Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-04-15


ut is not heaven. senator" put in
Haines
"Man alive" cried Peabody, .I've
been in Washington so long that
$50 long you've forgotten that the
American people really exist" retorted
Langdon. ''and there are more like you
in the senate. all because the voters
have no chance to choose their own
senators. The public in most states
has to take the kind of a senator that
the legislature. made up mostly of
politicians. feels like making them
take. You, Peabody. wouldn't be in
the senate today if the voters had any
thing to say about it."
The Pennsylvania shrugged his
shoulders.
'.And now I'll tell you honorable SEN
ators," went on Langdon, thoroughly
aroused. something to surprise you. !
have discovered that you were not
working for yourselves alone in the
Altacoola deal, but that you intend to
turn your land over to the Standard
Steel company at big profit as soon
as this naval base bill is passed. Then
that company will squeeze the govern
ment for the best part of the hundred
millions that are to be spent"
The senator sank back in his chair
and gazed at his two opponents.
Those two statesmen jumped to their
feet.
s.Come, Stevens, let him do what he
will. We cannot stay here to be in
suited by the rawlings of a madman,"
cried the Pennsylvania. But he
brought his associate to standstill
midway to the door. "By the way,
Langdon, what is it you are going to
do in the senate this afternoon?" he
asked. '.You said you were going to
make us honest against our will. You
know you can't do anything"
Bud Haines turned his face toward
the speaker and grinned broadly. to
the senator's intense discomfort.
ssI'll do more than that" announced
Langdon. rising and pounding fist
into his open hand. "I'll make you
and Stevens more popular than you
ever were in your lives before"
''Bahr' shouted Peabody.
ssT1l do even more yet. I'm going to
make you generous patriots. And, ]
regret to say, I'll give you the chance
to make the hits of your careers"
The polished hypocrites looked at
him, too astonished to move.
How? What?' they gasped.
Swept on by his own enthusiasm
and the force of his own courageous
honesty, the voice of the southerner
rose to oratorical height
''This afternoon" he exclaimed.
"when the naval base committee
makes its report will rise in my
place and declare that for once in the
history of the senate men have been
found who place the interests of the
government they serve above any
chance Of pecuniary reward. These
men are the members of the naval
base committee.
with this idea in view, realizing
that dishonest men would try to make
money out of the government, these
members of the naval base committee
after they settled on Altacoola, went
out quietly and secured control of all
the land that will be needed for the
naval base. and these men secured
this at very nominal figure. Now
they are ready to turn over their land
to the government at exactly what
they paid for it without cent OF
profit.
3Then they're going to sit up over
there in that senate. They're going
to realize that new kind Of politics
has arrived in Washington-the kind
that / and lots Of others always
thought there was here.
"And, gentlemen"-he advanced on
his colleagues triumphantly- when !,
Senator Langdon of Mississippi, your
creation in politics, have finished that
speech dare one Of you to get up and
deny a wordr'
1.-THE boss Of the senate" and his sat
elite were dumfounded Firmly be-
Heving that Langdon could find no way
to pass the bill for Altacoola and yet
spoil their crooked scheme, they weI@
totally unprepared for any such de-
nouement. TO think that simple, old
fashioned planter from the cotton
fields of Mississippi could originate
such a plan to outwit the two ablest
political tricksters in the senate!
Langdon eyed his colleagues tri-
umphantly.
{ Peabody, however. was thinking
quickly. He was never beaten until
the last vote was counted on a roll
call. He knew that, no matter how ap-
parently insurmountable an opposition
was, way to overcome it might often
be found by the man who exercises
strong self control and trained BRAIN
This corrupt victor In scores Of bitter
political engagements on the battlefield
Of Washington was now in his most
dangerous mood. He would marshal
all his forces. The man to defeat him