Mackellar was a Republican of a pronounced
type and a good deal of a politician besides. Therefore he must
go. But he was my friend. I had but two in the entire neighborhood
who really cared for me--Edward Wells, clerk in a drug-store across
the street, who was of my own age, and Mackellar. Between us had
sprung up a strong attachment, and I could not think of having
Mackellar removed, particularly as he had done nothing to deserve
it. He was a good policeman. I told the bosses so. They insisted;
pleaded political expedience. I told them I would not allow it,
and when they went ahead in spite of me, told the truth about it
in my paper. The Twenty-second was really a Republican ward. The
attitude of the _News_ killed the job.
The Democratic bosses were indignant.
"How can we run the ward with you acting that way?" they asked.
I told them I did not care if they didn't. I could run it better
myself, it seemed.
They said nothing. They had other resources. The chief of them--he
was a judge--came around and had a friendly talk with me. He showed
me that I was going against my own interest.
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