this terrible struggle that you have spoken of. She hears about
wrongdoing; she is told that her father's enemies have slandered him.
At first, perhaps, she believes that. But time goes on . . . she sees
suffering and oppression . . . she begins to realize a little of cause
and effect. She wants to help, she wants to do right, but there is no
way for her to know. She goes to one person after another, and no one
will deal frankly with her. No one will tell her the truth . . .
absolutely no one! [Leaning forward with intensity.] No one! No one!
MONTAGUE. I see.
LAURA. So it was with you . . . and with our friendship. I knew that
you had broken it off for such reasons. I knew that there was nothing
personal . . . it was nothing that I had done . . .
MONTAGUE. No! Surely not!
LAURA. [Gazes about nervously.] And then the other night . . . you
told me you were investigating the traction companies of New York . .
. their connection with politics, and so on. Ever since then I have
felt that you were the one person I must talk with. Don't you see?
MONTAGUE. Yes; I see.
LAURA. I have sought for some one who will tell me the truth. Will
you?
MONTAGUE. [In a low voice.] You must realize what you are asking of
me, Miss Hegan.
LAURA. I have not brought you here without realizing that. You must
help me!
MONTAGUE. Very well. I will do what I can.
LAURA. [Leaning forward.] I wish to know about my father. I wish to
know to what extent he is involved in these evils that you speak of.
MONTAGUE. Your father is in the game, and he has played it the way the
game is played.
LAURA. Has he been better than the others, or worse?
MONTAGUE. About the same, Miss Hegan.
LAURA. He has been more successful than they.
MONTAGUE. He has been very successful.
LAURA. You were concerned in some important deal with my father, were
you not?
MONTAGUE. I was.
LAURA. Then you withdrew. Was that because there was something wrong
in it?
MONTAGUE. It was, Miss Hegan.
LAURA. There were corrupt things done?
MONTAGUE. There were many kinds of corrupt things done.
LAURA. And was my father responsible for them?
MONTAGUE. Yes.
LAURA. Directly?
MONTAGUE. Yes; directly.
LAURA. Then my father is a bad man? MONTAGUE. [After a pause.] Your
father finds himself in the midst of an evil system. He is the victim
of conditions which he did not create.
LAURA. Ah, now you are trying to spare me!
MONTAGUE. No. I should say that to any one. I am at war with the
system . . . not with individuals. It is the old story of hating the
sin and loving the sinner. Your father's rivals are just as reckless
as he take Murdock, for instance, the man who is behind this Grand
Avenue Railroad matter. It is hard for a woman to understand that
situation.
LAURA. I can understand some things very clearly. I go down into the
slums and I see all that welter of misery. I see the forces of evil
that exist there, defiant and hateful . . . the saloons and the
gambling-houses, and that ghastly white-slave traffic, of which Annie
Rogers is the victim. And there is the political organization, taking
its toll from all these, and using it to keep itself in power. And
there is Boss Grimes, who is at the head of all . . . and he is one of
my father's intimate associates. I ask about it, and I am told that it
is a matter of "business." But why should my father do business with a
man whose chief source of income is vice?
MONTAGUE. That is not quite the case, Miss Hegan.
LAURA. Doesn't the vice tribute go to him?
MONTAGUE. Part of it does, I have no doubt. But it would be a very
small part of his income.
LAURA. What then?
MONTAGUE. The vice graft serves for the police and the district
leaders and the little men; what really pays nowadays is what has come
to be called "honest graft."
LAURA. What is that?
MONTAGUE. The business deals that are trade with the public service
corporations.
LAURA. Ah! That is what I wish to know about!
MONTAGUE. For instance, I am running a street railway . . .
LAURA. [Quickly.] My father is running them all!
MONTAGUE. Very well. Your father is in alliance with the organization;
he is given franchises and public privileges for practically nothing;
and in return he gives the contracts for constructing the subways and
street-car lines to companies organized by the politicians. These
companies are simply paper companies . . . they farm out the contracts
to the real builders, skimming off a profit of twenty or thirty per
cent. One of these companies received contracts last year to the value
of thirty million dollars.
LAURA. And so that is how Grimes gets his money?
MONTAGUE. Grimes' brother is the president of the company I have
reference to.
LAURA. I see; it is a regular system.
MONTAGUE. It is a business, and there is no way to punish it . . . it
does not violate any law . . .
LAURA. And yet it is quite as bad!
MONTAGUE. It is far worse, because of its vast scope. It carries every
form of corruption in its train. It means the prostitution of our
whole system of government . . . the subsidizing of our newspapers,
and of the great political parties. It means that judges are chosen
who will decide in favor of the corporations; that legislators are
nominated who will protect them against attack. It means everywhere
the enthronement of ignorance and incompetence, of injustice and
fraud.
LAURA. And in the end the public pays for it?
MONTAGUE. In the end the public pays for everything. The stolen
franchises are unloaded on the market for ten times what they cost,
and the people pay their nickels for a wretched, broken-down service.
They pay for it in the form of rent and taxes for a dishonest
administration. Every struggling unfortunate in the city pays for it,
when he comes into contact with the system . . . when he seeks for
help, or even for justice. It was that side of it that shocked me most
of all . . . I being a lawyer, you see. The corrupting of our
courts . . .
LAURA. The judges are bought, Mr. Montague?
MONTAGUE. The judges are selected, Miss Hegan.
LAURA. Selected! I see.
MONTAGUE. And that system prevails from the Supreme Court of the State
down to the petty Police Magistrates, before whom the poor come to
plead.
LAURA. And that is why the white-slave traffic goes unpunished!
MONTAGUE. That is why.
LAURA. And why no one would move a hand for Annie Rogers!
MONTAGUE. That is why.
LAURA. And my father is responsible for it!
MONTAGUE. [Gravely.] Yes; I think he is, Miss Hegan.
A PAUSE.
LAURA. Have you seen Julia Patterson lately?
MONTAGUE. I saw her last night.
LAURA. And how is Annie?
MONTAGUE. She . . . [Hesitates.]
She is dead.
LAURA. [Starting.] Oh!
MONTAGUE. She died the night before last.
LAURA. [Stares at him, then gives a wild start, and cries] She . . .
she . . .
MONTAGUE. She killed herself.
LAURA. Oh!
MONTAGUE. She cut her throat.
LAURA. [Hides her face and sinks against the table, shuddering and
overcome.] Oh, the poor girl! The poor, poor girl! [Suddenly she
springs up.] Can't you see? Can't you see? It is things like that that
are driving me to distraction!
MONTAGUE. [Starting toward her.] Miss Hegan . . .
LAURA. [Covering her face again.] Oh! oh! It is horrible! I can't
stand it! I . . .
[Sound of motor heard; they listen.]
LAURA. That is my father's car . . . Mr. Montague, will you excuse me?
I must have a talk with my father . . .
MONTAGUE. Certainly. Let me go away . . .
LAURA. No; please wait. Just take a little stroll. I . . .
MONTAGUE. Certainly, I understand.
[Exit right.]
LAURA. [Seeks to compose herself; then goes to window.] Father!
HEGAN. [Off.] Yes, dear.
LAURA. Come here.
HEGAN. [Enters.] What is it?
LAURA. Father, I have just had dreadful news . .
HEGAN. What?
LAURA. Annie Rogers . . . that poor girl, you know . . .
HEGAN. Yes.
LAURA. She has killed herself.
HEGAN. No!
LAURA. She cut her own throat.
HEGAN. Oh, my dear! [Starts toward her.] I am so sorry . . .
LAURA. [Quickly.] No, father! Listen! You must talk to me . . . you
must talk to me this time!
HEGAN. My child . . .
LAURA. You cannot put me off. You cannot, I tell you!
HEGAN. Laura, dear, you are upset . . .
LAURA. No! That is not so! I have perfect control of myself. There is
no use crying . . . the girl is dead. That can't be helped. But I mean
to understand about it. I mean to know who is responsible for her
death.
HEGAN. My dear, these evils are hard to know of . . .
LAURA. That house to which that girl was taken . . . there is a law
against such places, is there not?
HEGAN. Yes, my dear.
LAURA. And why is not the law enforced?
HEGAN. It has not been found possible to enforce such laws.
LAURA. But why not?
HEGAN. Why, my dear, this evil . . .
LAURA. These people pay money to the police, do they not?
HEGAN. Why, yes; I imagine . . .
LAURA. Don't tell me what you imagine . . . tell me what you know!
They pay money to the police, don't they?
HEGAN. Yes.
LAURA. Then why should the police not be punished? Do those who
control the police get some of the money?
HEGAN. Some of them, my dear.
LAURA. That is, the leaders of Tammany.
HEGAN. Possibly . . . yes.
LAURA. And Mr. Grimes . . . he gets some of it?
HEGAN. Why, my dear . . .
LAURA. Tell me!
HEGAN. But really, Laura, I never asked him what he gets.
LAURA. [With intensity.] Father, you must understand me! I will not be
trifled with . . . I am in desperate earnest! I am determined to get
to the bottom of this thing! I am no longer a child, and you must not
try to deceive me! Mr. Grimes must get some of that money!
HEGAN. I think it possible, my dear.
LAURA. And do you get any?
HEGAN. Good God, Laura!
LAURA. Then what is the nature of your relationship with Grimes?
HEGAN. Really, my child, this is not fair of you. I have business
connections which you cannot possibly understand . . .
LAURA. I can understand everything that you are willing for me to
understand! I want to know why you must have business connections with
a man like Boss Grimes.
HEGAN. My dear, I think you might take your father's word in such a
case. It has nothing to do with vice, I can assure you. Grimes is a
business ally of mine. He is a rich man, a great power in New
York . . .
LAURA. Do you help to keep him a power in New York?
HEGAN. Why, I don't know . . .
LAURA. Do you contribute to his campaign funds?
HEGAN. Why, Laura! I am a Democrat. Surely I have a right to support
my party!
LAURA. [Quickly.] Have you ever contributed to the Republican campaign
funds?
HEGAN. [Disconcerted; laughs.] Why . . . really . . .
LAURA. Please answer me.
HEGAN. I am a Gold Democrat, my dear.
LAURA. I see. [She Pauses.] You put Mr. Grimes in the way of making a
great deal of money, do you not?
HEGAN. I do that.
LAURA. He is interested in companies that you give contracts to?
HEGAN. Really! You seem to be informed about my affairs!
LAURA. I have taken some trouble to inform myself. Father, don't you
realize what it means to corrupt the government of the city in this
way?
HEGAN. Corrupt the government, my dear?
LAURA. Does not Grimes have the nominating of judges and legislators?
HEGAN. Why, yes . . . in a way . . .
LAURA. And does he not consult with you?
HEGAN. Why, my dear . . .
LAURA. Please tell me.
HEGAN. [Realizing that he cannot make any more admissions.] No, my
dear.
LAURA. Never?
HEGAN. Absolutely never.
LAURA. He has never made any attempt to influence the courts in your
favor?
HEGAN. Never.
LAURA. Not in any way, father?
HEGAN. Not in any way.
LAURA. Nor in favor of your companies?
HEGAN. No, my dear.
LAURA. You mean, you can give me your word of honor that that is the
truth?
HEGAN. I can, my dear.
LAURA. And that none of your lawyers do it? Do you mean that the
courts escape your influence . . .
HEGAN. [Laughing disconcertedly.] Really, my dear, this is as bad as a
Government investigation! I shall have to take refuge in a lapse of
memory.
LAURA. [Intensely.] Father! Is it nothing to you that I have the blood
of that poor girl on my conscience?
HEGAN. My child!
LAURA. Yes; just that! She was caught in the grip of this ruthless
system; it held her fast and crushed her life out. And we maintain
this system! I profit by it . . . all this luxury and power that I
enjoy comes from it directly! Can't you see what I mean?
HEGAN. I see, my dear, that you are frightfully overwrought, and that
you are making yourself ill. Can't you imagine what it means to me to
have you acting in this way? Here I am at one of the gravest crises of
my life; I am working day and night, under frightful strain . . . I
have hardly slept six hours in the past three days. And here, when I
get a chance for a moment's rest, you come and put me through such an
ordeal! You never think of that!
LAURA. It's just what I do think of! Why must you torture yourself so?
Why . . .
HEGAN. My dear, I, too, am in the grip of the system you speak of.
LAURA. But why? Why stay in it? Haven't we money enough yet?
HEGAN. I have duties b
y which I am bound . . . interests that I must
protect. How can I . . . [A knock.] Come in!
ANDREWS. [Enters.] Here are the papers, Mr. Hegan. They must be signed
now if they're to catch this mail.
HEGAN. All right.
[Sits at desk up stage and writes.]
LAURA. [Stands by table, staring before her; picks u? book carelessly
from table.] "Ivanhoe" . . . [Fingers it idly and a slip of paper
falls to floor. She picks it up, glances at it, then starts.] Oh! . .
. [Reads.] "Memo to G., two hundred thousand on Court deal. GRIMES."
Two hundred thousand on Court deal! [Glances back at her father; then
replaces slip and lays book on table.] Father, have you read
"Ivanhoe"?
HEGAN. [Without looking up.] I'm reading it now. Why? Do you want it?
LAURA. No; I just happened to notice it here.
HEGAN. [Looks up sharply, watches her, then finishes writing.] There!
[Rises; the sound of a motor heard.] What's that?
ANDREWS. [Near window.] It's Mr. Grimes.
LAURA. [Starting.] Grimes!
HEGAN. [TO ANDREWS.] Bring him in.
[ANDREWS exit.]
LAURA. Father! Why do you bring that man here?
HEGAN. I'll not do it again, dear. I didn't realize. He happened to be
in the neighborhood . . .
LAURA. I won't meet him!
HEGAN. [Putting his arm about her.] Very well, dear; come away. Try to
stop worrying yourself now, for the love of me . . .
[Leads her off left.]
ANDREWS. [At window.] This way, Mr. Grimes.
[GRIMES enters; a powerfully built, broad-shouldered man of about
fifty, with a massive jaw, covered with a scrubby beard; the face of a
bulldog; a grim, masterful man, who never speaks except when he has
to. He enters and seats himself in a chair by the table.] Will you
have a cigar? [Grimes takes a cigar, without comment, and chews on it;
sits, staring in front of him.] Mr. Hegan will be here directly, Sir.
[He nods, and ANDREWS exit. GRIMES continues to chew and stare in
front of him. He is not under the necessity of making superfluous
motions.]
HEGAN. [Enters left.] Hello, Grimes!
GRIMES. Hello!
HEGAN. [Betraying anxiety.] Well?
GRIMES. It's done.
HEGAN. What?
GRIMES. It's done.
HEGAN. Good! [Grimes nods.] How did you manage it?
GRIMES. [Grimly.] I put my hand on 'em!
HEGAN. Which one? Porter? [GRIMES nods.] Oh, the old hypocrite! What
did you offer him? Cash? [GRIMES shakes his head slowly.] What?
GRIMES. Discipline!
HEGAN. [Perplexed.] But . . . a judge!
GRIMES. When a man's once mine, he stays mine . . . no matter if it's
a life job I give him.
MEGAN. But are you sure it's safe?
GRIMES. The decision comes tomorrow.
HEGAN. [Starting.] What?
GRIMES. Tomorrow noon.
HEGAN. But how can they write the decision?
GRIMES. They'll adopt the minority opinion.
HEGAN. Oh! I see!
[Chuckles.]
GRIMES. You be ready.
MEGAN. Trust me! I'll have to go in now.
GRIMES. It'll be a great killing. Old Murdock has plunged up to his
neck!
HEGAN. I know! We'll lay them flat. I'll get ready. [Rises.] Old
Porter! Think of it! When did you see him?
GRIMES. Last night.
HEGAN. I see. I'll be with you.
GRIMES. Just a moment. I'll take the money.
HEGAN. Oh, yes. Why don't you let me hold it and buy for you?