Page:Upbuilders by Lincoln Steffens.djvu/107

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must get out of the way. Their employee told them he was out of their employ and, being therefore free, would continue to fight them with this added information to spur him on.

It was this bill that finally brought about the declaration of war between Boss Lentz and Assemblyman Colby. One day, when Lentz was steering his “citizens’ committee” about the Capitol, he introduced Colby to them. And he told Colby in their presence that he must work for their bill. “They contribute to the campaign fund”; that was the reason he gave, and it was bad enough, but Colby knew that the real reason was that Tom McCarter and Senator Dryden wanted to control through Newark the destinies of Bloomfield and the Oranges against the will of the inhabitants of those places.

David Baird came along as they were talking. Baird is the Republican boss of Camden, and the agent there of “the Penn” and the Public Service Corporation.

“David,” said Lentz, after introducing him, “I want you to get your boys in line for that bill.”

“All right, Major,” said David, “I will.”

Colby wasn’t so agreeable. He didn’t say much, but Lentz suspected him and his suspicions were promptly confirmed. Colby