whereupon he had gone ahead to spend his energy and his money freely to
secure the nomination and election of this gentleman。
The Republican National Committee； the Republican National Convention
were allowed to squabble to their hearts' content as to whether Smith；
Jones or Brown should be nominated； but it was clearly understood that if
Robinson or White were chosen there would be no corporation campaign
funds。 This applied also to the Democratic party； on the rare occasions
when it seemed to have an opportunity of winning。 Now； however； through
an unpardonable blunder； there had got into the White House a President
who was inclined to ignore advice； who appealed over the heads of the
〃advisers〃 to the populace； who went about tilting at the industrial
structures we had so painfully wrought； and in frequent blasts of
presidential messages enunciated new and heretical doctrines； who
attacked the railroads； encouraged the brazen treason of labour unions；
inspired an army of 〃muck…rakers〃 to fill the magazines with the wildest
and most violent of language。 State legislatures were emboldened to pass
mischievous and restrictive laws； and much of my time began to be
occupied in inducing； by various means； our courts to declare these
unconstitutional。 How we sighed for a business man or a lawyer in the
White House！ The country had gone mad； the stock…market trembled； the
cry of 〃corporation control〃 resounded everywhere； and everywhere
demagogues arose to inaugurate 〃reform campaigns；〃 in an abortive attempt
to 〃clean up politics。〃 Down with the bosses； who were the tools of the
corporations！
In our own city； which we fondly believed to be proof against the
prevailing madness； a slight epidemic occurred； slight； yet momentarily
alarming。 Accidents will happen； even in the best regulated political
organizations；and accidents in these days appeared to be the rule。 A
certain Mr。 Edgar Greenhalge； a middle…aged； mild…mannered and
inoffensive man who had made a moderate fortune in wholesale drugs； was
elected to the School Board。 Later on some of us had reason to suspect
that Perry Blackwoodwith more astuteness than he had been given credit
forwas responsible for Mr。 Greenhalge's candidacy。 At any rate； he was
not a man to oppose； and in his previous life had given no hint that he
might become a trouble maker。 Nothing happened for several months。 But
one day on which I had occasion to interview Mr。 Jason on a little matter
of handing over to the Railroad a piece of land belonging to the city；
which was known as Billings' Bowl； he inferred that Mr。 Greenhaige might
prove a disturber of that profound peace with which the city
administration had for many years been blessed。
〃Who the hell is he？〃 was Mr。 Jason's question。
It appeared that Mr。 G。's private life had been investigated； with
disappointingly barren results； he was； seemingly； an anomalistic being
in our Nietzschean age； an unaggressive man； he had never sold any drugs
to the city； he was not a church member； nor could it be learned that he
had ever wandered into those byways of the town where Mr。 Jason might
easily have got trace of him： if he had any vices； he kept them locked up
in a safe…deposit box that could not be 〃located。〃 He was very genial；
and had a way of conveying disturbing factswhen he wished to convey
themunder cover of the most amusing stories。 Mr。 Jason was not a man
to get panicky。 Greenhalge could be handled all right； onlywhat was
there in it for Greenhalge？a nut difficult for Mr。 Jason to crack。 The
two other members of the School Board were solid。 Here again the wisest
of men was proved to err； for Mr。 Greenhalge turned out to have powers of
persuasion； he made what in religious terms would have been called a
conversion in the case of another member of the board； an hitherto
staunch old reprobate by the name of Muller； an ex…saloon…keeper in
comfortable circumstances to whom the idea of public office had appealed。
Mr。 Greenhalge； having got wind of certain transactions that interested
him extremely； brought them in his good…natured way to the knowledge of
Mr。 Gregory； the district attorney； suggesting that he investigate。 Mr。
Gregory smiled； undertook； as delicately as possible； to convey to Mr。
Greenhalge the ways of the world； and of the political world in
particular； wherein； it seemed； everyone was a good fellow。 Mr。
Greenhalge was evidently a good fellow； and didn't want to make trouble
over little things。 No； Mr。 Greenhalge didn't want to make trouble； he
appreciated a comfortable life as much as Mr。 Gregory； he told the
district attorney a funny story which might or might not have had an
application to the affair； and took his leave with the remark that he had
been happy to make Mr。 Gregory's acquaintance。 On his departure the
district attorney's countenance changed。 He severely rebuked a
subordinate for some trivial mistake； and walked as rapidly as he could
carry his considerable weight to Monahan's saloon。。。。 One of the things
Mr。 Gregory had pointed out incidentally was that Mr。 Greenhalge's
evidence was vague； and that a grand jury wanted facts； which might be
difficult to obtain。 Mr。 Greenhalge； thinking over the suggestion； sent
for Krebs。 In the course of a month or two the investigation was
accomplished； Greenhalge went back to Gregory； who repeated his homilies；
whereupon he was handed a hundred or so typewritten pages of evidence。
It was a dramatic moment。
Mr。 Gregory resorted to pleading。 He was sure that Mr。 Greenhalge didn't
want to be disagreeable； it was true and unfortunate that such things
were so； but they would be amended： he promised all his influence to
amend them。 The public conscience； said Mr。 Gregory； was being aroused。
Now how much better for the party； for the reputation； the fair name of
the city if these things could be corrected quietly； and nobody indicted
or tried！ Between sensible and humane men； wasn't that the obvious way？
After the election； suit could be brought to recover the money。 But Mr。
Greenhalge appeared to be one of those hopeless individuals without a
spark of party loyalty； he merely continued to smile； and to suggest that
the district attorney prosecute。 Mr。 Gregory temporized； and presently
left the city on a vacation。 A day or two after his second visit to the
district attorney's office Mr。 Greenhalge had a call from the city
auditor and the purchasing agent； who talked about their families；which
was very painful。 It was also intimated to Mr。 Greenhalge by others who
accosted him that he was just the man for mayor。 He smiled； and modestly
belittled his qualifications。。。。
Suddenly； one fine morning； a part of the evidence Krebs had gathered
appeared in the columns of the Mail and State； a new and enterprising
newspaper for which the growth and prosperity of our city were
responsible； the sort of 〃revelations〃 that stirred to amazement and
wrath innocent citizens of nearly every city in our country： politics and
〃graft〃 infesting our entire educational system； teachers and janitors
levied upon； prices that took the breath away paid to favoured firms for
supplies； specifications so worded that reasonable bids were barred。 The
respectable firm of Ellery and Knowles was involved。 In spite of our
horror； we were Americans and saw the humour of the situation； and
laughed at the caricature in the Mail and State representing a scholar
holding up a pencil and a legend under it； 〃No； it's not gold； but it
ought to be。〃
Here I must enter into a little secret history。 Any affair that
threatened the integrity of Mr。 Jason's organization was of serious
moment to the gentlemen of the financial world who found that
organization invaluable and who were also concerned about the fair name
of their community； a conference in the Boyne Club decided that the city
officials were being persecuted； and entitled therefore to 〃the very best
of counsel；〃in this instance； Mr。 Hugh Paret。 It was also thought wise
by Mr。 Dickinson； Mr。 Gorse； and Mr。 Grierson； and by Mr。 Paret himself
that he should not appear in the matter； an aspiring young attorney； Mr。
Arbuthnot； was retained to conduct the case in public。 Thus capital came
to the assistance of Mr。 Jason； a fund was raised； and I was given carte
blanche to defend the miserable city auditor and purchasing agent； both
of whom elicited my sympathy； for they were stout men； and rapidly losing
weight。 Our first care was to create a delay in the trial of the case in
order to give the public excitement a chance to die down。 For the public
is proverbially unable to fix its attention for long on one object；
continually demanding the distraction that our newspapers make it their
business to supply。 Fortunately； a murder was committed in one of our
suburbs； creating a mystery that filled the 〃extras〃 for some weeks； and
this was opportunely followed by the embezzlement of a considerable sum
by the cashier of one of our state banks。 Public interest was divided
between baseball and the tracking of this criminal to New Zealand。
Our resentment was directed； not so much against Commissioner Greenhalge
as against Krebs。 It is curious how keen is the instinct of men like
Grierson； Dickinson； Tallant and Scherer for the really dangerous
opponent。 Who the deuce was this man Krebs？ Well； I could supply them
with some information： they doubtless recalled the Galligan； case； and
Miller Gorse； who forgot nothing； also remembered his opposition in the
legislature to House Bill 709。 He had continued to be the obscure legal
champion of 〃oppressed〃 labour； but how he had managed to keep body and
soul together I knew not。 I had encountered him occasionally in court
corridors or on the street； he did not seem to change much； nor did he
appear in our brief and perfunctory conversations to bear any resentment
against me for the part I had taken in the Galligan affair。 I avoided
him when it was possible。。。。 I had to admit that he had done a
remarkably good piece of work in collecting Greenhalge's evidence； and
how the； erring city officials were to be rescued became a matter of
serious concern。 Gregory； the dist