Common Cause: A Novel of the War in AmericaAdams, Samuel Hopkins
General
Common Cause: A Novel of the War in America
Adams, Samuel Hopkins
World War, 1914-1918 -- United States -- Fiction
“What, again?” said Judge Dana.
The puffy jowl of Montrose Clark deepened in color. “I shall not
tolerate any more of his impudence,” he declared. “He will come when
sent for or--”
“Now, Mr. Clark, this is a case for diplomacy.”
“For you, you mean, Dana.”
“What do you employ me for?” soothed the lawyer. “Just you have a copy
of the ordinance drawn up. Tell Garson to get up the advertising figures
and give them to me. I’ll talk to young Mr. Robson.”
The magnate assented, though with an ill grace. “Will you take up the
matter of your candidacy with him at the same time?”
Matters were so shaping themselves in politics, that with the figure of
Martin Embree looming and the probability of a strong radical vote in
the Legislature, the P.-U. and its allied traction interests in the
State deemed it advisable to place a safe representative on the Court
of Appeals bench, where much may be done by “interpretation” to offset
destructive legislation. Dana had been selected as the man. In his early
days the Judge had weathered, with difficulty and not without damage to
his reputation, two or three legal tempests, one of which had all but
caused his disbarment. Had not Montrose Clark, already finding him
valuable as a clever quasher of damage suits in their early stages,
employed his influence, the Judge would have ceased to ornament the
legal profession. He had since gone far to rehabilitate himself in the
eyes of the public, by sticking close to high-class, quiet (not to say
secret) corporation work. But the better men of his own profession,
while recognizing his abilities, were still suspicious of him, though
not to the point where any protest was likely to be made in the face of
such powerful interests as were backing him.
Judge Dana pondered his patron’s question. “That depends on how he takes
the transfer plan,” he replied.
“You gave me advice about him,” said Montrose Clark rather maliciously;
“to handle him with gloves. You see how it came out. Now I’ll give you
some in return. Put the screws on the young fool!”
“Not my way. And not his description. He’s got a lot to learn. I’m going
there as his teacher. I would n’t be, if he was a fool.”
Channels of communication bring information (and even more
misinformation) from many sources into an editor’s office. Through
one of these Jeremy had learned of the projected transfer plan’s
recrudescence. Therefore he was prepared when Judge Dana, having called
by appointment, stated the case flatly.
“We want your support,” he said.
“This is a pretty raw deal, Judge Dana,” remarked Jeremy.
The lawyer’s thin and solemn face did not alter its expression of bland
disinterestedness. “Not if looked at in the right light.”
“What is the right light?”
“The P.-U. needs the new arrangement in order to perfect its service to
the public. The greatest good to the greatest number.”
“Number One,” suggested Jeremy. “Mr. Montrose Clark.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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