The Machine

by Upton Sinclair

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?