The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-02-26

Langdon and Haines did moi
find much favor among the
Il powers that are-at the capital
Senator Peabody peremptorily demand
ed an explanation from Stevens as tC
how he had allowed his senator" tC
engage as his secretary this inquisi
tive man Haines, reporter who didn't
know his place"
Here we've put Langdon on naval
affairs because we knew he didn't I'M
derstand what's going on. and you
Stevens, supposed to be the finished
product of the political mill, VOu fall
asleep and let him take up a man
whom nobody can control, one who
knows the inside workings of Wash
ington and who will take particular
pleasure in teaching your fellow Mis-
sissippian far too much for our good"
Stevens reply, to effect that prob
ably Haines would consent TO be tax
en- care Of If judiciously approached
was derided by the observant Pea
body "A young reformer grows fat
on notoriety." he laughed. "and think
what a scandal he would have for his
newspaper If we took a cha on dis
closing our hand to him No no. Ste
vens: we must have him watched and
try to discredit him i'm some way Per
haps we can make Langdon believe
that his secretary is dishonest"
Congressman Norton was another
man who was dlsmayed Mt the forma
ton of the firm OF Langdon and Hams.
Young Randolph. too. could not forget
the defeat and humiliation he had pre-
viously suffered at Haines' hands and
grew more bitter as the reporters In
fluence over his father grew stronger
But Haines' most effective enemy had
arisen in the person he would be the
last to suspect. one whom he unceas-
ingly admired. one whose very words
he had come to cherish And possibly
II was not all her own fault that Caro-
lima Langdon had enlisted her services.
subtle and quite overwhelming lowing
to Halnes' fervent worship Of herr
against the secretary. Perhaps the So
cial system of which she had become a
part In Washington had something to
do with the craving to become leader
In that fascinating world whose daz-
cling variety and infinite diversion
seemed to fill her soul with all that II
yearned for Love she had, for she
had now promised to wed Congress
man Norton. She loved him fondly:
she had confessed TO him. and gradu-
ally she came TO work desperately
against Haines, who. she had been
convinced by Norton and Randolph.
would prove a stumbling block to them.
TO her father. to herself in her career
at the capital. II bis influence over the
senator should be permitted to exist or
to increase. And so on the surface
Langdon was most amiable
TO the secretary. encouraged him I'm his
attentions to her. led him surely into |
her power, Norton having prevailed on /
her to keep the knowledge of their en-
secret from every one. even
her father
The days and nights became filled |
with important work for Senator Lang. /
don and his secretary Together, they I
went over the important measures. out I
lined what appeared to be the best .
course Of procedure and carried II into .
effect as far AS possible Langdon be- 1
came a prominent figure I'm the senate. 4
owing to his consistent support of .
measures that fitted IN with the public
policy. or what should be the public
policy. OF the nation. He had learned
that the only practicable way TO out
wit or to cope with the members Of
he dominating machine. made up. be
was surprised to see. Of members OF
both the parties-the only two I'm
10 oppose what the
wanted with enough power TO
force Il 10 grant him what he believed
he public ought TO have. He was de
,cribed by some Of the hldebound lin
'iders- on Capitol hill as THE only
Irainy man who had fought the ma.
,hine 10 thirty years"
At the home be had later established
q Washington as preferable 20 the
hotel were frequently
zen a small coterie OF senators and
who had become known
% the sarcastic party bosses In both
houses Of congress as the ~Langdon
'rowd" which crowd was admitted to
,e somewhat Of a factor when Il final
y prevailed on the president 10 take
'ver 1900 postmasters from the ap-
'ointment class and put them under
he control OF the civil service commits
ion. resulting In the necessity Of
examination for these
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