The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-22
Clam Gets Inside
knowled of the Lobby

80 6A@A
journalist, makes the acquaintance VI
members Of the lobby a Washington
and is admitted to one OF their secret
seSsions.)
Washington, L. s., 13 Feb.
Al the first, when | did study the
congress and those people at the CAPT.
| tot, / did think all persons were legis-
fatorS or spectators. More study, with
experience, ~cOnvinces me that those
Americans al the capitol are divided
into many classes. all Of them the
most important and interesting to tne
student of affairs American. / shall
now tell TO the France what ! have
seen of those lobbyists.
Two days before, when the grand de-
was expected in the senate. l did
hurry to the capitol. 1t was to make
studies OF great senators that / did
hurry. Yet, on a stairway Of marble
one gentleman did pluck me by the
sleeve. He had great age and those
clothes OF him did shine with ancien
use. The eye Of this man was bright
like the sun upon ice. Almost / could
| not look into it. The hair and whis-
kers of him had ~whiteness. He said:
You, dear sir, are NJ. Clam, Of
Paris?"
My reply: You, sir, are not mis-
taken. Yet, / have embarrassment !
you do not tell me your name"
He said: Come with me to this
window. l shall tell you wonderful
things of the congress. Also, you shall
help me-
In the recess of one window that
aged American did take from the
pocket one large roll Of papers, very
yellow, wrapped with the rubber Dana
Trembling, he did unfold them. He
said:
MY NAME, NJ. Clam, is Neverdie
Johnson. You start! You nave heard
that name before? You have heard Of
that great Johnson claim? No? Wen.
the grand pleasure awaits you I, M.
Clam, am the descendant of Holdfast
Johnson, of the Vermont state. In the
1884 year, Holdfast Johnson did inven.
one telegraph n,aChiue. Here are those
papers. Yet, aftervacd, n villain
named Morse did steal thai invnn:ion.
Now, Morse dOes have great honor, re:
my father Holdfast is Forgotten. On
the deathbed of him he said. Never
die, you shall go to the congress and
present that claim for the million dol
lars. Those United States shall pay
for my grand invention Each year
since, 1 have come to the congress. A.
most, in the 1875 year, / did get one
favorable report from the committee
on claims. Yet that committee on dis
posal of useless documents did fight
for jurisdiction of my case. So I had
the disappointment. Yet I have hopes
in this year. One Vermont senator did
nOd the head to me three weeks past
This, I think, means that the congress
will soon pay me. You, M. Clam
shall see those papers,"
Z. M. Johnson did unfold many papeS |
/ did read them all. All doubt was des. !
troyed. I am sure NJ. Johnson Is tn |
victim Of the ingratitude. He sinai
have my help. How could that villaa |
Morse do such things? Almost it MAD
my blood to boil when I did think O
these wrongs. While we did talk, NJ
Proctor, the senator of the Vernon
state, did pass by. Impetuously l IL
call to him. I said:
You, NJ. Prostor, do remember M
At the n. Fairbanks reception We di
converse on the maple syrup"
His reply: "Ah, yes, my dear Clam
What shall l do to make you NOR
happy?"
l said: Here. N. Proctor, is M
Johnson, of the" Vermont state. Why
do you make him to wait forever 10
those millions of dollars? This is tn
debt of honor!"
His reply: Il do remember now thi
great claim. You, II. Johnson, cshal
those papers with my secretary, M
We shall then investigate thi
case. If this republic does owe money
% people of the Vermont state, 1 cam
1ot sleep until l get the settlement.
shame if those other senators q
1eat me to that treasury. With thanks,
VI Clam, for your kindness"
NJ. Proctor did embrace me and go
lis wa. NJ. Johnson's eyes be-
,ame bright with joy. Almost he did
with excitement. | had pleasure
soon, I think, NJ. Johnson will sc
hose million of dollars. How easy to {
these matters, if one car ge
he ear of the great!
Glowing with the satisfaction uI [
'ood deeds, l left N. Johnson and went
p those stairs. In the gallery were I
many people listening to one discus 7
on the coal lands of the Indian |
'erritory. I had ennui, with weaTf- Q
ess~ Turning to one large American, c
said: You, sir, do understand this q
ebate?" I
His reply: mo, dear sir. All is !.
TO me. I'm waiting for 5 o'c!ocG Il