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About Will Maupin's weekly. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1911-1912 | View Entire Issue (March 24, 1911)
Outwitted A Political Boss Is Brought to Time By-CEORGE V. LEMOYNE Copyright, 1910, by American Press Association. To Owners of Double Drivers The Best Line of Neck Yoke Centers Made When George Sterling's competitive plan for the state capitol building was accepted he was in a condition of su preme delight. To a struggling archi tect .engaged to be married the obtain ing of this job seemed to leave nothing to be desired. The moment the ac ceptance was announced to him he rushed off to Genevieve Wilson, his fiancee, to transmit the good news te her. After a joyful embrace they be gan to Jay plana for their marriage. Sterling was directed to superintend the cutting of the blocks of marble qf which the capitol was to be built. In the papers composing his plans was a description wifh measurements of ev ery block of marble of which the build ing was to be constructed. Not only this, on each stone was a mark cor responding to one laid down in this description. . The young architect had got most of the marble out and ready to put in place when a man with a red face, a large jewel in his shirt bosom and a waistcoat of many colors came to him and told him that since be had npt thought proper to signify to the po litical boss that he wished to contrib ute to the funds needed for the coming campaign a discovery was to be made that his plans were defective and the work would be placed in other hands. Sterling looked at the man aghast. He had not yet received a cent for his plans and realized at once that he wa? at the mercy of the boss. Undecided what course to take, he asked the messenger .what contribution would be acceptable. lie was informed that 25 per cent should go to campaign funds, 2G per cent to members of the commit tee who accepted his plains and 25 per cenT to the boss. This would leave the architect only 25 per cent. The messenger gave no name. He named no boss and no member of the com mittee who was to receive a perquisite. Sterling told the man that he would think it oyer and he might return the next day for an answer. George went at once with the un welcome news to Genevieve. The first thing she did was to give that wo manly encouragement which men know is not based on any solid reason, but serves its purpose. "Don't be dis couraged, George," she said, with a kiss. "It will come out all right." "How can it come out all right?" he cried bitterly. "These rascals have me in a tight grip. I might as well try to dam up Niagara as to oppose them." When Genevieve had quieted him she began to talk to him about what would happen if he refused to con tribute the bribe money. He told her that the payment of his bill would be delayed through technicalities till they would be dead .and buried and wouldn't need the money. Meanwhile the construction of the capitol would go on as he had planned it. One ar chitect after another would be em ployed, each architect suggesting changes In the plans, each change costing the state three or four times what the expense should be, the sur plus going to the officials whose duty it was to see that the people who were paying for the building were treated fairly. But Genevieve was determined to learn all about the work-rwho was competent, how far the politicians could go in the matter and all else. When she had learned these things she gave George an idea. IIe threw Carriages, Spring Wagons in fact any vehicle with Tongue. WYOMING Price each $1.25 Price each .75 COLORADO Price each $1.00 Ask the harness dealer about them NEBRASKA NOVELTY CO. MANUFACTURERS Lincoln, - Nebraska 3s3 his arms abduf hefi gave her a "Bear hug and a dozen kisses and left her ready to give his answer to the name less messenger when he came again. "Well," said George when the mes senger turned up, "I have considered the delicate matter of which you were speaking yesterday." "I'm glad you understand it's a deli cate matter." "Why so?" "Well, when the state prison was built the architect thought he knew more than the leader of the party un der whose rule it was built, and he landed in the building he'd planned." "How did they accomplish that?" asked George. "Oh, they accused him of offering a bribe for the job and convicted him." "Well, I have decided on my course. I throw up the job." The man looked surprised, but he said nothing. He simply went away. Two weeks passed, when George re ceived a call from a state official, who asked him for information as to the marking of the blocks to go into the state capitol building. George told him that he had given up that job and was about to begin suit against the State for $0,000 for the plansx he had furnished. George saw by the man's expression that he had struck home. Genevieve during her interview, with. her. lover had brought the fact to his attention that it would be impossible for any one except himself to tell the position of the blocks as the building was erected. A week passed, and George received another visit from an archi tect, who, by pumping, endeavored to elicit from him the system by which he had marked the blocks. George shut himself up like an oyster. A month passed, and the newspa pers began . to comment on the delay attending the building of the state capitol. Then one day George was summoned to the office of the state superintendent of construction. The young architect left the office with his charges paid in full and an order to go on with his work. Date of the Row. The Bachelor Yes ; she has threat ened to make things unpleasant for him. The Benedict 13 that so? When are they going to be married? Phila delphia Record. Trade Union Notes. The French workmen's pension law goes into force on July 1. A co-operative store has been form ed by the unions at Waterloo, la. About 95 pereent of the building trades at Fort 'Worth, Tex., are uniolP ized. Efforts are being made to organize the Italian freight handlers at Port land, Me. A metal trades council has been or ganized at Quincy, Mass., with thir een unions affiliated. Judge Goff of New York recently refused an injunction against the la dies' shirt waist makers. The United Cloth Hat and Cap Mak ers of North America meet in conven tion in New York May 1. A child labor law will be one of the measures which the labor unions will urge the Tennessee legislature to pass. New Hampshire unionists have good prospects of having some favorable labor legislation, among others the em ployers' liability and compensation acj:. at the next session of the legislature There were 1,135 delegates at the re cent convention of the United Mine Workers of the World, representing 1,217 local unions, with a voting strength of 2,485. The transportation charges amounted to $21,103.56. The next convention will be held at In dianapolis. ' . Light to Banish Sorrow. Sorrow dwells longest where the sun Is shut out. Florida Times-Union.