Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-02-12

~ 10 - hAoA ~ 10y 0ISNAaf -
ness to personally conduct you through
one Mardi Gras, with a special under
standing, of course, that you don't
print anything In the paper. I'm a
vestryman In my church, but since
misfortune has come upon our state ]
have to be careful"
Haines searched his brain. He knew
of no grave calamity that had hap
pened recently in Mississippi.
Misfortune? he questioned.
Senator Langdon nodded.
Eyes, sir. the great old state of Mis-
sissippi went prohibition at the last
election. l don't know how it hap
pened. We haven't found anybody In
the state that says he voted for it, but
the fact is a fact. | assure you. Mr..
Haines, that prohibition stops at my
front door, in Mississippi. So I've been
living a quiet life down on my planta-
ton"
This new life will be a great change
for you, them" suggested the reporter.
"Changel It's revolutionary, sirl
When you've expected to spend your
old days peacefully in the country,
Mr.. Hasnes. suddenly to find that your
state has called on YOU
A flavor of sarcasm came into
Haines' reply.
1.-THE office seeking the manY He
could moi help the slight sneer. Was
a man never to admit that he had
sought the office? Haines knew only
too we'll of the arduous work neces-
sary to secure nominations for high Of
fee In conventions and to win al cleo
ton to the senate from a state legis-
lature. In almost every case, he knew,
the candidate must make a dozen diff
ferent deals to secure votes, might
promise the same office to two or three
different leaders, force others into line
by threats, send a trusted agent to an
other with a roll of bank bills-the re-
cipient of which would Immediately
conclude that this candidate was the
only man in the state who could save
the nation from destruction. Had not
Haines seer men who had sold their
unsuspecting delegates for cash to the
highest bidder rise in the convention
hall and in impassioned, dramatic
voice exclaim In praise of the buyer,
Gentlemen, it would be a crying
shame, a crime against civilization, If
the chosen representatives of our
grand old state of - did not go on
record In favor of such a man, such a
true citizen, such an inspired patriot.
as he whose name I am about to men-
tiUnI So-tne Reporter Rlay Y be f6FssiTs
en- for the ironical tinge in his hasty
interruption of the new senator's re-
marks.
Langdon could not suppress a chuc-
kle at the doubling note In Haines' at
titude.
81 think the man would be pretty
small potatoes who wouldn't seek the
office of United States senator, Mr..
Haines," he said, "if he could get 1t.
When l was a young man, sir, politics
in the south was a career for a gentle
man, and | still can't see how he could
be better engaged than in the service
of his state or his country"
'"That's right" agreed the reporter.
further impressed by the frank sinceri-
ty of the Mississippian.
1.-THE only condition in my mind. Mr..
Halnes, is that the man should ask
himself searchingly whether or not
he's competent to give the service.
But | seem to be talking a good deal.
Suppose we get to the interview. Elk
pect your time is short. We'd better
begin"
81 thought we were in the inter
view?" smiled the correspondent.
'In it!' exclaimed Langdon. "Well
If this is it, it isn't so bad. see you
use a painless method. When | was
down in Vicksburg a reporter backed
me up in a corner, slipped his hand in
his hip pocket and pulled out a list of
questions just three feet four inches
long.
"He wanted to know what / thought
concerning the tariff on aluminium by
drates and how l stood about the open
ing of the Tento Pu reservation of the
Comanche Indians, and what were my
ideas about the differential rate OF
hauls from the Missouri river.
"He was a wonder, that fellow
Kinder out of place on a Mississippi
paper. started to offer him a job,
but he was so proud l was afraid be
wouldn't accept it. However, it gives
you my idea of a reporter"
"If you've been against that, 1 ought
to thank you for talking to me-" laugh
ed Haines.
"Then you don't want to know any
thing about that sort of stuff?' said
Langdon. with a hugh sigh of relief.
mo, SENATOR" was the amused re-
ply. 81 think generally If l know what
sort of a man a man is l can tell q
great deal about what he will think
ON various questions"
Langdon started interestedly.
"You mean, Mr.. Haines, If you know
whether I'm honest or not you can fl
me up with a set of views. Is that the
idea? Seems to me you're the sort OF
man I'm looking for"