Connecticut western news., 1909-03-11

sought the office? Haines knew only too we'll of the arduous work neces- sary to secure nominations for high of flee in conventions and to win an cleo tion to the senate from state legis- lature. Tn almost every case, he knew, the candidate must make a dozen diff ferent deals to secure votes, might promise the same office to two or three different leaders, force others into line by threats, send trusted agent to an- other with a roll of bank bills-the re- cipient of which would immediately conclude that this candidate was the only man in the state who could save the nation from destruction. Had not Haines seen men who had sold their unsuspecting delegates for cash to the highest bidder rise in the convention hall and in impassioned, dramatic voice eXclaim in praise of the buyer, "Gentlemen, it would be crying shame, a crime against civilization, If the chosen representatives of our grand old state of - did not go on record in favor of such man, such true, citizen,- such an inspired patriot, as he whose name am about to men tionr' So the reporter may be forgiv- cn for the ironical tinge in his hasty interruption of the new senator's re- marks.
 Lqrgdon could not suppress a chuc- kle at the doubting note in Haines' at titude.
 GJ tI,iDIz tho mon uo111d ho Drnttv small potatoes who wouldn't seek the office of United States senator, MT. Haines," he said, ''if he could get it. When was a young man, sir, politics in the south was career for a gentle man, and I still can't see how he could be better engaged than in the service of his state or his country"
 That's right" agreed the reporter, further impressed by the frank sinceri- ty of the Mississippian.
 '"The only condition in my mind, MT. Haines, is that the man should ask himself searchingly whether or not he's competent to give the service. But seem to be talking a good deal Suppose We get to the interview. EX- pect your time is short. Wed better begin"
 q thought we were in the inter view?" smiled the correspondent.
 "In itr' exclaimed Langdon. "Well, if this is it, it isn't so bad. see you use a painless method. When I was down in Vicksburg a reporter backed me up in corner, slipped his hand in his hip pocket and pulled out a list of questions just three feet four inches long.
 "He wanted to know what thought concerning the tariff on aluminium hy- drates and how I stood about the open ing of the Tento Pu reservation of the Comanche Indians, and what were my ideas about the differential rate of hauls from the Missouri river.
 "He was a wonder, that fellow! Kinder out of place on a Mississippi paper. I started to offer him job, but he was so proud I was afraid he wouldn't accept it. However, 1t gives you my idea of a reporter
 If you've been against that, l ought to thank you for talking to me-" laugh ed Haines.
 'Then you don't want to know any thing about that sort of stuffP' said Langdon, with a hugh sigh of relief.
 "No, senator" was the amused re- ply. ''I think generally if know what sort of man a man is I can tell a great deal about what he will think on various questions"
 Langdon started interestedly.
 You mean, Mir. Haines, if you know whether Pm honest or not you can fit