The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-07-24
CHAPTER XXI.

IF YOU CAN'T BUY SENATOR, THREAT
EN- HIM."
ENATOR PEABODY was the
~ most surprised man in Wash
ington when he heard the jun
~ ior senator from Mississippi
state that no one was to enrich him
self out Of the government naval base
project.
! He heaped mental anathema on
| the head Of Stevens for saddling such
| a man on the senate machine" for
Langdon would Of course never had
! been pat ON naval affairs" Gust now
very important to the machine) with
out the 20. K" of Stevens, who had
| won a heretofore thoroughly reliable
| reputation as judge Of men, or Of
what purported to be men. The
thought that at this time, of all times
| there should be man on the commit
tee on naval affairs that could not be
handled" was sufficient to make him
who reveled in the title of boss Of the
senate" determine that he must get
another chief lieutenant to replace Ste
yens. who had proved so trustworthy
in the past. Stevens had lost his cum.
ming!
AS the vote of Langdon could not be
secured by humbug or in exchange for
| favOrs and as 1t could not be "deliv.
ered," Peabody, of course, was willing
to pay in actual cash for the vote.
This was the final step, but one In po-
litical conspiracies of this nature-cash.
But Langdon would not take cash, so
Peabody had to resort to the last
agency of the trained and corrupt ma
pipulator Of legislation.
He would threaten.
Moreover, he knew that to make
threats effective, If 1t is possible to
do so, they must be led up to systemat-
ically-that is, they should be made at
the right time. The scene must be set,
as in a play.
Senator Peabody glared at Langdon
as though to convince the latter that
to stand In his way would mean polit-
lcal destruction.
$50 nobody is going to make cent,
eh. Well, I suppose you want all the
profits for yourself" Turning to Ste
yens, who had just entered, the Penn
sylvanian cried;
"DO you but listen to our suddenly
good friend Langdon. He wants to be
the only man to make money out of
the naval base He won't listen to any
other member Of the naval committee
making cent out of it. Why, he
"Great God, sir" exclaimed Langdon.
You are going too far, Peabody. You
state what is false, and you know It,
you-you"-
Then you are willing that others
should have their rightful share?" put
In Stevens "Oh, l understand now,
senator"
mo, no, nor cried Langdon. you
do not understand, Senator Stevens,
and must say am ashamed to speak
Of you by the honorable title of sena-
tor, sir. will not listen to any person
enrlching himself at the government
expense, and / am your enemy, you,
Peabody, and you, Stevens, beyond re-
call. You both know you misrepresent
me-"
| AoheaOh ONcl W OtcNtub anu
faced him directly.
'DO you remember, Stevens, Lorimer
Hawkslee, back in wartimer'
YES" said Stevens, puzzled, II re-
member him-a very fine gentleman"
The old planter sneered.
"Yes, very fine gentleman You
remember he got rich out of contracts
for CnnnIfnc f.1r ,lCh fn tha fad
crate government when 1t wasn't any
too easy for the Confederate govern
ment to pay and when he was in that
government himself. / never quite
thought that the act of gentleman,
Stevens. 1t seemed to me to be very
like dishonesty. refused to speak
to I,Orimer Hawkslee In the Carroll
hotel at vicksburg, and when the peo-
\ pie there asked me why l told them.
I | want to warn you, Stevens, that I'm
\ likely to meet you some time In the
D Carroll hotel at Vicksburg."
Stevens backed away angrlly. II
ll catch your insinuation, but"-he re-
\ ceived warning glance from Pea
y body and broke into a pleasant smile
calculated to deceive the old planter
y this once l will overlook 1t because Of
our old friendship and the old days In
y Mississippi"
K you are q fine talker. Langdon,"
said Peabody, coming to Stevens res
cue, but l can readily see what you
are driving at. You want an lnvesti-
y gatiop You think You will catch some