Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-04-30

with the boss OF the senate ana In
low voice began making to LangdOn q
proposition to which Peabody's assent
had been gained.
'Langdon, We would like to be
alone" and he nodded toward Haines.
Sorry can't oblige. senator" Lang
don replied. bud and I together make
I'D the senator from Mississippi"
"All right. What I want to say is
this: The president Is appointing n
commission to investigate the condi
ton Of the unemployed. The members
are to so to Europe. five or six coun-
tries. and look into conditions there.
leisurely. Of course, SO as to formulate
a piece Of legislation that will solve the
existing problems In this country. A
most generous expense account will be
allowed by the government. A mem
Der can take his family. A son. for in
stance, could act as financial secre
tary under liberal pay"
'I've heard Of that commission" said
Langdon.
"Well. Senator Peabody has the
naming Of two senators who Will so on
that commission. and suggested that
your character and ability would make
you
Good glory" exclaimed Langdon.
"yOu mean that my character and abil-
ity would make me something or 9TH
er II kept my mouth shut in the SEN
kn to
surprised so many times since ! came
to the capital that 1t doesn't affect
me any more I'm just amused at
your offer or Senator Peabody's.
Il want to tell you two senators
that there's only one thing that ! want
In Washington-and you haven't Of
fered 1t to me yet. When you do I'll
do business with you"
whats that2 Speak out. man. said
Peabody quickly.
a square deal for the people Of the
United States"
Good Lord" exclaimed 1.-The boss
Of the senate" as this Washington
or Is II heavenr
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
y.angdon. land there are more like you
l. the senate. all because the voters
have no chance to choose their own
senators. The public In most states
has to take the kind Ola senator that
the legislature. made up mostly Of
politicians. feels like making them
take. You. Peabody, wouldn't be in
the senate today II 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 ut n big profit rs 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 mt his two opponents.
Those two statesmen jumped to their
feet.
"COme, Stevens, let him do what he
will. We cannot stay here to he in
suited by the rawlings OF mailman"
cried the Pennsylvania. But he
brought his associate to n standstill
midway to the door. ''By the way.
LangdOn. what Is 1t 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.
I'LL do more than that" announced
Langdon. rising and pounding fist
into his open hand. III make you
and Stevens more popular than you
ever were In your lives before"
BAH shouted Peabody.
'Tll do even more yet. I'm going to
make you generous--patriots. And. I
regret to say, Ill 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 I 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 a very nominal figure. Now
they are ready to turn over their land
to the government at exactly what
they paid for 1t without a cent of
profit.
Then 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 l aud lots Of others always
thought there was here.
And, conference.-the advanced on
his colleagues ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS /,
Senator Langdon Of Mississippi, your
creation In politics, have finished that
speech dare one Of you to get up and
deny a word"
THE boss Of the senate" and his sat.
elite were dumfounded. Firmly be.
Aevin9 that LangdOn could and no way