"
"One can't split hairs in a matter of editorial policy. I've made The
Patriot practically the mouthpiece of labor in this city; much more so
than the official organ, which has no influence and a small following.
Just now I'm specially anxious to hold them in line for the mayoralty
campaign. We've got to elect Robert Laird. Otherwise we'll have such an
orgy of graft and rottenness as the city has never seen."
"Isn't the labor element for Laird?"
"It isn't against him, except that he is naturally regarded as a
silk-stocking. The difficulty isn't politics. There's some new influence
in local labor circles that is working against me; against The Patriot.
I think it's a fellow named McClintick, a new man from the West."
"Perhaps he wants to be bought off."
"You're thinking of the old style of labor leader," returned Banneker.
"It isn't as simple as that. No; from what I hear, he's a fanatic. And
he has great influence."
"Get hold of him and talk it out with him," advised Io.
"I intend to." He brooded for a moment. "There isn't a man in New York,"
he said fretfully, "that has stood for the interests of the masses and
against the power of money as I have. Why, Io, before we cut loose in
The Patriot, a banker or a railroad president was sacrosanct.
Pages:
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609