Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1905-09-23
THAT LIST OF BASSETT'S
BY MIRIAM NICHOLSON

Thorp's constitutional incapacity to
take program. NewberFy, the other can
didate for the Senatorship, looked at
United Powers table of facts and figures
and promptly threw up the sponge There
was no use fighting Boss Bassett and the
mighty corporation that controlled poll
tics throughout the State-he knew that.
Thorp knew it, too, but admitting TACT
and being reconciled to it were two widely
separated processes to Thorp.
"You're in the fight to stay, Senator
Bassett had asked by way OF preliminary
"You really expect to be reelected?
The two men were closeted at the SEN
ator's headquarters in the one hotel at
Sacramento. Everybody stays at the
same place at the Capital during sessions
even reporters there is no other place
"You bet I'm in it Bill Thorp's no
uuitter :" answered the Senator.
Bassett passed fat, white hand over
close-shaven chin. "You can count on
your men, suppose? Or
.sIhat's what can" declared Thorp
positively.
Or you think you can, amended
Bassett softly.
Whereupon Thorp swore roundly fuss-
ed and fumed announced his a s'iute
conviction of the loyalty OF his supporters
in q Iond uncertain voice, and then fell
silent and uncomfortable, biting his short
nails and casting scrutinizing glances at
Bassett.
But YOU might scrutinize Y Ps Boss
face till doomsday without finding out
ANYTHING but what lie wanted you to
know. I've interviewed Bassett num-
her of times on the most delicate matters
concerning the Boss boss-United Power.
And he has sent me away empty-handed
regularly, and yet with a pleased little
sense of having been permitted to INFER
something special vague something OF
an intimate and confidential nature which
the Boss intimated would be caviare to
the mere multitude of reporters.
The old fox-with his small, twlnkilng,
cold eye, his stiff, short hair, his shrewd,
sharp nose-oh, can fancy just how he
looked at Thorp!
"Why, look here, Bassett" Sena-
tor. began to buster the Boss smiling
confidence disconnected him-"these men
are pledged to me pledged in black and
white"
evil vou-'' began Bassett, but
Thorp stormed past the interruption.
"And not only with pen and paper, but
they're bound to me. Pm no chicken in
politics, but when you secure man
election, as / did Aliens; when you'ye
got deputy collestorship of the port Tor
near relative, as l did for Brighan's
brother when you've shelled out money
to pay mortgage pressingly due, which
is what | did for kinafy when you've
spent your own money in their counties,
as | have for Grimnin, Glass, Hires,
Triton, johnson, Jameson and the lot OF
them-why, you ought to count pretty
hard on EN-"
"You certainly ought" agreed Bassett
with the openness to conviction that
makes intellectual contact with him re-
freshing.
Senator Thorp got to his feet, pulled
out his chest, dug his hand down into his
pocket and complacently jingIed his
money and his keys.
"Well, that's where | stand" he de-
clared with pompous dissatisfaction.
And Bassett looked at him.
"Yep-that's where | stand, repeated
Thorp, bit of irritation at the others
smiling silence betraying itself in his
voice and manner "Well ~ lie de-
manded presently.
"Well-I wouldn't stand too hard, Sen
ator"
And Thorp began to buster, drowning
the very words he really wanted to hear,
in his effort to keep up his own courage.
Bassett scratched his stiff, bristling hair
gently, and waited.
do you mind, Senator" lie asked
pleasantly, after Thorp had subsidized,
Showing me your list ? Only the true
and tried, if you please, those you're alb.
solutely sure Of You can have my word
that I'll take no advantage of your con-
fidence, but | maybe able to-assist-
to spare you some trouble and-possible
disappointment" he concluded with del
icate hesitation.
OF course, Boss Bassett is man OF
honor, with certain well-detined limita-
tons everybody knows that. And Thorp
knew it as well as anybody. A man isn't
in politics in corporation-ridden State
for fifteen years without learning the kind
of boss he has to deal with.
"All right, I'll show it to you. Not
for the reasons you give, but to prove
to you what good grounds | have for
feeling confident of reelection" He
pulled a slip Of paper out Of his wallet
and, tapping it knowingly with his fore
finger, said: YOU'RE not the first man
who has seen it, Newberry, who's got
twenty votes
"Newberry did have twenty votes"
put in Bassett quietly.
Thorp looked at him moment, irri-
tated, incredulous inquiry in his face
Then he hurried on:
"Newberry thought some of these fell
lows might have been repeating on US SO
yesterday We got together, he and l, and
Just quietly compared notes. By Heaven,
there wasn't single man OH lis list that
was on mine The men pledged to him
were true to him. The men pledged to
me were true to me-"
"You mean true, in your case, 50 far as
Newberry is concerned and in his, 50
far as you are concerned" remarked Bas-
sett imperturbably.
II mean-wllat's that? don't uu,Ier
stand you" Thorp was agitateI.
tl,;- "A