The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-13

THE GODS AND KIsMET.

Say, Shacklett, can't you run over 10
Springfield and look into that Dill TOT the
regulation of railroads with termini on
river boundaries OF the State, otherwise the
Chicago, GaIesburg & Mississippi Rail-
way? It's the most peculiar sandoaggins
measure I ever had held over my head, and
/ imagine it's worthy OF your interest
General Manager Norton was saying during
a chat over many affairs Of the road In
the private Office.
Sorry" replied the general counsel. 'but
when I stipulated In the beginning that /
should attend only to strictly legal bust
ness I did IL especially TO preclude my
ever having to work for the road at any
capitaI. I want to be free to introduce a
sandbagging bill myself" he laughed,
land I'm not going to do anything which
will tend in the least to show that ought
to be for the road in the Legislature. II
I'm elected justice OF the peace some time
shall feel bound by my contract to decide
all cases in your favor, but IL go to the
Legislature I'm free to vote against you
every time II want to-"
Norton laughed, too, and Shacklett con-
tinued:
But 1 see no objection to recommending
good men to you for that work IL they're
my friends. Now. there's young Mckee.
OF my town. who Is a statesman out Of a
Job since he lost committee clerkshiC. and
he can manage your lobby for you this win
ter as well as anybody. and better than
some you've had there lately. wish you'd
give him the place. and I'll guarantee his
quality"
Norton looked at his desk to hide the
smile in his eyes at the metaphysics in
volved in Shacklett's chosen position when
II was all worked out, and responded that
Mckee would be sent for that afternoon.
Mckee found that the bill to regulate his
particular road was peculiar in that ii dis
played astonishing amount Of dstailed
knowledge Of the conduct Of railroads, and
their desires which are kept the most
deeply hidden. The strangest thing was
that a member from far down in Egypt,
who had been raising horses and wheat for
thirty years, should happen to light upon
SO many particular distasteful features
and get them into one BILL or course,
lawyer had written it. but the member
made no secret of the fact that he had
caused his son-in-law, a lawyer in a coun-
try town. to fix I'D the language and in
sert said and provided" in the proper
places.
of the railroad spent week studying the
member who introduced the bill, and then
decided to seek elsewhere for an opening
in the lines of the enemy. The member
certainly was in earnest. and. curiously
enough, was honest In his views.
There's bills enough bein' introduced
here" he said. IAN 1 wouldn't add to the
straw comm out of the thrashin' machine
II I don't believe that a bill like mine
oughter be passed. You fellers can't I'M
derstand the farmer any more than the
farmer can understand you, so I don't see
much use OF our argering. But I expect to
find enough members here who can under
stand IL to get Ii passed-that is, IL you
don't buy up too many o. 'em. I hain't
goin' to preach about your corrupt meth
DDS, for ais fair in war, an that's the
way you fight. But IL can beat you with
my own little game I'm goin' to do it,
Then Mckee went to two or three men,
bers who had shown themselves earnest
supporters OF the farmer members bill.
He got little satisfaction from them. One
of them talked about the oppression by
capital and the danger 80 the country from
corporation greed and the other things so
glibly that Mckee knew that he did not
believe what he was saying. and was using
It for a mask. But he found IL impossible
TO pull on the mask. Only one OF them
was candid with him. and this one said:
Young man. 1 know pretty well what
your roads worth and within few thou
sand what 1t has to spend. but L want to
tell you that you're raised out OF this game
and are playing in company too rich for
your blood. II this bill hit other roads SO
they could pool they would probably break
the push behind the bill. but your road
can't do 1t by itself. and T know it, and
you'll find 1t out by failing to weaken our
side"
But who can have enough affirmative
interest I'm this thing to raise out of the
game. and enough money to do II that he
wants TO spend in that way-how can he
make anything by it?" Mckee asked, bold
ly. hoping that the candor Of the other man
would extend to some valuable informa-
ton.
II don't know how he's going to make
anything by the bill passing" was the re-
ply, and, To tell the truth. 1 don't know
exactly who he is. but I know he's spend
Ing hardly any money. didn't say he
was. did /? There's other valuable consid-
erations around here besides legal tender
amt there?"
ITS influence. Who has the appointments
The Governor and the senator: but what
are they up to? We might satisfy them
in some other way IL they'll only state
what they want"
No; It's not the Governor nor the sem
ator; I'm pretty sure from what I know
IT seems to me. young man. that you'd
better post yourself on the situation before
you expect TO bust the machine you're rr
against I wouldn't tell you If I knew
WHO'S behind the measure but I will ter
you that get out of 1t certain things tina,
wiz be worth more to me than any money
that's paid around here very often"
Mckee felt that HE future was at stake
for IL he executed this job for the railroad
Norton would keep him for years In charge
of the railroad lobby at Springfield at a GOOD
salary and with plenty OF chances to picl
up something besides. But IL he failed
somebody else would succeed him before
the session was a week older. He knew
that results are the measure of efficienc,
In the lobby. and that there was no argu
ment In anything else. He saw the bill re
ferred to committee and heard the chair
man tell Its sponsor that IL would be re-
ported back the following week. He saw
member after har