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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3321947" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-thirty-seven “Too Many Candidates”, Monday June 12th, 1882, 5:00 P.M.Chester and Kate arrive at the candidates meeting simultaneously. Emery Shaw is seated at the head of several tables that have been put together on the northwest corner of the room. All other tables in the place have been moved further away to give that group some privacy. Place settings are along the table with Vera and Austin Black bringing out bowls of food and placing them on the table for a family-style dinner.By 5:15 PM everybody expected is present, with the Unity Party candidates Emery Shaw, Chester Martin, Vera Blake, Helen Barker, Manuel Escobar, and Patrick Seawell, the Integrity Party candidates Michael Seawell, Elihu Upton, Neil Cassidy, Judge Lacey and Joe Riser, and independent candidates Vidkin Gerhardsen, Estaban Fuente and Jeremiah Peck.Also present are family members and friends of the candidates consisting of Emily Banks, Clarisse Townsend, Austin Blake, Stanley Barker, Herbert Hoover, Rosita Escobar, Enrico Escobar, Julia Barbeau, Hatcher Meeks, Laurie Gilson, Torvald Ercksohnn, Cornflower Peck, Jake Cook, Minerva Florencia and Nakomo.The group spends until 5:45 enjoying the meal and one another's company. Shaw then stands and starts the meeting, "Hello, thank you all for coming. I wanted all of the more-moderate candidates here to discuss the present situation. We have the debate tonight at 7:00 and I know that many of you also plan to stop by Derek Avery's wake over at the Rio Grande so I'll right to the point. Cole Rixton has withdrawn from the Unity Party just as the Integrity Party has had Roger Fly withdraw as well as the loss of Mr. Avery. And with most of the Hooded Riders still free this election has become a real danger to the candidates and their families.What I propose is that the parties and like-minded independents consolidate into one party. That way we will not be dividing the votes of the more moderate-minded people in town and anybody wishing to withdraw at this time could without a problem. Once a new slate of candidates is decided the candidates can then work on the official party platform and announce both the party makeup and platform as part of tonight's debate. This group assembled here is large enough that we should be able to get most the 25 signatures for anybody needing one.Let me start by saying that I am firmly committed to staying on as the Mayoral Candidate, in fact I am more determined than ever. Is there any other interest in that office? You were running for that too Mr. Gerhardsen." Speaking through his translator Torvald the dwarf Vidkin explains that due to the threat to his workers he has decided to withdraw from the Mayor's race but is interested in being on the Town Council instead. Nobody else shows an interest in the mayoral position.Shaw then says, "Next is the Town Marshall Position. Both Michael Seawell and Chester Martin are running for it." Seawell speaks up first, looking towards his girl Julia and says, "My fiancé and I have discussed the matter and she feels very strongly that I should withdraw. I regretfully agree, my staying in the race puts the others living at Fly's Boarding House in too much risk."Shaw asks, "And what about you Deputy Martin?" Chester pauses for a second, then says, "I haven't talked to Clarisse about it, but I'm staying in. The only way I know to make Promise City safer is for me to do it myself. I can't trust whoever Adair puts up and I don't know that much about Hank Hill. The Cowboy Gang and other outlaws have made themselves too comfortable in this county and that affects us. I take the escape from our jail personally and I want to see those men brought to justice."Kate hid a small smile. She hadn't heard about an engagement for Colonel Seawell, but it was nice to think love could be found for those who might have thought they were past it. She was also relieved that there wouldn't be a struggle over a mayoral candidate, although she was a bit surprised no one had argued against consolidating the parties. Then again, there had already been talk of such a thing that she had not been privy to. Although she was certain Chester wasn't pulling out of the race, she waited to hear what he would say.Following Chester's response Shaw says, "Okay, that leaves the Town Council, collectively we have eleven of you here for five positions." Neil Cassidy says, "Helen and I would both prefer to remain deputies, which would be a conflict-of-interest if we were on the council, so we'll withdraw."Elihu Upton says, "You can count me out as being a Councilman on your party as well. Mr. Shaw, I have great respect for you and have heard nothing but good things, but I can't in good conscience join a party with you as the head of it. I sincerely feel that the next Mayor should be somebody who has resided in this town during the last year, not at a ranch twelve miles away. With Avery gone and with Fly, Cassidy and Michael Seawell withdrawing there really is no point in trying to maintain the Integrity Party, so I will go back to being an independent candidate for Town Council." He stands and leaves as does his business associate Hatcher Meeks.After the door closed Kate said, "I can certainly see Mr. Upton's position, but his criteria makes finding a good mayor for this town very difficult. Few people have been here at, even fewer for more than a couple of years. Mr. Shaw is one of them. Eventually the mining will slow down and the ranches and farms will have to support this town, both businesses Mr. Shaw knows very well. Our good Mr. Vidkin is also a new-comer but is willing to serve his new home. Our other options for mayor are Adair and Fisk, and while they may have lived in town over the last year I hardly think their motives are the betterment of Promise City for everyone who lives in it. I believe we have the right candidate for the job."Jake remains silent thinking, So far so good. He kept his quiet waiting until he was needed to sway the party in the proper direction. Speak too much and your words are diluted; hold them for impact. Patrick Seawell says, "Well, I'm not sure that the party needs two miners on it, so if we're adding Vidkin then I guess I'll drop out. Besides, I have a hunch I may not have the time to serve anyway, one of our mines is starting to look rather promising."Estaban speaks up and says, "I should probably remain an independent, I'm not planning to pull any punches in tonight's debate in regards to Bill Watkins, and I have a hunch I'm one of his targets as well." Joe Riser speaks up and says, "You're right about that, I board at the Great Western and he's not too fond of all the late night festivities held across the street at the El Parador." Jeremiah Peck also says, "I guess I'll stay and independent too. I plan to directly address the Freedom Party's racist attitudes so you may not want to be associated with my comments."Shaw says, "Well then, that leaves us with five for Town Council. From the original Unity Party we have Manuel Escobar and Vera Blake, from the Integrity Party we have Judge Lacey and Joe Riser, and then we have added in former mayoral candidate Vidkin Gerhardsen, who we'll need to circulate a Town Council petition for. Mr. Peck, Mr. Fuente, I'll have to ask the two of you to leave if you won't be on our ticket so that we can work on our party's platform."The two men leave along with Peck's wife Cornflower. Kate followed the three over to the door. "Good luck to both of you," she said quietly as they stepped outside. "You'd both be fine councilmen and I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say at the debates." Jeremiah replies, "And good luck to you as well, I'm hoping that aside from the two of us", gesturing to Estaban, "the rest of the council is made up of your party instead of the other choices available to the town."Kate returns to the table as Shaw is discussing the written platform of the Law and Order Committee. He says, "The best strategy for the debate tonight is to let Kate Higgins and Estaban Fuente take on Bill Watkins and Dennis Winston directly about their platform but it should also provide us with an opportunity for us to show that we are a moderate alternative. The Law and Order group wants to eliminate prostitution, drinking on Sundays and impose strict hours for businesses in town. Higgins and Fuente will want no laws at all about those. The answer is probably somewhere in between."Vera Blake says, "Well, I plan to speak my mind on that. When my stagecoach driver friends come in late from a run and want to get a drink and unwind they come to Drovers, I don't want them having to face a "'Closed' sign because of some silly law." Joe Riser says, "But Watkins does have a point, more than once noise from a celebration at the El Parador has gone well into the wee hours of the morning, and the Great Western isn't the only place they're keeping up."Shaw says, "I agree, and the issue really shouldn't be one of if a place is open but rather is the noise from it bothering the neighbors. I know the Figures family, if they realized they were bothering folks they'd probably be willing to take some measures once it got late to curtail the noise. So maybe our proposal would be that at after 11:00 all saloons would be required to shut their windows, play only quieter instruments such as a piano and guitar, and have patrons no longer congregate on outside porches." "That does not seem unreasonable." Jake remarks.Shaw says, "Exactly, and that's the opinion of a saloon owner folks! The key here is for us to not argue either extreme but to instead present a moderate solution to the problems. And as far as noise is concerned, the Law and Order party hasn't addressed the biggest source of noise in town, namely the Stamping Mill and Smelter. Right now they only operate in daytime hours so it is a non-issue, but if they outlying mines begin to produce that could change. If any of you have ever spent a night in Tombstone you know how difficult it is to sleep when the stamping mills are going, and their mills are located further from the main town as than this one is."Assayer Joe Riser says, "Well, Law and Order won't address that since the Stamping Mill's owner Elton Hubbard financially supports them." Vera Blake says, "Which makes them a bunch of hypocrites!" Shaw says, "Fine, but don't you call them that during the debate Vera." "If I may," Jake interjects, "just wait for them to make an unreasonable proposal. You know, like no noise from the saloons in the evening at all. Instead of taking them to task, just ask a clarifying question. Would that include all business equally? For example would the smithy or the mining operations have to follow all the same rules? That way before you even get your position out, their position becomes suspect."Kate interjects, "May I also suggest not actually using the word moderate during the debates. Those with extreme views will try to change it to wishy-washy. The idea that you are trying to address everyone's concerns will come across just fine, just like Watkins hypocrisy will without having to use the word." Shaw laughs and says, "Yes, I am counting on the bad behavior of others to help make many of our points for us."He continues, "Another point that may come up tonight, and will definitely come up in Wednesday night's Town Marshall debate is the present lawlessness going on. The escape of three prisoners today while our candidate was present won't help matters. My suggestion is that everybody present at this table right now do everything that we possibly can to help identify and catch these outlaws in the next eight days." Vidkin's friend Torvald translates his comment of "Those hooded riders took our mine by surprise last weekend, if they come back we will be ready for them."Doing everything I possibly can, Jake muses privately, would certainly not shed a positive light on the Unity Party. Inwardly he chuckles. Besides, I already killed two of them. Still, I will see what can be done. He nods in response to Shaw's comment. Shaw says, "Well, I'll have until Thursday night's debate to articulate my vision for Promise City. Essentially I see that not as it is today but as a community of greatness, the best in the entire Arizona Territory. I will emphasize how this party has people from diverse backgrounds as well as a mix of ages, races and genders to provide an adequate representation of the town."Minerva has sat through the entire meeting without saying a word, no small feat for her intrusive Spanish temperament She says, "These decisions are meant for the people of Promise City to work out together. It is not for the church or the gods to decide their path.". She follows the banter back and forth trying to sort out all the names, and parties, who stands for what, who is against what and who appears sincere about their positions. She listens to Kate and is once again awed by the demure woman's intuitive knowledge of the political arena. "It is a shame that she is not running for an office of some sort." The priestess eyes darken when Seawell, Helen and the little dwarven man withdraw their candidacies, but understanding their positions, she says nothing.Satisfied that she is able to lend her support to this political party without compromising her service to the gods she continues to just sit quietly and nod her approval.Kate nodded and said, "Hopefully we can offer enough options that we can draw in the most voters. What else has anyone heard that people in town are concerned about? I hear most people talking about the saloons or the lawlessness, but towns face many more challenges than that. Since we now have two schools education is covered for the moment, but as the town grows a public school will have to be started. A larger tax base will allow everyone's taxes to be lower, so any ideas about how to draw people and businesses here should also go down well.What services can be provided by those taxes?Shaw says, "Fire protection is obviously one, yesterday proved that. We should probably also have one school rather than two but that might be a better issue for the Town Council to address after they are elected. I'd also suggest, unpleasant as it is to discuss, plans for things like refuse disposal," Kate added. "The streets can get quite nasty sometimes. And while it will be a long time until the town needs anything like a hospital, we may want to suggest some kind of emergency plan. People get hurt in fires, floods happen, sickness spreads. If we have plans in place for these things before they happen people will feel safer and better prepared.It could be as simple as having a designed office to go to for information, or a building designated as the first place to take wounded or ill people when their numbers are great. Right now when there are multiple injuries everyone in town with medical knowledge just runs it. It works well enough but some organization there wouldn't hurt."Shaw says "Okay, there is one more issue that we need to address, and that has to do with religion. The Law and Order Party essentially views the Greek/Roman Church as the only true religion. Having Vidkin and Manuel on our ticket already proclaims that we think otherwise, as they follow other deities, but I'm thinking that we should perhaps be more explicit in discussing that. What are your opinions on that?"Minerva sits taller and leans into the table, finally feeling that it is appropriate to speak. "Why do you feel it necessary to make this an issue in your campaign? It is not necessary to proclaim your stand on the issue of freedom of religion. As you have said, the diversity of your party speaks for itself. Those who attend my church know clearly what the gods' will is in this matter and will vote accordingly.. and I certainly have not kept the gods' will secret from the misguided souls who would think otherwise and will continue to set them straight as is my duty." she smirks recalling several very satisfying scathing lectures that she had recently scalded those 'misguided' folks with.”Kate interjects, "I agree that our beliefs about religion are apparent already and do not need to be made an issue by us. But we do need to be ready to respond to the Law and Order Party.I would assure the voters that this party has no intention of legislating religion. When religion begins to play a hand in government, it also opens the door for government to play a hand in religion. All citizens should be free to practice their own faith and not be restricted by the practice of others.For example, we would not legislate a drinking ban on Sundays. It is the responsibility of a practitioner of a faith to observe the tenants of that faith. It is not the responsibility of the government to enforce a religious observance. Sunday is the holy day for the Greek/Roman church, but not for others. Followers of the Greek and Roman faith who feel Sunday should be a day of abstention should observe that; to force that observation on people who follow a different faith is not acceptable."Jake interjects, "As citizen I would expect the same separation of church and state here as elsewhere." Minerva says, “It is not a matter of separating the gods from the people, Senor Jake. It is about not taking away ones right to worship as one sees fit. There are many gods and many ways to worship them and do their will . Neither the governing body nor the people have the right to prevent another from exercising their duty to a higher power." Jake says, "Semantics, Senorita. I support the right of the individual to make their own choices and live by them. I do not argue the point, just ask this group to respect the right of the individual."Shaw says, "Very well, we won't need to get more specific on that point. If everybody would please sign Vidkin's Town Council petition he and I will then get whatever more we need to get to twenty-five and go see Judge Isby. Hopefully he'll let him join tonight's debate." Jake queues up to sign, anxious to get out of this meeting. Kate gladly signed the petition, finally feeling like something was going well.Minerva signs the petition and then pulls Jake aside. "Are you going to the debate tonight? I know that the election is important but I fear that it is distracting us from hunting down the vampires. Has Senor Tomlinson found out anything more about their whereabouts?" He smiles as if they are discussing nothing more important than the weather, "Last night Tomlinson said they had not found anything yet. I have no idea where to go looking. I would gladly face hideous death at the fangs of those fiends," Jake smirks, "rather than listen to this political dribble again, that and last night I got a hundred dollar fine for maintaining my honor." Jake laughs after that. "Whatever is left of it."Minerva laughs at his joke but remains serious and says, “I am glad that you feel that way, since that may well happen. . Kate approached her friends just in time to catch the last of Jake's comment. "Are we so boring, Jake? I admit, I've had about enough myself but it's necessary." If you must know the truth..." he maintains that impertinent smile. "This is not exactly my forte. You know I will help where I can. Calling this tedious would be kind." Kate smiled. "For me as well, Jake."Minerva says, I cannot sit idly by waiting for them to take another victim. I want to go and search for them but I have no idea where to begin looking." "Our other fiend problem? At least that one seems one we might be able to solve. I mentioned to Jake a few things earlier today that might help with that. I wish I could go after them with you. Since I can't, I'll worry about politics and let you do the dangerous things." Minerva’s raises her eyebrows. "After all that has happened, How can you say that Politics is any less dangerous? You have information?""Not less dangerous, perhaps. But there is standing up for what you believe in and watching your back," she dropped her voice, "and then there is walking into a place full of who knows how many sets of hungry fangs. The first doesn't break my word to Diana. The second... would take some rationalizing."Minerva states, "I must say that Iam quite impressed that Jake is even here. He doesn't have a reputation for being the altruistic sort.” She jokes affectionately. "Nor am I certain that having such a scoundrel in attendance is good for the party's moderate reputation." She turns to the gambler. "Why are you here, Jake?""Besides looking out after my business interests, Silver Jake Cook stands by his friends and pays his debts." He glances over and makes sure that no one else is listening. "I suggested to Shaw he move from council to mayor candidate, and I worked to get the two parties to merge. I am doing what I can to make this the town you folks want. Have no fear Senorita, once this group finally settles on a platform I will do what can be done to get this group elected without it being too obvious and then fade into the background to let them go about the business of running this lovely little town."Minerva smiles her approval, "We are of a like mind there, but I find it difficult to envision you fading into the background, perhaps operating from the background..." Jake grins in a noncommittal manner and shrugs. Kate adds, "The longer I've been here the more I see sometimes it's better to be in the background. Notice I'm not running for anything.”Kate checked to make sure no one was near and kept her voice low. "Regarding information, a source told me that Bronco Madsen is among the newly undead. A source I trust." Minerva says, "Bronco Madsen?" I am not familiar with him." Kate says, “Bronco Madsen is running for a council seat on Fisk's ticket. My suggestion would be to get Mr. Tomlinson and whoever else is supposed to help, follow Madsen tonight and either corner him and get information, or find out where he hides during the day, get him there, and get information." Jake states, "Madsen is scheduled to debate Tuesday night. If he really is going to show I had some ideas about that.""Perhaps we should go someplace more private if we are going to discuss this." Minerva says quietly while looking over her shoulder at the other's present in the room. Jake says, "If we are done here, we can retire to the Lucky Lady while we wait for the debates to start." Kate quickly agreed and took one of Jake's arms. "You don't mind do you? Just a bit like old times, except I haven't been drinking." Jake nods and smiles. "Old times." He offers the other to Minerva and they head over to the Lucky Lady.</blockquote>

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