Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-07-29
CHAPTER ZXI.
IF YOU CAN'T BUY A SENATOR, THREAT.
EN- HIM"

IF YOU CAN'T BUY A SENATOR, THREAT
EN- HIM"
CENATOR PEABODY was the
most surprised man in Wash
ington when he heard the jun.
~ ior senator from Mississippi
state that no one was to enrich him
self out Of the government naval base
project.
He heaped a mental anathema on
the head of Stevens for saddling such
man on the senate machine" for
Langdon would of course never had
been put on naval affairs Gust now
very important to the machine) with
out the 20. X" of Stevens, who had
won a heretofore thoroughly reliable
reputation as judge Of men, or Of
what purported TO be men, The
thought that at this time, of all times,
there should be man on the commit
tee on naval affairs that could not be
"handled" was sufficient to make him
who reveled In the title Of "boss Of the
senate" determine that he must get
another chief lieutenant TO replace Ste
vens, who had proved so trustworthy
in the past. Stevens had lost his Gun.
ming!
As the vote Of Langdon could not be
secured by humbug or in exchange for
favors and as 1t could not be "deliv-
ered," Peabody, Of course, was willing
10 pay in actual cash for the vote,
This was the final step, but one In po'
litical conspiracies Of this nature-cash
But Langdon would not take cash, SC
Peabody had to resort to the last
agency Of the trained and corrupt ma
nipulator of legislation.
He would threaten.
Moreover he knew that to make
threats effective, II 1t is possible to
do so, they must be led up to systemat
ically-that is, they should be made al
the right time. The scene must be set
as in a play.
Senator Peabody glared at Langdor
as though to convince the latter that
to stand in his way would mean polit
lcal destruction.
$50 nobody is going to make cent
eh? Well, / suppose you want all the
profits for yourself" Turning to Ste
vens, who had just entered, the Penn
sylyanian cried:
do you but listen to our suddenly
good friend Langdon. He wants to bt
the only man to make money out OF
| AZ II Ictn IN ms
other member Of the naval committed
making q cent out Of 1t. Why, he
Great God, sir" exclaimed Langdon
You are going too far, Peabody. Yol
state what is false, and you know 1t
you-you"-
"Then you are willing that Others
should have their rightful share" pu
I'm Stevens. "Oh, / understand now
senator"
mo, no, nor cried Langdon. "Yo,
do not understand, Senator Stevens
and l must say am ashamed to speal
OF you by the honorable title Of sena
tor. sir. / will not listen to any persoI
enriching himself at the government
expense, and | am your enemy, you
Peabody, and you, Stevens, beyond re
call. You both know you misrepresen
me-"
Langdon walked over to Stevens an
faced him directly.
"Do you remember. Stevens, Lorime
Hawkslee, back in wartime?
YES" said Stevens, puzzled. IL re
member him-a very fine gentleman"
The old planter sneered.
"Yes, very fine gentleman! Yo
remember he got rich out of contract
for supplies furnished to the Confed
crate government when 1t wasn't an
too easy for the Confederate govern
ment to pay and when he was in tina
government himself. / never quit
thought that the act of gentleman
Stevens. Ii seemed to me to be yer
like dishonesty. | refused to spea
TO I,orimer Hawkslee in the Caro-
hotel at Vicksburg and when the PEE
Dle there asked me why / told then
| want to warn you. Stevens, that II
likely to meet you some time In til
Carroll hotel at Yicksburg."
Stevens backed away angrfly.
catch your insinuation, but"-he r.
i ceived warning glance from Pc;
I body and broke into a pleasant smil
! calculated to deceive the old planter
I .this once / will overlook 1t because
\ our old friendship and the old days
\ Mississippi"
"You are fine talker, Langdon
\ said Peabody, coming to Stevens re
y cue, "but l can readily see what yo
H are driving at, You want an invest
y CATION. You think You will catch son