The Conflict [53]
the bench. Many of our judges are simply mentally crooked. But Freilig is a bribe taker. He probably believes his decisions are just. All you fellows believe that upper-class rule is really best for the people----''
``And so it is,'' said Davy. ``And you, an educated man, know it.''
``I'll not argue that now,'' said Victor. ``As I was saying, while Freilig decides for what he honestly thinks is right, he also feels he is entitled to a share of the substantial benefits.
Most of the judges, after serving the upper class faithfully for years, retire to an old age of comparative poverty. Freilig thinks that is foolish.''
``I suppose you agree with him,'' said Hull sarcastically.
``I sympathize with him,'' said Victor. ``He retires with reputation unstained and with plenty of money. If I should publish the truth about him, would he lose a single one of his friends? You know he wouldn't. That isn't the way the world is run at present.''
``No doubt it would be run much better if your crowd were in charge,'' sneered Hull.
``On the contrary, much worse,'' replied Victor unruffled. ``But we're educating ourselves so that, when our time comes, we'll not do so badly.''
``You'll have plenty of time for education,'' said Davy.
``Plenty,'' said Victor. ``But why are you angry? Because you realize now that your reform candidate for judge is of Dick Kelly's selecting?''
``Kelly didn't propose Hugo Galland,'' cried Davy hotly. ``I proposed him myself.''
``Was his the first name you proposed?''
Something in Dorn's tone made Davy feel that it would be unwise to yield to the impulse to tell a lie-- for the highly moral purpose of silencing this agitator and demagogue.
``You will remember,'' pursued Victor, ``that Galland was the sixth or seventh name you proposed--and that Joe House rejected the others. He did it, after consulting with Kelly. You recall--don't you?--that every time you brought him a name he took time to consider?''
``How do you know so much about all this?'' cried Davy, his tone suggesting that Victor was wholly mistaken, but his manner betraying that he knew Victor was right.
``Oh, politicians are human,'' replied Dorn. ``And the human race is loose-mouthed. I saw years ago that if I was to build my party I must have full and accurate information as to all that was going on. I made my plans accordingly.''
``Galland is an honest man--rich--above suspicion --above corruption--an ideal candidate,'' said Davy.
``He is a corporation owner, a corporation lawyer-- and a fool,'' said Victor. ``As I've told you, all Dick Kelly's interest in this fall's local election is that judgeship.''
``Galland is my man. I want to see him elected. If Kelly's for Galland, so much the better. Then we're sure of electing him--of getting the right sort of a man on the bench.''
``I'm not here to argue with you about politics, Davy,'' said Victor. ``I brought you here because I like you--believe in your honesty--and don't want to see you humiliated. I'm giving you a chance to save yourself .''
``From what?'' inquired Hull, not so valiant as he pretended to be.
``From the ridicule and disgrace that will cover this reform movement, if you persist in it.''
Hull burst out laughing. ``Of all the damned impudence!'' he exclaimed. ``Dorn, I think you've gone crazy .''
``You can't irritate me, Hull. I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt. I think you are falling into the commonest kind of error--doing evil and winking at evil in order that a good end may be gained. Now, listen. What are the things you reformers are counting on to get you votes this fall''
Davy maintained a haughty silence.
``The traction scandals, the gas scandals and the paving scandals--isn't that it?''
``Of course,'' said Davy.
``Then--why have the gas crowd, the traction crowd and the paving crowd each contributed twenty-five thousand dollars to your campaign fund?''
Hull stared at Victor Dorn in amazement. ``Who told you that lie?'' he blustered.
Dorn looked at him
``And so it is,'' said Davy. ``And you, an educated man, know it.''
``I'll not argue that now,'' said Victor. ``As I was saying, while Freilig decides for what he honestly thinks is right, he also feels he is entitled to a share of the substantial benefits.
Most of the judges, after serving the upper class faithfully for years, retire to an old age of comparative poverty. Freilig thinks that is foolish.''
``I suppose you agree with him,'' said Hull sarcastically.
``I sympathize with him,'' said Victor. ``He retires with reputation unstained and with plenty of money. If I should publish the truth about him, would he lose a single one of his friends? You know he wouldn't. That isn't the way the world is run at present.''
``No doubt it would be run much better if your crowd were in charge,'' sneered Hull.
``On the contrary, much worse,'' replied Victor unruffled. ``But we're educating ourselves so that, when our time comes, we'll not do so badly.''
``You'll have plenty of time for education,'' said Davy.
``Plenty,'' said Victor. ``But why are you angry? Because you realize now that your reform candidate for judge is of Dick Kelly's selecting?''
``Kelly didn't propose Hugo Galland,'' cried Davy hotly. ``I proposed him myself.''
``Was his the first name you proposed?''
Something in Dorn's tone made Davy feel that it would be unwise to yield to the impulse to tell a lie-- for the highly moral purpose of silencing this agitator and demagogue.
``You will remember,'' pursued Victor, ``that Galland was the sixth or seventh name you proposed--and that Joe House rejected the others. He did it, after consulting with Kelly. You recall--don't you?--that every time you brought him a name he took time to consider?''
``How do you know so much about all this?'' cried Davy, his tone suggesting that Victor was wholly mistaken, but his manner betraying that he knew Victor was right.
``Oh, politicians are human,'' replied Dorn. ``And the human race is loose-mouthed. I saw years ago that if I was to build my party I must have full and accurate information as to all that was going on. I made my plans accordingly.''
``Galland is an honest man--rich--above suspicion --above corruption--an ideal candidate,'' said Davy.
``He is a corporation owner, a corporation lawyer-- and a fool,'' said Victor. ``As I've told you, all Dick Kelly's interest in this fall's local election is that judgeship.''
``Galland is my man. I want to see him elected. If Kelly's for Galland, so much the better. Then we're sure of electing him--of getting the right sort of a man on the bench.''
``I'm not here to argue with you about politics, Davy,'' said Victor. ``I brought you here because I like you--believe in your honesty--and don't want to see you humiliated. I'm giving you a chance to save yourself .''
``From what?'' inquired Hull, not so valiant as he pretended to be.
``From the ridicule and disgrace that will cover this reform movement, if you persist in it.''
Hull burst out laughing. ``Of all the damned impudence!'' he exclaimed. ``Dorn, I think you've gone crazy .''
``You can't irritate me, Hull. I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt. I think you are falling into the commonest kind of error--doing evil and winking at evil in order that a good end may be gained. Now, listen. What are the things you reformers are counting on to get you votes this fall''
Davy maintained a haughty silence.
``The traction scandals, the gas scandals and the paving scandals--isn't that it?''
``Of course,'' said Davy.
``Then--why have the gas crowd, the traction crowd and the paving crowd each contributed twenty-five thousand dollars to your campaign fund?''
Hull stared at Victor Dorn in amazement. ``Who told you that lie?'' he blustered.
Dorn looked at him