The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-03-04

anything else until it does"
The secretary stretched across the
desk.
Excuse me, senator; Senator Pea
body is here" he said loudly and sur
prisedIy, as though he had just sight
ed the boss of the senate
The Mississippian turned
oh, good morning. senator. l was
just talking with my secretary about
that hydratc clause"
Peabody bowed slightly.
Yes. l knew it was coming up he
said, $50 l just dropped over. I'm not
opposed to it or any southern MEASURE,
but it makes it more difficult for me
when you southern people oppose GER
tain Pittsburg interests that 1 have to
take care Of
Langdon smiled.
1--WE never been in PittSburg but
they tell me it looks as if it could take
care of itself"
The visitor shrugged his shoulders
THAT'S true enough, but give and
take is the rule in political matters,
Langdon.'
This remark brought frown to
l.angdon's face.
81 don't like bargaining between gen
t1emen, Peabody. More important still
/ don't believe American politics has
to be run on that plan. Why can't we
change a lot of things now that we
are hcre?"
LanGdon became SO enthuSed that he
paced up and down the room as he
spoke.
peabody, you and Stevens and T."
continued Langdon. could get our
friends together and right now start
to make this great capital of our great
country the place of the square deal,
the place where give and take, bargain
and sale, are unknown. We could
start movement that would drive out
all secret influenccs"--
The secretary noticed Pcabody's in
voluntary start
"The newspapers would help u.s."
went on I.angdon. Public opinion
would be with us. and both houses of
congress would have to join in the
work if we went out in front. led the
way and showed them their plain
duty. And tell you. Senator Peabody.
that the principles that gave birth to
this country, the principles of truth.
honesty, justice and Independence.
would rule in Washington
"If Washington cared anything about
| them. LanGdon," intericctcd the Penn
sylvanian.
That's my point" cried the Missis-
sippian-.'let us teach Washington to
care about them"
"I.anGdon. Langdon." said Peabody
patroniZingly. you've seized on n big
ger task than you know. After you
reform Washington you will have to
go on and reform human nature. hui
man instincts, every human being in
I,.N
tics this angelic thing you describe.
1t isn't politics, it's humanity. that's
wrong" waving aside n protest from
Langdon.
"AEyway your idea is not constitu-
| tional, Langdon," continued Peabody
You want everybody to have Il share
In the national government. That
wouldn't meet the theory of centraiza-
ton woven into our political system
by it's founders. They intended that
our government should be controlled
by limited number of representa-
tires. so that authority can be fixed
and responsibility ascertained."
You distort my mcaning!' cried
Langdon. And. senator, L would like
to ask why 50 many high priced con-
stitntionai lawyers who enter congress
spend so much time in placing the con-
SllIutlon OF the United States between
themselves and their duty, sir, between
the people ana their government sir,
between the nation and it's destiny? l
want to know if in your opinion the
constitution was designed to throttle
expression of the public will?"
''Of course not. That's the reason
you and l. Langdon. and the others
are elected to the senate" added Pea
body, starting to leave. Then he
halted. by the way, SENATOR" he
said, "lll do my best to arrange what
you want regarding aluminium by
dratcs for the sake of the south. and
III also stand with You for Altacoola
for the naval base. Our committee is
to make its report tomorrow"
Iangdon observed the penetrating
gaze that Peabody had fixed on him
1t seemed to betray that the Pennsyl-
vanian's apparently careless manner
was assumed.
III M couGhcd LanCdon, CHANGING
at Haincs. I'm not absolutely com
s x