The Somerset reporter., 1901-03-21
The Election of
Senator Gitkinz.

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! John Gitkin2 had spent two terms In
the United States senate aud was anx-
ious to go back for another six years.
/ Unfortunately his prospects did not ap-
/ pear to be the brightest The legisla-
| ture of the far western state which
would meet to choose his successor
within two months was evenly divided.
Exactly half its members on joint bal
lot belonged to the political organiZa-
/ ton of which Senator Gitkinz was one
of the heads. For purposes of identif-
cation IT may be called the Blue party.
| The Red party. which was bitterly op-
posed to Senator GitiinZ, had an equal
number of votes in the legislature,
lacking only one. The odd man was
State Senator Mari, elected as an indie
pendent from one of the interior coun-
ties of the state. If Mari voted for
Senator GitkinZ. his election was as
sured. If, as was expected. he voted
for the caucus nominee of the Red par
ty. it would be necessary to detach
some opposition member from his par
| ty allegiance That was the problem
which Senator Gitkinz was facing.
Three men sat in little room open
ing into the library of Senator Git
kinZ'S house in the town of Carton.
They were smoking and looking into
the fire Gitknz himself was n large
man of 80, dressed so well that his
clothes were not at all noticeable. His
heavy figure was topped by large and
we'll shaped head. His iron gray hair
was worn long and his face smooth
shaven. With his deep set black eyes
and eagle beak he looked not unlike the
pictures of Daniel Webster. Early in
his political career the resemblance
had been marked. and he had ever
since cultivated it. Even great men. it
may be remarked. have their little van.
tiles.
The man standing next the table was
Gregory Uppman. for more than u
years the private secretary of Senator
Gitkinz. He was rather small, with a
smooth manner an educated hand
grasp and a thorough acquaintance
with practical politics.
The third man in the room was
Charles Swerin. tall. thin and gaunt,
with faded blue eyes looking out
through big bowed gold glasses. He
looked the part of a student, a chess
player, perhaps. or philosopher, used
10 concentrating his mind for a long
time on an abstruse problem. Swerin $
name never got into the papers. He
bad no apparent business. Yet he iv-
ed well and was always well supplied
with money. 70 the few he was known
as the brains of Senator Gitkinz"
The three were completing their plan
of action for the campaign so close at
hand.
1--WE gone over all of them" said
Swerin, and | think we had better
concentrate Oh old Senator Mari 1t
will seem more natural If he fops than
If one of the regular Reds comes over
TO us. Let's see what you've got on
Mari. Gregg"
The private secretary got up, unlock
ed and opened the doors of tall cabi-
net. 1t was filled with little pigeon
holes. each of them numbered. In a
drawer below was list of the mem
bers of the state legislature the num-
Der opposite each name being the same
as that on one of the pigeonholes above
He ran his finger down the list to the
name of Mari, noted the number OPP
posite it and then pulled from the cabi-
net the little tin box which bore the
same number. The box was half filed
with papers and clippings.
"Marr was born in New York state"
began Uppman. His father was
farmer. The old man died while Mari
was in the district school, and he has
mad to support the family ever since
He was admitted to the bar when he
was 40 years Old. He is attorney for
the street ear company which owns the
line In lIartil. his home town. This is
the first time he has ever held office He
is rated at from $1,000 to $4,000. Per.
sonally he is said to be prohibition.
list. though when he was in Chicago
last winter he took a little fun with the
boys. He has an exemplary reputation
in TIartil. Dorson does not think hm
man of strong character"
81 think | know how to manage old
man Mari" said SWerin, after a mo-
ment's pause. Does he know you.
Gregg
NO: never saw him in my life"
'Wcll. | want you to find out all
about that street railway line which
he represents as attorney Get its cap
ital. its condition. and the names of its
chief owners and try to find out
whether 1t can be bought at a reason
able price"
Within week State Senator Mar
received n letter from a Chicago law
yer asking if the IIartl street car line.
for which be was attorney. was on the
market II ii could be bought AT a
reasonable figure. the lawyer wrote, he
might be able to find a purchaser for
It,
1t happened that the Hartl Street
Car company had never been a profit.
able Investment Its owners were To-
cal capitalists. who had been chiefly
moved to build the line by town pride
The best it had ever done was to pay
expenses Its owners as Mari knew
would be delighted to get the property
off their hands. provided only that il
might be maintained and kept running.
He held a conference with the men
who owned most of its stock before he
answered the letter from Chicago.