Mature Content: Possible

With: McVay, Worcester Pettigrew, Cole Latham, Matt Wentworth & Hon. Hiram Priest esq.
Location: Various
When: Late July 1876
Time of Day: Variable

Formerly: The Interviews

And so Phinias McVay felt it only fair that each of the known candidat6es should have equal opportunity to expound on their platform for the fair town of Kalispell, hoping one day to be a city. The first attempt with the Honorable Hiram Priest Esquire had been an utter failure, but the a saloon is not conducive place ti=o conduct such an interview. However, Mister Priest could find Phin most days at the newspaper office, there were others on the list of challengers to approach for such an interview and space available was never a problem for the Union.

Cole Latham, well he was moved down leaving this dressmaker, Worcester Pettigrew and Matthew Wentworth whom he had announced a bit prematurely as a candidate. It was how the local rumor mill worked. You listened and took your chances on what was true and what was not. He had not even had time to apologize before a reliable source stated that in fact, Matthew was in the running.

He would hold off on that request for interview since there was to be a Town Council meeting that morning, which would encumber his time, having no way off knowing that it would be, in fact, more important than any interview. On to Mister Pettigrew at his dress shop. He arrived there just after the store was open and walked in, the bell over the door giving a pleasant announcement of his arrival.

Pettigrew & Packham (Deceased) Milliner, Ladies Outfitting Emporium and Corsetry Store was looking as spick and spam as usual when the veteran reporter entered it. Miss Miriam Kaufmann and Miss Jemima Wigfall both in attendance at the counter helping customers with what they needed. It seemed that the Wigfall girl had been specially posted as a sort of outlying vedette, or sentinel, to pounce upon Mr McVey when he made his appearance and conduct him swiftly upstairs to Pettigrew's private quarters. 

After a cursory knock at the finely wrought door, she opened it and giving a clumsy curtsey officially announcing him "Mr McVey of the Kalispell Union."

Pettigrew knew McVey, of course, and quickly rose and took him firmly by the hand "Hello Phin, hello!" he beamed, although he did look a little uncomfortable for some reason, perhaps the this might be explained by the presence of another man there, a young, well dressed, very handsome man at that. Pettigrew gave McVey precedence: introducing the stranger to him, first. 

"Phin, this is Lewis Cass Reeve, out of Virginia City. One of the gentlemen who persuaded me to stand for this confounded Mayoral election!" he grumped.

The dapper Mr Reeve offered his hand "It's a real pleasure to meet you, Mr McVey. I have some small literary pretensions myself: it is an honour to make the acquaintance of one who has made such a success out of the newspaper business in the cultural wilderness of the Territories without stooping to the vulgarities so often associated with big sales out here."  

"Be careful of this one's oily tongue, Phin, or he'll have you standing for mayor, too!" frowned Pettigrew, slumping his ungainly form back into an overstuffed armchair. "Jemima, a drink for Mr McVey and you can refill Mr Reeve and myself." 

The plain girl did so, before curtsying again and retreating. 

"Well, be seated gentlemen, be seated, let's get this farce over with!" Pettigrew wheezed. Reeve laughed. "I've assured Whus that he's got a ninty-nine percent chance of losing this election. The whole thing is really just a puff for the Democratic platform in the national elections in September. No point in trying to pull the wool over the eyes of a seasoned newspaper man like yourself, Mr. McVey."

"It's that damn one percent I'm worried about!" said Pettigrew, his jowls shaking as he shook his head ruefully.

After a cursory knock at the finely wrought door, she opened it and giving a clumsy curtsey officially announcing him "Mr McVey of the Kalispell Union."

"Thank you, Miss Wigfall." Phin acknowledged, then, "Good morning, Whus."

Pettigrew knew McVey, of course, and quickly rose and took him firmly by the hand "Hello Phin, hello!" he beamed, although he did look a little uncomfortable for some reason, perhaps the this might be explained by the presence of another man there, a young, well dressed, very handsome man at that. Pettigrew gave McVey precedence: introducing the stranger to him, first. 

"Phin, this is Lewis Cass Reeve, out of Virginia City. One of the gentlemen who persuaded me to stand for this confounded Mayoral election!" he grumped.

"Hello, a pleasure to meet you, Virginia City Montana I presume. Odd two mining cities of the same name. Oh well." Phin greeted, "Welcome to our speck of a town."

The dapper Mr Reeve offered his hand "It's a real pleasure to meet you, Mr McVey. I have some small literary pretensions myself: it is an honour to make the acquaintance of one who has made such a success out of the newspaper business in the cultural wilderness of the Territories without stooping to the vulgarities so often associated with big sales out here."  

Shaking the mans hand Phin went on, "Oh, I can't say I've not use my fair share, no sir Mister Reeve, when challenged I've some years experience at slinging and ducking of the mud when necessary." Though he did appreciate the compliments, Phinias G. McVay could wade into it with the best of them. You did or you did not survive, but Phin would not make up anything on anyone. It was either fact or not at all

"Be careful of this one's oily tongue, Phin, or he'll have you standing for mayor, too!" frowned Pettigrew, slumping his ungainly form back into an overstuffed armchair. "Jemima, a drink for Mr McVey and you can refill Mr Reeve and myself." 

The plain girl did so, before curtsying again and retreating. 

"The hell you say, sir, politics is a subject, just not my game. I see no future in lying to people and pretending I'm in their service." Phin objected.

"Well, be seated gentlemen, be seated, let's get this farce over with!" Pettigrew wheezed. Reeve laughed. "I've assured Whus that he's got a ninty-nine percent chance of losing this election. The whole thing is really just a puff for the Democratic platform in the national elections in September. No point in trying to pull the wool over the eyes of a seasoned newspaper man like yourself, Mr. McVey."

"It's that damn one percent I'm worried about!" said Pettigrew, his jowls shaking as he shook his head ruefully.

"Relax my friend, one percent won't carry the day no matter how one cuts it. And that is what I am here for, your platform, basically I want to print what Worcester Pettigrew believes he can do for the community. If that's the democratic platform, then I'll print that, but Whus, it has to be in your own words." He smiled, "So there are at least four of you vying for the office, something to keep in mind when worrying about this one percent."

"Hello, a pleasure to meet you, Virginia City Montana I presume. Odd two mining cities of the same name. Oh well."

"Yes, our poor tired old ex-capital." Reeve laughed, that honour having transferred to Helena just last year. 

Phin greeted, "Welcome to our speck of a town."

"Out of tiny acorns are mighty oak trees grown, Mr McVey." Reeve replied smoothly. 

There followed a nice little verbal dance between the two men where each got the measure of the other, Pettigrew finally throwing his own 2 cents worth in:

"Be careful of this one's oily tongue, Phin, or he'll have you standing for mayor, too!" frowned Pettigrew, slumping his ungainly form back into an overstuffed armchair. "Jemima, a drink for Mr McVey and you can refill Mr Reeve and myself." 

"The hell you say, sir, politics is a subject, just not my game. I see no future in lying to people and pretending I'm in their service." Phin objected.

"Why, Mr McVey - you're a cynic!" laughed Reeve. He had a nice, pleasant, light, boyish laugh. 

Then they talked about poor tubby Pettigrew's fear of winning the competition that three other men were going to be pulling out all the stops to win. McVey certainly didn't disagree about his chances though he still wanted to know the details of his campaign.

"Relax my friend, one percent won't carry the day no matter how one cuts it. And that is what I am here for, your platform, basically I want to print what Worcester Pettigrew believes he can do for the community."

"His chances are 1%, but his share of the vote will be about 20% in these parts, on his platform." opined Reeve blandly, acting like Pettigrew couldn't speak for himself. 

"If that's the democratic platform, then I'll print that, but Whus, it has to be in your own words." He smiled.

Reeve smiled and nodded. He'd keep his big mouth out of it for a while.

"So there are at least four of you vying for the office, something to keep in mind when worrying about this one percent."

"Oh, I consider Matt the only sensible candidate, Republican though he be, if he stands. Must be mad if he does! He's like me, a busy man: he'll have a Hell of a job running that big hotel and the mayoral office. But like they say, if you've got an important job that needs doing, who do you ask to do it? You ask a busy person! Now, this feller, er, Priest: stranger in town, no discernible policies, just sits in the saloon all day playing solitaire. As for Steelgrave's stooge... can't even remember his name!"

"Cole Latham" Reeve prompted subtly. 

"Oh sure, Latham. Well, you might as well vote Steelgrave in as Mayor himself, who in their right mind's going to do that?!" he exclaimed. 

"Unless someone fixes the ballot." Reeve suggested. 

"Ah yes, putting the fix in. An age old tactic to ensure victory for the least qualified on the ballot. A blessing that Speed Guyer will be at that box to oversee the process." Phin pointed out. "The Evergreen will vote his way, it's like riding for the brand, it is what is expected of them."

"As we talk on it, yes, I agree that Wentworth is the best choice for the people of Kalispell, not to slight you Whus, however he has two things on his side, youth and energy, things you and I don not share. Latham shall be the problem in this matter." Phin continued on.

"Then there is this Priest fellow who only the saloon crowd knows. I'm not sure how that will go, even with them. I'm not sure quite what to make of the fellow, but being the unknown, that can be either good or bad, depending. I would almost say, the race will be between Wentworth and Latham, not to slight you, so, let's get down to brass tacks, shall we? Just what is your platform?"

"Ah yes, putting the fix in. An age old tactic to ensure victory for the least qualified on the ballot. A blessing that Speed Guyer will be at that box to oversee the process." Phin pointed out. "The Evergreen will vote his way, it's like riding for the brand, it is what is expected of them."

"Are the Evergreen hands even entitled to vote? Do they pay rates?" asked Reeve.

"Academic, who's going to stop them?" put in Pettigrew. 

"As we talk on it, yes, I agree that Wentworth is  the best choice for the people of  Kalispell, not to slight you Whus, however he has two things on his side, youth and energy, things you and I don not share. Latham shall be the problem in this matter." Phin continued on.

"Three things: he has the press on his side, too." put in Reeve. 

Pettigrew laughed "Now, now, Cass, I'm on trial here not Phin! I mean, being interviewed. No, no, no, Matt's a good man."  Reeve shrugged and McVey carried on.

"Then there is this Priest fellow who only the saloon crowd knows." 

"That's right." agreed Pettigrew, but again the slick Lewis Cass Reeve had something to point out. "They know him, but do they like him?" "Hmmm, that's true!" agreed Pettigrew. Whus didn't like conflict or making waves, it was a good job Reeve was there to do it for him, although Whus found it all a little uncomfortable. 

"I'm not sure how that will go, even with them. I'm not sure quite what to make of the fellow, but being the unknown, that can be either good or bad, depending. I would almost say, the race will be between Wentworth and Latham, not to slight you..."

Pettigrew looked  little put out at this comment and glanced at Reeve, she just smiled a little and shook his head, as if to say, let it slide, it doesn't matter. 

"...so, let's get down to brass tacks, shall we? Just what is your platform?"

"Well..." said the portly pattern cutter and launched into a well prepared dissertation on what Mayor Pettigrew would do "... I would commence by putting the whole running of the town into a systematic order with efficient appointed rather than elected civil servants. The speculation in land pertaining to the building of the railroad would be stamped out and the building of amenities would be passed into the hands of an independent and prompt acting civic body : all this fuss and nonsense about 'who's building what hospital where' and orphanages and what not would be ended: family feuds have no place in civic governance." he droned on. 

Reeve was watching McVey more than Pettigrew. His old mentor Richard Orr had been right, the Democratic cause could never prosper in Kalispell until there was a Democratic voice in the town, an organ that would portray the news in a manner more sympathetic to the great cause.

"...so, let's get down to brass tacks, shall we? Just what is your platform?"

"Well..." said the portly pattern cutter and launched into a well prepared dissertation on what Mayor Pettigrew would do "... I would commence by putting the whole running of the town into a systematic order with efficient appointed rather than elected civil servants. The speculation in land pertaining to the building of the railroad would be stamped out and the building of amenities would be passed into the hands of an independent and prompt acting civic body : all this fuss and nonsense about 'who's building what hospital where' and orphanages and what not would be ended: family feuds have no place in civic governance." he droned on. 

McVay winced at the idea of Kalispell scraping democracy in favor of what seemed to be something akin to a monarchy, or one person calling the shots. The idea of a 'prompt acting civic body' sounded fine in one breath, but in another?

Reeve was watching McVey more than Pettigrew. His old mentor Richard Orr had been right, the Democratic cause could never prosper in Kalispell until there was a Democratic voice in the town, an organ that would portray the news in a manner more sympathetic to the great cause.

“So, let me get this straight, the Mayor appoints his people, or what? People he selects for this 'civic body' get total control over what construction takes place?” He asked, “And land speculation, all that ends because this civil body decides? Maybe I got this all wrong, but it sounds like some totalitarian style government which, incidentally flies in the face of democracy? Is that what I'm hearing?” He paused, “Oh, and I've nothing against removing family feuds from government. The sooner the better, but what family are you talking about in Kalispell?”

“So, let me get this straight, the Mayor appoints his people, or what? People he selects for this 'civic body' get total control over what construction takes place?” He asked.

"Why certainly" answered Pettigrew easily "They will be non-partisan civil servants under the direction of the mayor. The current Town Council might be a fine symbol of the citizens of Kalispell's democratic power, but I'm afraid that in practice they represent a stumbling block to the effective growth of this community: as you have so often pointed out in the pages of your own paper, Phin!" 

“And land speculation, all that ends because this civil body decides? Maybe I got this all wrong, but it sounds like some totalitarian style government which, incidentally flies in the face of democracy? Is that what I'm hearing?” He paused.

"Not all land speculation, just around the railroads." put in Reeve quickly. "Yes, the Federal Government already interferes in that anyway, to a degree, appropriating or forcing sales of land for the purposes of spreading the network of railroads. That's one point where we local Democrats agree with the Government and diverge from the official Democrat party-line." added Pettigrew, managing to call it 'the Government' for once, rather than 'The Grant Tyranny'. 

"We're strong for States' Rights, as you know, Mr McVey. We think that applies for the Territories, too. Your readers can be sure that we don't just tow the Party line when it's to the advantage of the local community to do something different."

“Oh, and I've nothing against removing family feuds from government. The sooner the better, but what family are you talking about in Kalispell?”

"Families, Phin, families. It takes two to dance, you know. Steelgrave might be the be the obvious problem, but Thornton and his crew are just as bad. You know poor Mrs Miggins has had to put up barbed wire to protect her crops from their wandering steers - on both sides. Now, these two large holdings have been considered a factor in local politics for a long time now, but they are withering on the vine, I'd just like to speed up their demise." Pettigrew said.

Reeve then put in his two penn'th: "Their goose is cooked as soon as the railroad arrives anyway. The age of the big powerful ranchers is coming to a close, just like the age of the Indian. They're not our biggest problem right now anyway. Since I came to town I've heard nothing but Steelgrave this and Thornton that, but it just sounds like big talk to me; maybe I've missed something, but what have these two feuding kingdoms actually done to each other or to the town in the last year or two?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious.

Phin would have laughed, but the man was dead serious about his plans for Kalispell, and the young man with him seemed to have no real understanding of life in the west, nor it's customs. He did not understand the Montana beef was revered in the east as opposed to Texas cattle which were leaner and tougher, and it was clear that he fully underestimated the men that grew those beef.

"Mister Reeve, what exactly is it you do here in Kalispell, I'm afraid I've not heard about you before today." Phin asked, then went on. "Seems to me you have no idea about either of the men whom you berated as if they have done nothing for the community. Hell Mister Reeve, they ARE the community, without the Thornton's and the Steelgrave's there would be no Kalispell."

He shook his head, easterners at their uneducated finest. "You said," he referred to his notes, "'They will be non-partisan civil servants under the direction of the mayor. The current Town Council might be a fine symbol of the citizens of Kalispell's democratic power, but I'm afraid that in practice they represent a stumbling block to the effective growth of this community: as you have so often pointed out in the pages of your own paper!' Now supposing that were true, and to a degree it is, with one rather large exception, that would be Judge Ben Robertson, and to a degree the dearly departed Richard T. Orr. Not to speak ill of the deceased, but facts are facts. Both men with designs, it would appear, to control in the manner of your all powerful mayor." He paused, looking to each man in turn.

"Mister Reeve, what exactly is it you do here in Kalispell, I'm afraid I've not heard about you before today." Phin asked.

"Oh, I'm from Virginia City, lived there most of my life. I came over last month for the reading of Mr Orr's Last Will and Testament. He was kind enough to leave me a rather generous bequest." the young man answered, brushing some lint from his trousers. "I'm rather taken with the place, I found Miss Orr charming" [charmingly rich, perhaps?] ".. and Mr Pettigrew here has introduced me to some surprisingly refined company: Mr Vaughn, Miss Mudd..."

Then McVey went on. "Seems to me you have no idea about either of the men  whom you berated as if they have done nothing for the community. Hell Mister Reeve, they ARE the community, without the Thornton's and the Steelgrave's there would be no Kalispell."

"Maybe in the early days, Mr McVey, but what are they doing right now?!" Reeve asked pointedly. "Their influence seems more disruptive than anything."

He shook his head, easterners at their uneducated finest. "You said," he referred to his notes, "'They will be non-partisan civil servants under the direction of the mayor. The current Town Council might be a fine symbol of the citizens of Kalispell's democratic power, but I'm afraid that in practice they represent a stumbling block to the effective growth of this community: as you have so often pointed out in the pages of your own paper!'

"I admire your note-taking skills, Mr McVey. Is it the Pitman shorthand method?" asked Reeve superciliously, but the veteran reporter was not to be swerved:

"Now supposing that were true, and to a degree it is, with one rather large exception, that would be Judge Ben Robertson, and to a degree the dearly departed Richard T. Orr. Not to speak ill of the deceased, but facts are facts. Both men with designs, it would appear, to control in the manner of your all powerful mayor." He paused, looking to each man in turn.

Poor Pettigrew was starting to feel like something of a spare part at his own interview as McVey and Reeve engaged like a pair of bulls locking horns. 

"Now gentlemen, gentlemen, please! You said yourself, Cass, I don't have a snowball in Hell's chance of winning: there's no need for all this unpleasant arguing." Whus declared, holding up his hands in supplication to his two more fiery companions. 

"No! Let him finish. I'm interested in what Mr McVey has to say - what he sees as the ideal solution to Kalispell's woes!" Reeve glared feverishly at the editor of the Union.