Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-02-19
CHAPTER "
yrsT The MAN WE NEED"

4 4 towel filled with cracked Ice
around his head, he saw two familiar
figures standing In secluded corner
of the lobby. They we're talking ear
nestIs In low voice
"whewr" whiSiled the newspaper
man. 1t must Ice sumething impor-
tant that brings both the bass az the
senate and Stevens Of Mississippi
here
Good afternoon. Haines, How are
your senator stevens said cordially,
as. lacking up. he saw the newspaper
man approaching. Senator Peabody.
you know Haines, don't YOU: The
brightest young correspondent in
Washington"
Senator Peabody of Pennsylvania.
the leading power In the upper house
was a man Of commanding character
aud of strong personality. The fact
he used these attributes Ia advance in
the senate the financial interests Of
himself, of Standard Steel and other
commercial organizations met with
very little protest in Washington. That
be deserved the title frequently used
In referring to him. boss of the sen
ate" none would deny who had knowl
edge Of the inner workings Of the sen
ate and the various committees.
Senator Pea body was very anabic to
the reporters. especially to those of
Haines' stamp. who had never accept
ed any favors from him and who OF.
posed his methods. He aimed to win
the friendship of these opponents by
dipiumacy-as he had found that re.
porters Of the HaineS sort could not
be Influenced by money He COnSid.
cred reporter who would take bride
as constructive, conservative member
Of society and frequently regretted
that 80 many of the correspondents
sent to Washington could not be
bought nor had bills they wanted pass.
ell or defeated. He extended his hand
to Haines as Stevens concluded and
said warmly:
"Of course know the representative
Of the Morning Star! How do you do.
Haines?"
~ wonder II were not all here on
the same Grand" suggested the news
paper man.
Senator Peabody appeared to be all
candor
I'VE came TO call on Senator Lang
don. Senator Stevens new colleague"
he snid
Bud Haines opened his eyes wide
by Jove. Langdon stock is going up
when the chairman OF the naval com.
mittee drops In to welcome him"
You see. I.angdon went in on
naval base platform" explained ste
vens "Our section of the south is
rel hot In favor OF the government
spending its naval base appropriation
right there"
Certainly" interrupted Haines,
"but"-
And, there being vacancy on the
committee on naval affairs" continued
Stevens. whose dignity was offended
by the reporters interruption. the
friends Of Senator I.angdon are work,
ing to have him appointed on that
committee because he comes from The
state where the naval base will be
located and will, like myself. be more
familiar with the availability Of the
various sites suggested than man
from another state"
Haines nodded.
"Yes. Of course. What towns going
to get II, senator?"
Senator Stevens paused judioiously.
well" he said, "A!tacoola and Gulf
City are the chief candidates. sup.
pose you had better talk TO Langdon
about It."
The reporter smiled.
That's just what | came for. sen.
ator. but | have to 90 up TO the war
department now. When Senator Lang
don comes will you be kind enough to
tell him want to interview him?"
Stevens bowed cordially.
"lndeed shall I'll tell him he's in
luck to have the smartest young man
In Washington on the job"
"All right" laughed Bud. "only don't
make 1t SO strong that he won't rccog-
nize me when he sees me, Good
day" And he hurried away to keep a
belated appointment
Clever boy" said Stevens as the
newspaper man disappeared
The boss Of the senate agreed.
"fes. only I'm not sure it's Il good
thing for n newspaper man to be too
clever. Spells his usefulness. Makes
him ask too many COMPOUNDED ques.
tons"
Stevens acquiesced, for it would
never do to disagree with the boss.
ITS very kind Of you. senator" he
began. changing the subject. "to come
with me to welcome the new senator
from my state, my old friend and col
league"
An inscrutable smile--a smile. yet a
cold one-accompanied Peabodys an
swer.
II have always found, Stevens" he
said, that little attention like this
to a new man is never wasted. and |
MAKE it a rule not to overlook oppor-
tunties."
Again the senior senator from Mis-
sissippi acquiesced, and he laughed
heartily at Peabody's keen insight into
| human nature.
II think you'll like LnnGdon." Ste