Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-20


back the job" body's business
isn't anybody's, a fne scheme SO long
as we have a president who keeps his
hands off and Doesn't
But how about the speeches and
the bills?" broke in Randolph. Il
thought
"Yes. yes; to be sure" the congress
man quickly added. Nearly all Of US
introduce these 80 called reform bills
When they're printed at government
expense we send copies, carried free
by the postoffice department, to our
constituents, and when we allow the
bills to die in some committee we can
always blame the committee. But II
there's big fight by our constituents
over the bill we let it pass the house.
but arrange to kill 1t in the senate.
Then we do the same thing for the
senators. Like in every other business,
my boy" continued Norton as he led
the way into the house. "it's case of
you tickle me and I'll tickle you in
politics. And don't let any one fool
you about the speeches either They
are pretty things to mail to the voters,
but all the wise boys in Washington
know they aren't meant seriously. It's
all play acting. and there are better
actors in the senate than Henry IT.
wing or Edwin Booth ever were"
II don't think my father looks at
things the way you do. Charlie.
"No? Well, maybe he doesn't now
but he will later on when be takes his
seat In the senate II he isn't wise
enough to play around with the rest
of the senators be won't get any bills
passed, especially any bill carrying an
appropriation or of any other particu.
lar Importance"
What" CALCULATED the planters son
"Do you mean to say that II father
won't do what the other senators
want him to do they will combine
against him aud destroy bis useful.
ness, make hin power!ess-a failureY'
The congressman smiled patroniz
ingly on the youth. "Why. Of course
they will. That's politics. practical
politics, the only kind that's known in
Washington You see
"But the leaders of the great par.
ties!" cried the young plantation man.
ager in amazement "Why don't they
prevent this?"
because they invented the system
and because political party differences
don't amount to whole lot much OF
the time In Washington. The politi.
clans do most of their criticising OF
the other party away from Washing
ton. where the voters can hear them
But when circumstances sometimes
force man to rise to assaii the other
side In congress he afterward apollo
gizes in secret for his words Or
sometimes he apologies beforehand,
saying: I've got to hand out some hot
abot to you fellows jnst to please q
crowd Of sovereign voters from my
district WHO have come up to Wash
ington to see me perform. So. Of
course. I've got to make showing.
Don't mind what say. You know
don't mean 1t, but the old fogies will
20 back home and tell their neighbors
what rip snortin' reformer I be-"
SIS that the way you represent your
district, Norton?" asked Planter Lang
don. who at this juncture entered the
.oom.
mo. no, Mr.. Langdon-I should say
senator now. suppose. l was merely
telling Randolph how some legislators
conduct themselves"
The senator elect paused momentari-
ly, gazing at the congressman. who,
dark visaged, tall. black haired, broad
shouldered md athletic was visiblg