger of his letting me forget his power," said Konnott with a bitter smile, "lie" , "But you'll be .careful, won't you? riense do,' for my snke. And you mustn'.t keep him' waiting. If there's a way out through Cyuthlus olflee we'll go by that. Goodby. I'll explain to your mother. No: you must let us go now. Olllce business must come first, Won't you call this evening? I'll be home and alone." Despite Bennett's remonstrances slio was Ann, and It was lu no pleasant frame of mind that the mayor threw himself Into a seat when he was left alono In the room. That tho talk with Dallas, which had promised so much for him, should bo thus rudely Inter rupted. That- Horrigan flung open the door and stamped In. The boss' anger had by uo means subsided In the few moments of delay, but had, ' rathor, grown until It vibrated In his every word and gesture. He wasted no time In formalities, but came to 5 the point with all tho tender grace and , tact of a pile driver. "Look here, Benuott," he rumbled, menaco underlying tone and look, "I'm told Phelan's been here this afternoon. What did he wunt?" "To seo me." answered Bennett calm- lv. the effort at self control visible only In the whitening of the knuckles t 1 1 I VI w ' 1 .1 tT7 TVbiv Mayor on GMBrondhursTa Successful Play that gripped tho desk edge. - ' "What did ho want to see you about?" "A business matter." "What business matter?" ;"Mlne -u ;. ,. : ' "Yours, eh?" sneered Horrlgnn. "Well, young man, I want you to un derstand here and now that no one can bo ehummy with Jltn I'belan and be my man at tbe samo time. Got that through your heud?" ",' assented Bennett; "I think I have. And while we're Hpeaklng plain ly I want you to understand here and now that no one can bully me, either here or elsewhere, and that I'm uo man's man. Have you got that through your head?" ti' , ' Horrigan stared in savage amaze ment Ho doubted if his ears bad not played him false. Bennett bad always treated the bos with uniform cour tesy, and Horrigan belonged to the too numerous class who do not under stand until too late tha difference be tween gentle breeding and weak cow ardice. That a man should speak to blm courteously and not Interlard bis talk with oaths, obscenity or rough ness seemed to Horrigan, as it does to many another boor, an evidence of tu midity and lack of virility. A Damas cus blade is a far more harmless look ing weapon than a bludgeon, yet it Is capable when the necessity arises of far deadlier work. It is only the man whose gentleness has not granite strength as Its founda tion who deserves the newly popular tern of "mollycoddle" Had norrlgan'a largo experience with men been extended to embrace this fact be would probably never have picked out Alwyn Bennett in the first place as candidate for mayor nor deemed the younger man a fit tool for the organisation's crooked work. The French nobles of the old regime, whose polish of manner was the envy of the world, fought like devils on occasion and went to death on the scaffold with a smile and a Jest on their Hps, while many a brutal demagogue in the same circumstances broke down and scream ed for mercy. However, norrlgan chanced to be mors familiar with the history of the orgnnUatlon than with that of France: hence, deeming Ben nett's reply a mere sporadic flash of defiance from a properly cowed spirit be resolved to crush the rebellion at a blow. "Don't give me any Insolence!" he roared. "I won't stand for it, and" . "Moreover," quietly continued Ben nett ns though the boss bad not spoken, "I shall be very much obliged If in future you wrlli kuock at my door Instead of bursting in on me. This Is my private otllce, not yours." "Do you mean to" "I've explained as clearly as I can Just what I mean. If you don't under stand me I can't supply you with In telligence." ? "Bennett" said tho boss, his burn ing rage steadied ! down to a white heat far more dangerous, but less In coherent, "you and me are talking too much and saying too little. We've got to come to a showdown. You're a clev er boy and you made a rattling good fight, and you're on the right side of the public and of the press too. You're the best material we've got and If you try and do the right thing there's no limit to what you can rise to-but only If you do tho right thing.' "'The right thing,'" echoed Bennett "What do you mean by tha right thing?" "I mean you've got to do the right thing by tho men who put you where you are today." ... "That's fair. But who put me where l am today?" "I dld-I. Dick Horrigan. Who ever hoard of you till I took you up? No body. If I didn't make you mayor, who did, I'd like to know?" "The voters. The people of this city." ' "The voters." scoffed Horrigan. "The deuce they did! Who had you nomi nated?" "You did. But It was tho public who elected me, and I'm going to obey your orders lu one thing. I'm going to 'do the right thing by the men who put me where I am today. I'm going to pay tho voters for their trust in me by giving them a fair and square ad ministration. In the case of this Bor ough Street railway franchise bill, for Instance," tapping the document lying before him on his desk, "before I sign that bill I intend to make sura it's for the good of the people, that it is for the good of the city, not merely for the good of Richard Horrigan and a clique of Sis friends and heelers. No. don't swear. It'll do yon no good. I'm firm on this 'matter. If you're discon tented with me It's your own fault. I warned you months ago that If 1 was elocted I should keep my oath of office. As for this Borough bill" "As for this Borough bill," broke lu Horrigau savagely, "you'll slgu it. If you don't" "Well?" queried Bennett, as the boss paused, choked by his own fury. "If I don't sign it-what then?" "If you don't, your political career is ended from this time on. See? It'B ended. Smashed flat. You think of Or yourself as a flue, promising young man who's on the road to the gov ernorship and maybe to tbo White House. Well, you aren't You're what Dick Horrigan mado you, and your future will be what Dick Horrigan chooses to make it I lifted you up, and I can tear you down Just as easy. And, what's more, by , I'll do it if you don't sign the Borough bill. I'm a man of my word, and before over you were nominated . I pledged my word to have that bill put through. The bill paid your election expense. It"- . "I paid my own election expenses. You know that." '"Your personal expenses, perhaps. But who paid for parades, balls, ban ners, fireworks, speakers, advertise ments, workers and watchers and all the other million things that elected you? The men behind that Borough bill paid them. And they did It on the understanding you'd slgu the bill." In other words," remarked Ben nett, "you made a bargain for me. Well, I can't keep it" "Ob, I'll keep it all right You'll sign that bill or you'U"- "Mr. Horrigan," exclaimed Bennett controlling bis temper with more and more dlttlculty, "you said something Just now a 1 wut our coming to a show down.' This Is the time for It I want you to remember henceforth that I wear no man's collar yours or any one eise's-and that you can't deliver any goods you've bargained for In my name. If I sign that bill It won't be under your orders, but because I tblnk it right" "Oh," laughed Horrigan, who thought be began to see the drift of the oth er's mind, "I don't bold out for that I dou't care why you sign it as long as you do sign it" "What do you think about the bill yourself V Inquired Alwyn. "Do you consider It honest V "What do I care? It's got to be signed, and" "I care. And I think the bill is fraudulent" v "Getting tender in the conscience, aren't you? Well"- "If you put It that way, yes. I tblnk this Borough bill is crooked from flrst to last Bur- ' ".' ;";. "What's the matter with it? Aln't"- "Let me explain," pursues" Alwyn. "This bill gives the Borough Street Hallway company the right to use whatever motive power they choose to. It gives them the right to charge Ave cent fares without any transfers. In one paragraph there's a clause permit ting them to build a subway' if they waut one. By another paragraph's con cessions they can build a conduit and lease It out for telephone or telegraph wires. By another they can do an ex press business. But all these provi sions are as nothing compared to the fact that the bill gives the streets above ond below ground to the Bor ough company forever and ever not for a term of years, but until the end of the world. It delivers that route to the company not only for our time, but for always, and binds us and our de scendants to its terms. That la the chief outrage of the whole thing. To think that the"- "Oh, we've got a howling reformer in the mayor's seat have we?" scoffed Horrigan. "If I'd known that" "The people have got a man who Is trying to protect their rights and prop erty. Here's a letter I received to day. You'll recognize the name of the capitalist who wrote It. You know he Is honest as well as wise. This is his proposition: He will pay $2,000,000 for that same franchise, give the city 10 per cent of the gross receipts and turn over tho whole plant to It at the end of fifty years. What do you think of that?" " ' a "It's a fake." "It is a bona fide offer. He volun teers to deposit $1,000,000 to bind the bargain. Now, what I want to ask you, Mr. Horrigan, is this: If the fran chise Is worth $2,000,000, why are you and your faction In the board of alder men so anxious to give it away for nothing?" - "Look here!" blustered ' the boss. I" " ' "' "I am looking," returned Bennett. 'Tve been looking deeper into it than you realize. I asked you a question Just now. I'll answer it myself In one word-'Graft!' "That Is1 why you want to give away a franchise that Is worth $2,000,000." "Graft!" snorted Horrigau contemptu ously. "The same old reformer howl! What's your Idea of graft anyway?" "Graft Is unearned Increment Money to which the' recipient has no legal or moral right. That Is"- - "So! Then show me the man who ain't a grafter! A lawyer shows his client how to evade the law, and he takes a fee for doing it. What's that but graft? A magazine takes pay for printing an advertisement its editors know Is rt fake. What's that? Graft! When a congressman votes for an ap propriation because another congress man . has agreed to vote for one of his, what's that? Graft! When a five thousand a year Benator retires at the end of ten year? worth a million, what's bat? Graft! A police captain on 12, f.7) a year buys yachts and country estates. , Graft! How about the rail road president who gets stock free in a corporation that ships over bis road, or the Insurance man or banker who gives or takes fat loans on fancy se curities and clears 1,000 per-cent? Grafters, all of 'em! Grafters! Every one grafts who can or who Isn't too stupid, Show me a man who doesn't groft and I'll show you a fool. Present company not excepted." "That's where you're wrong," return ed Alywn, ignoring the slur and speak ing with a Judicial quiet oddly at con trast with the boss' vehemence. "The man who said 'Honesty is the test pol icy' knew what bo was talking about. It pays best not only hereafter, but here as well. Why did Missouri choose Folk for governor? Because In spite of bis faults be is honest Why was La Follette sent to the senate from Wisconsin? Because, faults and all he was honest. Why did the people of this country make Roosevelt their pres ident? Were they blind to bis faults and foibles? No, but they knew be was honest! I am houest This bill isn't That Is why I won't sign it" "You won't ebT roared Horrigan. Then veto it! Veto It if you dare! I'll not only smash your political career, but I'll pass the bill over your veto. That'll show you pretty well how you and me stand as to power in the city. I'll make you the laughingstock of the administration by taking tbe whole thing out of your bands and passing It In spite of you. "I doubt it" answered Bennett, pal ing, but meeting coolly tbe fiery wrath In Horrigan's little red eyes. "1 Intend to flgbt your Borongb bill In tbe alder manic chamber and outside that coun cil, To pass a bill over my veto you'll have to get a two-thirds majority. That means fourteen votes. You have only your 'solid thirteen.' And I'll make it my business to see you don't get a fourteenth vote." ; "I'll look out for that, all right all right" ."'v.: 't "One tiling more, Mr. Horrigan. I have reason to believe there Is bribery In this matter. I'll ferret out tbe name of every man who gives or takes a bribe in connection with tbe Borough franchise bill, and I'll send every one of them to Jail not only tbe aldermen, I but tbe capitalists who are behind tbe measure. Receiver and thief shall go to Jail together." "Is that so?" chuckled Horrigan. "Then, Mr. Reformer, let me tell you who is really behind this whole affair, the man you'll have to Jail first of all, Mr. Charles Wainwright uncle of tbe girl you're trying to marry." He leaned back to note tbe effect of bis revelation, but Bennett's face moved no muscle, gave no bint of what lay beneath. . ' "Besides." went' on Horrigan, eager to press bis advantage, "every cent of Miss , Wain wright's fortune and of ber broth er's has been put by Wainwright Into Borough stock. If the franchise is beat en, that stock will collapse and Miss Wain wright will be a pauper. You'll beggar , the girl you're in love with and her young brother If "JTow oo ahead and y0U veto that bill, do m you Mfce," Nowgoaheadand said Horrigan. &Q you m . , , It was Horrigan's trump card, and he had played It well. White, si lent Bennett walked back to his desk. Tbe fight seemed all knocked out of blm. Heavily be moved, like a man overexhausted. Picking up a pen, be wrote rapidly, then cast aside the pen, crossed to tbe window and looked out Into tbe snowy, crowded park. "You've signed the bill?" cried Hor rigan in delight "I've vetoed it" replied Bennett To be continued. FOR mm s 'kviixivi , ivluitil THE port THROAT nnnnni uuih FOR r PREVENTS PnEBCOFllfl X had the most debilitating cough a mortal was ever afflicted with, and my friends expected that when I left my bed it would surely be for my grave. Our doctor pronounced my case incurable, but thanks be to God, four bottles of Dr. King's New Discovery cured me eo completely that I am all sound and well. MRS. EVA UNCAPHER,, Grovertpwn, Ind. Price 50c and $1.00 ABSOLUTELY GUASlArJTEEP? Trial Boit!3 Fn 1 FAT FO LKS ONE DOLLAR invented in a bottle of these wonderful, harmless fat reducing tablet tnj In 30 days you will be a normal, well-formed person again. Don't carry I around your ugly bulk, your ungainly superflous flesh, : It makes i ycffl miserable, ridiculous and what is more important, it subjects you to fatat consequences, sudden death from fatty Degeneration, Heart Disease, tCio ney Tioublc, Apoplexy and Musular Rheumatism all come from OVER-FATNESS. Mn-CORPO" E M O V .E S FAT' Thousands of Testimonials From Grate . ful Persons Prove This YOUR MONEY BACK IF IT FAILS A NTI-CORPU" is absolutely the greatest discovery in medicine for reducing FAT. It is made in the form of a little tablet out of VEGETABLE matter and is easy and pleasant to take. It is endorse by every reputable Physician and College of Medicine. , Ask your doctor. ((A ANTI-CO RPU" is absolutely harmless. The formula used in making this preparation is on file in the Bureau of Chemistry in Washing ton, which is proof that it is PURE and HARMLESS, ft A ITI-CORPU" reduces FAT from 3 to 5 pounds a week. It reduces Double chin, Fat hips and flabby cheeks..-No wrinkles result from this reduction, for it makes the akin close fitting and smooth. U A VTI-CORPU" strengthens WEAK HEART, cures PALPITATION, SHORT BREATH and acts like magic in MUSCULAR RHEU MATISM and GOUT. "Pff fA C1! A A per bottle. Money back if it don't do all we r vF Vf claim. If your druggist does not keep it, show hint this advertisement and make him get it for you, or you can send for it DIRECT to us. We pay postage and send in plain wrapper. PDPP 30 DAYS' TREATMENT IN EVERY BOTTLE. 1x1-1", We will send you sample of this wonderful fat reducing . remedy on receipt of 10 cents to pay for postage and pack ing. The sample itself may be sufficient to reduce the desired weight Mention this paper. Desk 22, ESTHETIC CHEMICAL CO, 31 West 125th Street; New York, N. Y. ; . QUEER EOUNDARIES. The 10 o'Cleck Lino Was Suggested by the Indians. t,,! Tbe most original &udjn3nilUv. way of "riiafUIng'a'twttndary was probably that of Queen Dido and her colony when they stipulated, before the found lig of part bags., for us much land as could be inclosed by a bull's hide. All tribes belonging to the infancy of civilization have lite peculiar modes of reckoning. - From a point near the mouth of the Miami river exter.ds north west through Indiana a boundary known ' as the "10 o'clock line." : This is one limit of an Indian grant. : When the tribe had agreed to cede a portion of their terri tory to the whites a meeting was held for the purpose of marking out the ground. v A surveyorwas present and had mounted his compass and tele scope on a tripod. jTbe bead man of tbe( tribe went up to the Instruments, stared steadily' at them for awhile, grunted, and , returned to the circle about tbe council fire. Not a word was spoken by any one. Soon another Indian arose, walked sedately to the Instruments, gravely examined them, grunted and returned to bis place by the fire. This example was followed by half a dozen others, after which a short consultation was held. The chief then approached the white men. "That what Indian know;' he said, drawing a small circle on the ground with a ;' stick. That what white man know," drawmg a larger circle round the first. "This what no body know." be added, pointing, to 1,, WbriDER '-WORKER i COUGHS ARID COLDS SOLD AND GUARANTEED DY Charles Rogers Q. Son, what lay without tbe last circle. "White man know that" Indicating tbe instrument "Indian not know it Indian know the sun. He never cheat Him always same. - Blm throw shad ow. Indian give white man land one side." , After long consultation it was de cided that a line drawn In the direc tion in which the sun would cast a shadow from an agreed point at 10 o'clock should be made the boundary, tbe white. man taking the land on one side and the Indians keeping that on tbe other.' The other boundaries of the concession were those of the origi nal territory of tbe tribe, supplemented by water courses and ottier objects. Such lines have been frequently used In concluding bargains with tbe In dians and have become known as "10 o'clock, lines.' Minneapolis Journal. A Royal Golfer. I . , King James IL was a fine golfer in the sense of fondness for ;tbe. game and In other senses too.' He It was, as Duke of York, who, when challenged by two English noblemen at the Scot tish court to a match, the duke to take any partner whom be could find, took to bis side an Edinburgh shoemaker named John Patersone. Tbe duke and Patersone won. and the latter, being given .half the stake. ,bullt for himself a house, which is to be distinguished by tbe record upon It in Canongate to this day.-Fry's Magazine, Subscribe for,. The Morning Astorian, FOR .GOLDS AMD Druggists mm