River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-01-24

Why should he not vote for the bill
anyway Its advocates certainly adj
vanced excellent reasons why it
should become law, and despite all
the newspaper talk of bribery and cor
ruption many citizens were at the
capital urging its passage. Yes among
them were some of the men from his
home county who stood the highest
in civic affairs, who were recognized
supporters of all movements for re-
form OF course he knew there were
reasons why they wanted this par
ticular bill passed and that these rea-
sons were not wholly unrelated to
their business interests, but they had
excellent reasons ready on their
tongues ends to justify their posi-
tion and if he ignored their desires
and voted against their wishes he was
promised that he would have plenty
of trouble in the pursuit of his polit-
ieal ambitions in his home county.
But, argue as he would, he could
not stife the still small voice of his
conscience nor the knowledge, deep
down iu his soul, that the bill was an
iniquitous one. designed TO fill the
pockets of the powerful interests that
wef moving heaven and earth TO Sc
curs its passage.
Aud he had come down to the legis-
,atnre filed so full of earnest purpose
to stand for the things that were
rigat, regardless alike Of popular
clataor and self-intercst and so re-
sol'ed to prove that ii was possible
even in these days 10 stand like
Spartan against everything upon
which rested the slightest suspicion of
wrcug He had made such a good
fight for cleanliness in politics and
by ais youthful enthusiasm had rallied
the people so strongly against the
powers Of corruption that the pre-
vailing machine, reputed TO be invul-
nerable. had gone down before him
and the first dream of his life had
been realized-he was sent to the
state capital TO represent the people
But how different he found II all
from what he had supposed There
seemed TO be no chance to make an is
sue or get out in the open and fight for
his ideals Every question presented
contained such q mixture of good and
evil that il seemed impossible 10 make
an open stand and try TO rally the
friends of virtue against the cham
pious of vice. Then. too, the very
men who hud stood so solidly back of
him in his county against the gang
sters were so different here at the
capital. Their stand for good as a
glittering generality was in striking
contrast TO their stand for specific
measures of questionable character
when their business or financial inter
ests seemed to be involved
Through all his soIiloquy there
roamed a pair of flashing black eyes
in whose depths there seemed 10 Turk
a challenge and an invitation when
ever they looked into his. lie knew
she was a professional lobbyist and
had heard that she had placed" a
fabulous sum in the interest Of the
bill tie had seen her entertain at
her luxurious apartments all kinds of
legislators aud win a hearing for the
bill lie had noted the cheap manner
in which some were pleased and had
marycled al her cousummate tact.
Vut she had treated him in a very
different manner from the rest She
had looked up to him with a Difference
that was as honey to his young soul.
She had tried no cheap talk or meth
DDS with him. In fact she had scarce
" mentioned the bill 20 him. She had
discussed history and literature and
the great political episodes Of the past
and had done it so intelligcntly and
with SO great an appreciation Of the
circumstances and all their relations
and bearings that he had been
charmed.
What reference she had made to
him 50 far as the bin was concerned
had consisted of the plausible argu-
ments IN its favor which were beiug
advanced by its advocates taud these
she had put with much apparent can.
dorl, aad several ingenious aud caud. /
suggestions that the bill was not on,
in which the people rs whole We're
taking any great interest aad that ii
s.,emes pity Tor a man on the
threshold of So promising career To
.GeaE The sAuity Of such powerful in.