The Scranton chronicle., 1900-12-01
Governor Longino Given \ Bait

II Mississippi governor WAS erer
offered bribe in The past ii never
leaked out 10 our knowledge, but the
present governor was given bait
which worked the wrong way; the fish
erman being caught iastead Of the fish
ON Saturday last 'smooth article"
by the name OF Gibson, representing a
firm OF contractors in Indiana, perhaps
discerning through some means or other
that our governor might have been
born where the population cit greens
with knife aud the only Job" that Is
known is a Job OF work, called on him
for the purpose OF initiating him in the
mysteries OF "jobs." lie had stopped
en- passant several times previously,
with the manifest intent Of "feeling
him." but the governor presumably,
wa little slow in "tumbling.' II so
happened, however, that on the morn
ing OF the 24th Gibson arose with steady
nerves, clondless mind and feeling eX-
eeptionally good over the rosy prospects
OF capturing the contract for the build
ing Of the capitol. Securing million
dollar contract Is not an every day ai-
fair aud Gibson saw plainly in his
minds eve an increase OF thousand a
year IN his salary, SO he called unto
himself all his wit aud COURAGE and inn
plored them not to iorsoke him Load.
ed 10 the mnzzle with the weapons that
often win success, he proceeded TO the
capitol for the purpose OF making bis
proposition to the governor so plain
that misconstruction would be impos.
siblc. After an exchange Of greetings
Gibson Immediately "piled' into the
subject. and with brazinry that can eas.
ily be imagined, promised the governor
"A big slice OF pie il he would secure
him the contract. OF course the COVER
nors curiosity was naturally aroused
aud he asked how the affair was to be
managed. The active brain of Gibson
spontaneously revealed the scheme
wherewith he inte .ded to imbroil oui
governor in ''job " When the revela
ton was made the governor must have
instantly recognized its perfect ieasibil
ity, although it did not require the
brain Of a genius to conceive 1t. W.
have faint recollection ofhaviug heard
OF bids heiug opened somewhere 70
the purpose OF giving a competitor
"sure thing" but we remember nothing
i'll regard to pie. However, when thi
governor discovered that the Job busi
ness was rot an unlathomable trick
he Thought witness would not be
snperilous appendage TO such an impor
tant transaction. SO he calmly called il
his secretary. upou the arrival of tha
gentleman, he repeated the proposition
hat Gibson had just made to him
II Is not stated whether Gibson acknow
lodged having made it or not, but tht
governor lost no time IN placing peel
er ON his trail, as Gibson not relishinl
the idea of stranger being called in d
matter that concerned only the COVER
nor and himeeli, skipped The peelei
captured him, however, without much
exertion, aud he was placed under q
$1,000 bond for an exhibition of exces.
sive nerve.
Gibson must undoubtedly possess .
a superahundance of gall TO have at
tempted to banibooale the governor IN
securing for him the contract to build
the capitol; but the fellow is credited
with statement that perhaps contains
much truth. lie said that all large con
tracts have Jobs" in them. Not being
in that line Of husines ourself. we could
not say, even though it sometimes occur
that contracts are secured under peculiar
conditions.
All honor to Governor Longino. II
he will but show the same disposition
toward some Office seekers, history will
record him as one OF Mississippi's moSl