Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-03-19


'Thdt concerns future senator's"
popular vote. DO you think the sys-
tenn Of clecting senators by vote Of
state legislatures should be abolish
ed?"
The Mississippian cooked his head to
one side.
Il reckon that's Il question that con-
Germs future senators and not those
already elected" he chuckled.
uaines laughed at Cullen. who
thrust his pad into his pocket and hur-
rled away.
lit Is today that appear before the
ways and means committee. isn't itT'
Langdon Queried Of his secretary.
Yes" said uaines, consulting his
memorandum book. AT IL o'clock
you go before ways and means to put
forward the needs Of your state on the
matter OF the reduction OF the tariff
Oh aluminium hydrates. The people OF
Mississippi believe 1t has actually put
back life into the exhausted cotton
lands. In Virginia they hope TO use
1t on the tobacco fields"
where does the pesky stun come
FROM" asked the senator.
From South America" coached the
secretary. The south Is In IL hurry
for 1t. 50 the duty must come down.
You'll have 10 blufr bit. because Pea
body and his crowd will try to make
q kind Of bargain-wanting you to
keep up iron and steel duties. But you
don't believe that iron and steel need
help. you will tell them. don't you see.
50 that they will feel the necessity Of
giving you what you want for the
south In order to gain your support
for the iron and steel demands"
The office door opened and Senator
Peabody appeared.
Peabody" whispered the secretary.
Instantly the Mississippian had his
cue. His back to Peabody. he rose.
brought down his fist heavily upon the
desk and expounded oratorically to
Haines:
What We can produce Of aluminium
hydrates. my boy. Is prOblematical. but
the south Is IN hurry for 1t. and the
duty must come down. It's got to
come down, and I'm not going to do
anything else until 1t does"
The secretary stretched across the
desk.
Excuse me. senator: Senator Pea
body Is here" he said loudly and sur
prisedly. as though he had just sight
ed the boss Of the senate
The Mississippian turned
"Oh, good morning. senator. l was
just talking with my secretary about
that hydrate clause"
Peabody bowed slightly.
"Yes. knew 1t was coming up" he
said. 80 l just dropped over. I'm not
opposed to 1t or any southern measure.
but II makes 1t more difficult for me
when you southern people oppose GER
tain Pittsburg interests that l have to
take care Of"
LangdOn smiled.
I've never been In Pittsburg. but
they tell me 1t looks as II 1t could take
care Of itself"
The visitor shrugged his shoulders.
That's true enough, but give and
tnke Is the rule In political matters.
Langdon."
This remark brought a frown to
Langdon's face.
Il don't like bargaining between gen.
tiemen. Peabody. More important still
l don't believe American politics has
to be run on that plan. Why can't we
change a lot Of things now that We
are here?''
Langdon became 80 enthused that he
paced up and down the room as he
spoke.
Peabody, you and Stevens and l."
continued LangdOn. could get our
friends together and right now start
to make this great capital Of our great
country the place Of the square DEAL
the place where give and take. bargain
and sale. are unknown. We could
start movement that would drive out
all secret infiuences'-
The secretary noticed Peabody's In
voluntary start
The newspapers would help u.s."
went Gil LAngdon. Public opinion
would be with W.. and both houses Of
congress would have to Join In the
work II we went out In front, led the
way and showed them their plain
duty. And l tell you. Senator Peabody,
that the principles that gave birth to
this country, the principles Of truth,
honesty. justice and independence,
would rule In Washington"-
If Washington cared anything about
them. Langdon." interjected the Penn
sylvanian
That's my point" cried the Missis-
sippian-"let US teach Washington to
care about them"
"LangdOn. IangdOn." said Peabody
patronizingly. you've seized on a big
ger task than you know. After you
reform Washington you will have to
80 on and reform human nature, HUI
man instincts. every human being in
the country, II you want to make poll
tics this angelic thing you describe.
1t isn't politics. it's humanity, that's
wrong" waving aside u protest from
LangdOn.
Anyway your idea is not constitu-
tiOnal. Langdon," continued Peabody.
You want everybody to. have q share
In the national government. That
wouldn't meet the theory Of centralizs-