Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-20

I
 p Another gathering of business men
 followed within a week, called for by
 most alarming resolutions at the big
 gest mass meeting yet held in Brent
 wood. Bonfires had burned in the pub l lie square, and great oratoss of the la- l bor party spoke in the silence of the September evening to thousands of lis tening, eager ears and ceased amid l thunderous applause.
 Where is your MT. LangdonY' anx iously queried the mayor in swift aside to Mr. Cresswell that night.
 ''In Sioux City, slaving at shilling an hour-teaching," was the answer.
 "Well, get him out here quick. I can't give him anything in my office, as you well understand, but you can, and we'll make up purse if have to go down into my pockets for every cent of it.o
 And so it happened that Erie Lang don, whiter, thinner, even shabbier in raiment than when he left, came back | to Brentwood, and after a conference where only five men were present. i Cresswell, Boniface, Armstrong, the editor, and Bingham, the mayor-the returned wanderer took desk in | Cresswells anteroom and took up again the study of law, to which he had been deyoting his evenings. Then Perrigo senior was advised to induce | his son to resign the captaincy of the l Brentwood rifles. He wouldn't.
 "All right" aid certain merchants. | Our money won't be safe here if the | mob gets another start. We'll transfer our accounts to Omaha" Perrigo ''wilted' in less than a week. The resignation went in to the governor, and amid pounding on the floor of shod rifle butts and loud clapping of hands from the seats Mir. Langdon, clad in his old fatigue uniform, took command of the rifles by invitation and at once resumed drills. That night it was resolved to have three drills week until the company had caught up again. The next week 40 men re- sponded to roll call and 12 applied for membership. Tine first week in Octo- Der business meeting was held and a telegram read announcing that PerriL go's resignation, which had unaccount- ably hung fire, was at last accepted Langden was unanimously elected cap- tain and the certificate forwarded to the capital. The second week came without the expected commission, but The Sun announced that as the cleo ton was held before the vacancy off cially existed it was therefore illegal Try it again, said "theeboys," and then came an embarrassed adjutant general to suggest that it perhaps would be best not to insist on the election of Mir. Langdon. With the kindest feeling for him in the world the governor could not see his way clear to giving. him 8 commission. Indeed The Sun and Ex- aminer shrieked that the community never would stand it. A political ad- wiser told tie executive he would lose the vote of Brentwood, and an anony- nous letter or two informed him his grave was dug and the corpse. should be ready if ever he touched pen to parchment with the name of Erie Langdon on it. No wonder the gov- ernor sent his adjutant general to con- suit with @the boys.'s,q But now ssthe boys" had got their blood up. No Per- rigo dollars were forthcoming to boil it down, and the shout went up, Lang
 
 eral left in huff
 Then came State Senators Brent and Foster to see Colonel Cresswell, who was opposing the administration even though politically in accord. It was an off year for the legislature, and the eyes of many a senatorial possibili- ty were following the tottering foot steps of silvery haired statesman who would probably never resume his seat in the senatorial tank at the north wing at Washington. The vacancy would be filled by the governor, and who, said these gentlemen in the confi- dence of the executive-wno so likely to succeed to the toga as the brilliant and distinguished Colonel Cresswell provided he did not kill his own chance l by further embarrassing the governor? Cresswell bit. Tt would put the gov ernor in the roll of an intfmidator," said the emissaries, ito openly com mission MT. Langdon. Of course we may need him and all that and have every appreciation of him, but it won't do to fly in the face of the people. Let them think they are having their way, but quietly, you understand, work things so as to have ours" And Cresswell was at least sufficiently pro- found a statesman to see the political wisdom of their position, especially when coupled with that hint as to the senatorial succession. So he conferred with Langdon and saw and talked with "the boys," one or two at time. Ev- cry business body seemed to feel by this time they must have Langdon to instruct and command their company, but the few in the confidence of the administration knew that in the pres ent condition of affairs he could never be commissioned. Langdon saw it himself, smiled and after the politi- clans had talked until they were tired and the boys remained obdurate arose in meeting, said 20 words and solved tke problem. "I withdraw as a candi- date for captain and submit my name as a recruit" said he. There was a moment of amazement and silence, then burst of applause. Then some body in the confidence of Langdon moved the rules be suspended, ballot taken at once, and MT. Langdon was