Page:Upbuilders by Lincoln Steffens.djvu/32

Rh about Mark Fagan. He is a type of the men who, winning the faith and affection of their neighbours, become political leaders. “Popularity” makes them “available” as candidates or “ward bosses.” Nothing was further from Mark’s mind, but it was inevitable that he should go into politics, and the way he went in was natural and commonplace. One Sunday morning as he was leaving church several young fellows stopped him to propose that he run for the board of freeholders. He was “not adapted,” he said; why didn’t one of them run? They explained that “Bob” Davis, the Democratic boss, wouldn’t let them run; wouldn’t let anybody run in their party who wouldn’t knuckle under to him. But Mark was a Republican. The ward, like the city and county, was heavily Democratic, and since there was so little chance of winning, the Republican ring would let anybody have the nomination. If Mark would let them, they would arrange it, fight with him, and he might be elected. They couldn’t persuade Mark himself, but they knew how to get him. They went to his mother. They explained it to her, and she bade Mark run. He asked her if she understood it all, and she said she didn’t, except that it seemed to be a chance to do some good in the ward.