Fog of War
Update 47
Fall 1884
The Washington Territorial Legislature passed a bill that gave women equal rights at the ballot box. Mayor Walker was stepping down after decades of service to the little town, and Kitty Timworthy was immediately recruited to run for the vacant position. Eastman Finch, wary of Kitty and her supporters after seeing some of their radical proposals, vowed to run against Kitty and protect the pro-growth policies that had allowed New SorGun to thrive.
“What gum!”
The sound of Finch’s fist pounding the desk could be heard throughout the house.
“This shecoonery must stop today. Miss Kitty and her boodle of bad eggs are spreading so many lies around town, I can barely keep fact from fiction.”
Eastman’s face was red with anger. He grabbed the paper on his desk and let it fly across the room.
“Reverend Payne and his bull laden excuse for a paper is only icing on the cake…”
Ever since Finch announced his intention to run for Mayor of New SorGun, Kitty and her supporters eagerly went to work attacking anything and everything they could to bring Finch down a notch or two. Some issues were legitimate targets, like the safety record at one of the new factories along the wharf that was financed by Finch. Others were purely fabricated rumors meant to slander the businessman’s reputation.
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However, politics in the rough and wild frontier of the late 19th century was anything but a fair game. At first, Finch tried to mitigate the damaging lies by defending himself through public speeches and friendly articles in the newspaper.
Unfortunately, his words held little sway among many New SorGunites. It appeared that a large majority were increasingly drawn to Miss Kitty’s fiery oratory and the belief that she was truly looking out for the working class. Kitty Timworthy was a constant presence around Indian Point and the other working class neighborhoods around town. She opened up two more soup kitchens in town, offering free or nearly free meals to those who could barely afford to keep their bellies full.
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Even though many of the soup kitchen patrons were ineligible to vote in the upcoming election, citizens in town who could were taking notice to Mrs. Timworthy’s charitable proclivities. In other words, Kitty was winning the public relations battle.
Finch may have been lost in the world of politics, but he was never afraid to get down in the trenches, and as November neared, he realized what he must do. After an early morning stroll along the waterfront, the idea flashed through his head.
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“A debate?” questioned Mr. Myers, as he tried to keep pace with Eastman Finch. The two were darting down Main St. with a vigor Myers hadn’t seen in his friend in months.
“You heard right old boy,” Finch exclaimed. “There’s a rumor mill eating up this entire town, and the only way to set things straight is to speak directly to each and every citizen.”
“But isn’t that what we’ve been doing with your round the clock speeches and newspaper bits?” wondered Myers.
Finch suddenly stopped on the sidewalk.
“When you woke this morning and looked out across the town, what did you see Mr. Myers?”
Myers fiddled with his chin, recollecting his day and said, “Well, normally I have a wonderful gaze down the train tacks as they slice toward the harbor, but this morning was nothing but fog…”
“My point exactly,” interrupted Finch. “A fog has settled in our collective minds as rumors and doublespeak convolute the facts.”
Myers studied Finch with a skeptical eye.
“A debate, my friendly engineer, will burn away the fog like the afternoon sun, and there will be nothing left to the imagination” Finch concluded proudly.
Myers began to speak but Finch cut him off while he swirled back into his hurried pace, “It doesn’t matter if it’s only for a day… A debate will cut through this foggy town and clear the air. A great debate!”
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Finch broached the idea in person to Kitty TImworthy, who readily agreed to the proposal. It would be yet another chance to show this town just how wrong Mr. Finch and his antiquated capitalistic ideas truly were, she thought. So in late October, a week before the election the Great New SorGun debate took place in front of the new town hall. Some would claim the entire town showed up, and anybody there that day would easily agree.
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The air was brisk, that day, but the citizens of New SorGun were too excited to notice. The murmuring from the crowd was quite noticeable, when suddenly Mayor Walker stood up and addressed the crowd.
“Ladies and Gentlemen…”
Replies to the last Teaser:
Ln X: I really like that coast! Also those are some snazzy photoshopped waves.
Thank you – it took some experiment in photoshop, but I’m happy with this result.
Huston: Tranquil scene it seems. Haven't got a lot of that in a while 
The calm before the storm 
NMUSpidey: I can hear the ocean from here! And top notch writer like me? Aw, you are too kind to this here hack.
Thanks! Writing is definetly my weakest point when it comes to this CJ. It also takes the most work
Mymyjp: awesome mmp work as always!
Thank you!
slickbg56: Mmmm... I can feel the jellyfish stings and barnacles jabbing my shins already... Awesome work on this!
Thanks – every once in a while I need to chill out and ‘paint’ a scene or two.
Jetty Jockey: Lookin good. Steep drop off, lots of structure... looks like a good spot for some fishing, if the orcas haven't gotten them all already . In response to your query, yes Cape May County has been revived.
That’s great to hear – I’m looking forward to future updates!
Packersfan: Oh, wow, you are still going. I thought this thing died...but you just moved exclusively to the City Journal section.
I need some help getting historical buildings like you have...especially a fort. I want to do a few shots of historical establishment of my region like you have...but I just don't know where to start.
Hopefully I was able to get you started – I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with in your new region.
Yarahi: A smalltown Kentucky girl battling the evil of corporate industry for a position of great power?? This could be interesting.. *brings out popcorn*
Glad to see you stop by
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