Gulmore, The Boss | Page 7

don't like it," Mr. Hutchings was saying. "It's inspired by Gulmore,
and he always means what he says--and something more."
"Except the suggestion that my father had certain good, or rather bad,
reasons for leaving Kentucky, it seems to me merely spiteful. It's very
vilely written."

"He only begins with your father. Then he wonders what the real
motives are which induce you to change your political creed. But the
affectation of fairness is the danger signal. One can't imagine Gulmore
hesitating to assert what he has heard, that you have no religious
principles. Coming from him, that means a declaration of war; he'll
attack you without scruple--persistently. It's well known that he cares
nothing for religion--even his wife's a Unitarian. What he's aiming at, I
don't know, but he's sure to do you harm. He has done me harm, and
yet he never gave me such a warning. He only went for me when I ran
for office. As soon as the elections were over, he left me in peace. He's
eminently practical, and rather good-natured. There's no small vicious
malice or hate in him; but he's overbearing and loves a fight. Is it worth
your while to make an enemy of him? We're sure to be beaten."
"Of course it isn't worth my while in that sense, but it's my duty, I think,
as you think it yours. Remark, too, that I've never attacked Mr.
Gulmore--never even mentioned him. I've criticised the system, and
avoided personalities."
"He won't take it in that way. He is the system; when you criticise it,
you criticise him. Every one will so understand it. He makes all the
appointments, from mayor down to the boy who sweeps out an office;
every contract is given to him or his appointees; that's how he has made
his fortune. Why, he beat me the second time I ran for District Court
Judge, by getting an Irishman, the Chairman of my Committee, to
desert me at the last moment. He afterwards got Patrick Byrne elected a
Justice of the Peace, a man who knows no law and can scarcely sign his
own name."
"How disgraceful! And you would have me sit down quietly under the
despotism of Mr. Gulmore? And such a despotism! It cost the city half
a million dollars to pave the streets, and I can prove that the work could
have been done as well for half the sum. Our democratic system of
government is the worst in the world, if a tenth part of what I hear is
true; and before I admit that, I'll see whether its abuses are corrigible.
But why do you say we're sure to be beaten? I thought you said--"
"Yes," Mr. Hutchings interrupted, "I said that this railway extension

gives us a chance. All the workmen are Irishmen, Democrats to a man,
who'll vote and vote straight, and that has been our weak point. You
can't get one-half the better classes to go to the polls. The negroes all
vote, too, and vote Republican--that has been Gulmore's strength. Now
I've got the Irishmen against his negroes I may win. But what I feel is
that even if I do get to be Mayor, you'll suffer for it more than I shall
gain by your help. Do you see? And, now that I'm employed by the
Union Pacific I don't care much for city politics. I'd almost prefer to
give up the candidature. May'll suffer, too. I think you ought to
consider the matter before going any further."
"This is not the time for consideration. Like you I am trying to put an
end to a corrupt tyranny. I work and shall vote against a venal and
degrading system. May and I will bear what we must. She wouldn't
have me run away from such adversaries. Fancy being governed by the
most ignorant, led on by the most dishonest! It's incomprehensible to
me how such a paradoxical infamy can exist."
"I think it'll become comprehensible to you before this election's over.
I've done my best for years to alter it, and so far I've not been very
successful. You don't seem to understand that where parties are almost
equal in strength, a man who'll spend money is sure to win. It has paid
Gulmore to organize the Republican party in this city; he has made it
pay him and all those who hold office by and through him. 'To the
victors, the spoils.' Those who have done the spoiling are able to pay
more than the spoiled--that's all."
"Yes, but in this case the spoilers are a handful, while the spoiled are
the vast majority. Why should it be impossible to convince the majority
that they're being robbed?"
"Because ideas can't get into the heads of negroes, nor yet