The Conflict [57]
at ten o'clock he took his stand in the main corridor of the City Hall, really a thoroughfare and short cut for the busiest part of town. With a cigar in his mouth he stood there for an hour or so, holding court, making appointments, attending to all sorts of political business.
Presently his importance and his ideas of etiquette expanded to such an extent that he had to establish the Blaine Club. Joe House's Tilden Club was established two years later, in imitation of Kelly. If you had very private and important business with Kelly-- business of the kind of which the public must get no inkling, you made--preferably by telephone--an appointment to meet him in his real estate offices in the Hastings Building--a suite with entrances and exits into three separated corridors. If you wished to see him about ordinary matters and were a person who could ``confer'' with Kelly without its causing talk you met him at the Blaine Club. If you wished to cultivate him, to pay court to him, you saw him at Herrmann's--or in the general rooms of the club. If you were a busy man and had time only to exchange greetings with him--to ``keep in touch''--you passed through the City Hall now and then at his hour. Some bosses soon grow too proud for the vulgar democracy of such a public stand; but Kelly, partly through shrewdness, partly through inclination, clung to the City Hall stand and encouraged the humblest citizens to seek him there and tell him the news or ask his aid or his advice.
It was at the City Hall that Davy Hull sought him, and found him.
Twice he walked briskly to the boss; the third time he went by slowly. Kelly, who saw everything, had known from the first glance at Hull's grave, anxious face, that the young leader of the ``holy boys'' was there to see him. But he ignored Davy until Davy addressed him directly.
``Howdy, Mr. Hull!'' said he, observing the young man with eyes that twinkled cynically. ``What's the good word?''
``I want to have a little talk with you,'' Davy blurted out. ``Where could I see you?''
``Here I am,'' said Kelly. ``Talk away.''
``Couldn't I see you at some--some place where we'd not be interrupted? I saw Victor Dorn yesterday, and he said some things that I think you ought to know about.''
``I do know about 'em,'' replied Kelly.
``Are you sure? I mean his threats to--to----''
As Davy paused in an embarrassed search for a word that would not hurt his own but recently soothed conscience, Kelly laughed. ``To expose you holy boys?'' inquired he. ``To upset the nice moral campaign you and Joe House have laid out? Yes, I know all about Mr. Victor Dorn. But--Joe House is the man you want to see. You boys are trying to do me up--trying to break up the party. You can't expect ME to help you. I've got great respect for you personally, Mr. Hull. Your father--he was a fine old Republican wheel-horse. He stood by the party through thick and thin--and the party stood by him. So, I respect his son--personally. But politically-- that's another matter. Politically I respect straight organization men of either party, but I've got no use for amateurs and reformers. So--go to Joe House.'' All this in perfect good humor, and in a tone of banter that might have ruffled a man with a keener sense of humor than Davy's.
Davy was red to his eyes, not because Kelly was laughing at him, but because he stood convicted of such a stupid political blunder as coming direct to Kelly when obviously he should have gone to Kelly's secret partner. ``Dorn means to attack us all--Republicans, Democrats and Citizens' Alliance,'' stammered Davy, trying to justify himself.
Kelly shifted his cigar and shrugged his shoulders.
``Don't worry about his attacks on me--on US,'' said he. ``We're used to being attacked. We haven't got no reputation for superior virtue to lose.''
``But he says he can prove that our whole campaign is simply a deal between you and House and me to fool the people and elect a bad judge.''
``So I've heard,'' said Kelly. ``But what of it? You know it
Presently his importance and his ideas of etiquette expanded to such an extent that he had to establish the Blaine Club. Joe House's Tilden Club was established two years later, in imitation of Kelly. If you had very private and important business with Kelly-- business of the kind of which the public must get no inkling, you made--preferably by telephone--an appointment to meet him in his real estate offices in the Hastings Building--a suite with entrances and exits into three separated corridors. If you wished to see him about ordinary matters and were a person who could ``confer'' with Kelly without its causing talk you met him at the Blaine Club. If you wished to cultivate him, to pay court to him, you saw him at Herrmann's--or in the general rooms of the club. If you were a busy man and had time only to exchange greetings with him--to ``keep in touch''--you passed through the City Hall now and then at his hour. Some bosses soon grow too proud for the vulgar democracy of such a public stand; but Kelly, partly through shrewdness, partly through inclination, clung to the City Hall stand and encouraged the humblest citizens to seek him there and tell him the news or ask his aid or his advice.
It was at the City Hall that Davy Hull sought him, and found him.
Twice he walked briskly to the boss; the third time he went by slowly. Kelly, who saw everything, had known from the first glance at Hull's grave, anxious face, that the young leader of the ``holy boys'' was there to see him. But he ignored Davy until Davy addressed him directly.
``Howdy, Mr. Hull!'' said he, observing the young man with eyes that twinkled cynically. ``What's the good word?''
``I want to have a little talk with you,'' Davy blurted out. ``Where could I see you?''
``Here I am,'' said Kelly. ``Talk away.''
``Couldn't I see you at some--some place where we'd not be interrupted? I saw Victor Dorn yesterday, and he said some things that I think you ought to know about.''
``I do know about 'em,'' replied Kelly.
``Are you sure? I mean his threats to--to----''
As Davy paused in an embarrassed search for a word that would not hurt his own but recently soothed conscience, Kelly laughed. ``To expose you holy boys?'' inquired he. ``To upset the nice moral campaign you and Joe House have laid out? Yes, I know all about Mr. Victor Dorn. But--Joe House is the man you want to see. You boys are trying to do me up--trying to break up the party. You can't expect ME to help you. I've got great respect for you personally, Mr. Hull. Your father--he was a fine old Republican wheel-horse. He stood by the party through thick and thin--and the party stood by him. So, I respect his son--personally. But politically-- that's another matter. Politically I respect straight organization men of either party, but I've got no use for amateurs and reformers. So--go to Joe House.'' All this in perfect good humor, and in a tone of banter that might have ruffled a man with a keener sense of humor than Davy's.
Davy was red to his eyes, not because Kelly was laughing at him, but because he stood convicted of such a stupid political blunder as coming direct to Kelly when obviously he should have gone to Kelly's secret partner. ``Dorn means to attack us all--Republicans, Democrats and Citizens' Alliance,'' stammered Davy, trying to justify himself.
Kelly shifted his cigar and shrugged his shoulders.
``Don't worry about his attacks on me--on US,'' said he. ``We're used to being attacked. We haven't got no reputation for superior virtue to lose.''
``But he says he can prove that our whole campaign is simply a deal between you and House and me to fool the people and elect a bad judge.''
``So I've heard,'' said Kelly. ``But what of it? You know it