The Election

The Election

It is election time. Mr. B—, the candidate from one group, the "blues," wants to hire Jerry Barker's cab to deliver voters to the polls. Jerry says no because he doesn't want political posters on his cab. Nor does he want to drive around to pubs to pick up drunk voters and take them to polling places. Although Jerry agrees with some of the blues' policies, he does not want to be a part of manipulating the vote. Jerry believes "an election is a very serious thing; at least it ought to be." He says the chaos and partisanship around the elections interfere with each man's chance to vote his conscience. Jerry tells Polly Barker that Mr. B— doesn't understand workers' needs and therefore will not vote for him, despite agreeing with some of his ideas.

When Harry Barker criticizes "orange blackguards" who were mean to his sister, Jerry speaks sternly, advising Harry not to attack people based on their political affiliations and praising the boy for defending his sister.