Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-02-22

STcut corporation ]ntertSIeu III tH'
measure then before the Legislature
had by methods best known to its OFF,
cinls obtained control of sufficient votes
to pass II In defiance Of public opinion
In Chicago or elsewhere.
Then the mass meetings In this city
began to talk of tar and feathers, ropes
and lamp posts. lynching bees and
other unpleasant things.
But the legislative mill at Spring.
field ground along slowly, cautiously,
but steadily. From one stage to an.
other the odious bill advanced. while
the popular storm grew in strength and
fury.
The men back of the bill were II
hardy. rcsolutc lot.
| But as the popular clainor grew In
the intensity of its opposition. the men
In the post of danger grew to realize
that their efforts were worthy of spe-
cinl recognition.
There We're two men In particular
who felt strongly on this point ana rr-
solved to make their feelings felt. Upon
these two the great corporation relied
tn steer the measure clear Of the shoals
ana uulcksands Of the Legislature and
to safely weather the rocks of popular
opposition.
One of these was an officer of that
particular General Assembly. the other
was one of it's ablcst members from an
oratorical ana parllamentarlan point of
view.
The former was to use his official pO-
sltion to aid the bill along Its rugged
road. the other was to use In Its behalf
on the floor of the Legislature the gifts
with which nature had endowed him.
but such II dangerous task was
worthy of special consideration, and
they demanded It.
The consideration was $50 900 worth
of bonds In the great corporation!
After much hesitation and protest the
head Of the concern agreed to the cx,
orbitant demand.
The bill was ready for final passage,
: when on II certain day the two lcglsla.
: tors met the head of the wealthy cor
. pOiatlOn In Chicago
Two hundred and nifty certificates
of one thousand dollars each had to b'
prepared and submitted by the mag
! nate to the two solons for their inspcc
ton on that date.
These three men met as appointed
; and the capitalist laid upon the table
: In the private office. where the meet
, Ing was held, u big bundle Of hand
somely printed and cngrOsscd bonds oi
certificates Of stock.
There are two hundred and nifty o
! these. each of $1,000 stock, gentle
men," said the capitalist and promoter
laying his finger Oh the topmost certlii
cate OF the bunch.
, Both solons We're lawyers, the orator
! and parliamcntaran particular!
5 keen and able one. One OF his duties II
, earning his "blt" ont Of this deal wa'
Y to pass upon the legality and rcgularlt!
$ of the form Of bond He closely scru
) tinizcd this certificate. The finger o
I the promoter traced every line. Ever,
I word was carefully scanned as the ini
) tial digit OF the wealthy man moved
e slowly along under them. Down TO tn
: signature and stamp everything wa
/, found to be perfect and hawlcss. Then
+ scizing the pile, both the legislator
: counted 1t over carefully after the man
ncr of bank teller, and with as mucl
o care and accuracy rs Il bank cler
T. would have counted so many one thO,
o sand dollar bills. There We're two hun
). dred and fifty there, sure enough, an
nnw foi. lpDOSitinc them in safe. kcg1
o ing. This was settled TO the entire sal
= lsfactlOn OF the two legislative men
II bers, and when at last the precious bur
V die was safely locked up in u dcpOsl
>. vault they brcathed q sigh OF relief an
satisfaction and hicd them back I
II Springfield with light and happy heart
p They had done a splendid stroke q
n business. They had secured betwec
them for their individual services q
I. much as the majority in both house
ii had obtained for their aggregate vot'
N Doubtless they looked down upo
o. their cO-mcmbcrs as lot OF "ch"a
he skates" and laughed in their sleeve
II lat the tine "hold-out" scheme they ha
n. worked,
v, The bill was passed with flying go
re ors, all opposition being literally crusl
A. cd by the weight OF the OratOrial ava
Jf anche that swept on behind 1t on Il
1f final passage.
IL became Il law, ''the goods We're d
II, lIyercd" and the two eminent Law
ns makers AT once repaired 10 Chicago