The San Francisco call., 1904-10-09
CHAPTER VII.
The SentimentaIists.

10 the capitol was the quickest a fog
ged cab horse could make but he might
have spared the horse and saved the
double fee. On the broad steps of the
south portico he, uprushing three at a
bound, met the advance guard of the
gallery contingent down coming. The
House had adjourned.
"One minute, Harnwicke,'' he gasped.
falling upon the first member of the
corporations lobby he could identify
in the throng. What's been done?"
They've taken fall out of us" was
the brusque reply. House bill %
was reported by the Committee on
Judiciary and rushed through after you
left. Somebody engineered it to the
pairing of a finger nail; bare quorum
to act; members who might have fill
bustered weeded out on one pretext or
another; to a man; pages all excused
and nobody hefe with the privilege of
the floor 1t was as neat a piece of
gag work as 1 ever hope to see if 1
live TO be hundred
Kent turned about and joined the
tcwnward dispersal with his informant.
well. l suppose that settles it def
nitely; at least, until we can test its
constitutionality in the courts, ne
said.
Harnwicke thought not, being of the
opinion that the vested interests would
never say die until they were quite
dead As assistant Counsel for the
Overland Short Line he was in some
sense the dean of the corps of observa-
ton, and could speak with authority.
There is one chance left for us this
side of the courts" he went on; and
now that think Of it you are the man
L aE Tcr
The bill still lacks the Governors sig
nature"
Kent shook his head.
It's his own measure. 1 have proof
positive that he and Meigs and Hen
bricks drafted 1t. And all this fine
haired engineering tonight was his
or Meigs."
''Of course, we all know that. But
we don't know the particular object
yet Do they need the new law in their
business as a source of revenue? Or
do they want to be hired to kill it?
In other words, does Bucks want
lump sum for a veto? You know the
man better than any of us.
by Jovei" said Kent. DO you mean
to say you would buy the Governor of
a State?'
Harnwicke turned a cold eye on his
companion as they strode along. He
,
aggressive type-a finished product or
the modern school of business lawyers.
Il don't understand that you are
raising the question of ethics at TINS
stage of the game, do p" he remarked.
Kent fired uD little.
And if I am?" he retorted.
Il should say you had missed your
calling 1t is BADLY a question of busi-
ness-or rather of self-Dreservation. We
needn't mince matters among our
selves. If Bucks is for sale, we buy
him."
Kent shrugged.
There isn't any doubt about his pur
chasability. But L confess don't quite
see how you will go about it.
Never mind that part of it: just
leave the ways and means with those
of us who have riper eXperience-and
fewer hamperings, perhaps-than you
have. Your share in it is to tell us how
big bid we must make. AS say, you
know the man."
David Kent was silent for the strid
ing of half a square. The New Eng
land conscience dies hard. and while 1T
lives it is given to drawing sharp lines
on all the boundaries of culpability.
Kent ended by taking the matter in
debate violently out of the domain of
ethics and standing it upon the ground
of eXpediency.
have to bid high-not to overcome his
scruples, for he has none; but to satisfy
his greed-which is abnormal. And,
besides, he has his pose to defend. If
he can see his way clear to a harvest
of extortions under the law, he will
probably turn you down-and will
make it hot for you later on in the
name of outraged virtue"
Harnwickes laugh was cynical.
He and his little clique don't own
the earth in fee simple. Perhaps we
shall be able to make them grasp that
idea before we are through with them.
We have had this fight on in other
States. Would ten thousand be likely
to satisfy him ?"
No" said Kent. IF you add another
cipher, it might
"A hundred thousand is pot of
money. l take it for granted the West
ern Pacific will stand its pro-rate?''
The New England conscience bucked
again. and Kent made his first open
protest against the methods of the de-
moralzers.
II am not in a position to say: l
should advise against it. Unoficially
[ think l can speak for Loring and the
Boston people. We are not more saint
ly than other folk. perhaps; and we are
not in the railroad business for health
or pleasure. But 1 fancy the Advisory
a Governor-at any rate, l hope it
would"
Rot said Haruwicke. And then:
You'll reap the benefits with other
interstate interests; you'll have to
come in."
Kent hesitated.. but not now on the
ground of the principle to be de-
Tended.
THAT brings in a question which 1
am not competent to decide. Loring
is your man. You will call a con-
ference of the powers l take it ?"
1T is already called. l sent Ather-
ton out to notify everybody as soon
as the trap was sprung in the House
We meet in the ordinary at the Came
lot You'll be there?''
A little later-if Loring wants me-
I have some telephoning to do before
this thing gets on the wires"
They parted at the entrance to the
Camelot Club and Kent went two
squares farther on to the wellington.
Ormsby had not yet returned and