The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-02-06
The Election of
Senator Gitkinz.

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John Gltkinz had spent two terms In
the United States senate and WAS anx-
ieus to 90 back for another six years.
Unfortunately his prospects did not APP
pear TO be the brightest The legisla-
lure 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 organza-
tion of which Senator GitkinZ was one
of the beads For purposes of identitl-
cation It may be called the Blue party.
The Red party, which was bitterly OPP
posed TO Senator Gitklnz, 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 Gitlilnz, his election was as
sured. If, as was expected, he voted
for the caucus nominee of the Red par
tN il would be necessary To detach
some opposition member from his par
" allegiance. That was the problem
Which Senator Gitkinz was facing
Three men sat IN little room open
ing into the library of Senator Gilt
ltin2's house in the town of Carton.
They were smoking and looking Into
the fire. Gitkinz himself was II large
man of So dressed so we'll that his
clothes were not ut all noticeable. His
heavy figure was topped by large and
well shaped head His iron gray hair
was worn long and his face smooth
shaver. 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 1t. Even great men, 1t
may be remarked. have their little van
| tiles.
The man standing next the table was
Gregory Uppman. for more than 10
years the private secretary OF Senator
Gitkinz. He was rather small, with Il
smooth manner an educated hand
grasp and II thorough acquaintance
with practical politics.
The third man in the room was
Charles Sworin, tall, thin and gaunt,
with faded blue eyes looking out
through big bowed gold glasses. lie
looked the part Of n student, n chess
player, perhaps, or philosopher. used
to concentrating his mind for long
time on an Gbstruse problem. Swerin's
name never got into the papers. He
had no apparent business, Yet he Nv
ed well and was always well supplied
with money. To the few he was known
as "the brains of Senator Gitklnz."
The three were completing their plan
of action for the campaign so close at
hand.
I've gone over all of them" said
Swerin, land | think we had better
concentrate on old Senator Mari. 1t
will seem more natural II he flops than
II 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 a tall cabl-
net 1t was filed with little pigeon
holes, each OF them numbered. In
drawer below was list OF the mem
bers of the state legislature, the mum
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 filled
with papers and clippings.
"Marr was born In New York state"
began Uppman. "Hls father was a
farmer. The old man died while Mari
was In the district school, and he has
had to support the family ever since.
He was admitted to the bar when he
was 40 years old. He Is attorney for
the street car company which OWNS the
line In Hartil, 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
ist, though when he was In Chicago
last winter be took little fun with the
boys. He has an exemplary reputation
ia Hartil. Dorson does not think him
a man of strong character"
II think l know how to manage old
man Marr," said Swerln after mo-
ments pause Does he know you,
Gregg
mo; / never saw him in my life"
well, l want you to find out all
about that street railway line which
he represents as attorney. Get It's cap
ital, its condition, and the names of Its
chief owners, and try TO find out
whether It can be bought at a reason
able price"
Within a week State Senator Mari
received n letter from q Chicago law
yer asking If the Hartil street car line,
for which he was attorney, was on the
market. If 1t could be bought at q
reasonable figure, the lawyer wrote, he
might be able TO find a purchaser for
IL.
1t happened that the HartIl 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 1t had ever done was to pay
expenses It's owners as Mari knew