Lower coast gazette., 1913-08-23
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iOT years peer characteristic of him:
did it ever occur to you, Robert.
son, that by trying to force the Null
Inns bill through, you are betraying
the people who voted for you?"
Oh, be sensible!" urged Robertson:
aud Tom, who knew his brother-in-law,
noted the mighty effort with which the
attempt at Cancellation was kept up.
We're both politicians, There's no
sense in spouting noble sentiments for
my benefit. Keep them for your par.
sons. | was promised the speaker
ship. And to get it away from me you
turned insurgent. The Mullins bill
tonight's battle-means nothing to you
but a test Of power. There's no prin-
ciple involved. II You can kill the bill
lit will prove only you're strong
enough to depose or speaker and put
Yourself In his chair. That's your
game. Why pose as a reformer??"
You're quite wrong" said Standish,
with e. certain irritating patience, II
haven't any pose. If / had | should
not bother to display 1t for your bene-
tit. am not hypocrite enough to say
] don't want every legitimate political
reward I can earn. Who doesn't? But
that's not why I'm fighting this Mullins
bill of yours. And at heart you know
it isn't. I'm trying to kill this bill
because it is an offense to the coun.
try's nostrils. The bill is innocent
enough on its face. Van Dyke and the
rest saw to that, l suppose. But when
looked at 1t more closely l saw 1t was
framed to legalize the over-capitaliza-
ton of every railroad in the United
States and to undo what little good
a few decent lawmakers have been
struggling for years to accomplish"
Then
"You know I'm right. That is the
Mullins bills real object. That is why
you people tried to rush it through be-
fore we could have a chance to pick it
apart and to hunt for the niger in the
wood-pile.' Well, I've studied it close
ly enough to make sure the pile con.
tains very little except niggers. And
I've made the public see it, too"
Never mind bringing in your serv-
ices to the dear public. You get your
pay for that from them, not from me.
The point is, you are lining up with
our enemies. Standish, I'm not given
to threatening; but from now on
you're going to have an active life"
Il understand. AnseI look for moth.
ing else. 1.-THE party that elected me
is betraying the people, Their / must
fight that party. And I'm going to.
Understand me clearly. I'm going to-"
And the heavy slow voice held no
note Of threat, nor did it show. the
faintest tinge Of excitement. To Tom
Blake, the conversations non-combat.
ant, the insurgents rather turgid
words carried FAR str. ser m~essaggo-sorls
this very absence Of emotion. But
they served merely 10 strip from Mark
his last shreds Of diplo-
matte armor.
you talk like a reform candidate
or poundmaster at Pomptpn, N. IL"
rctorted. "T've. done nothing ever.
else isn't doing every day. Moth.
ng that the custom Of centuries hasn't .
.egitimated: and nothing, | believe,
hat you haven't done. You've made
he people think you're a little tin god.
But you can't make me think It"
Il can't now remember" said
standish YEARLY, Having tried to-"
Well, you probably know it would
'e time wasted" snapped Robertson.
There must be something, somewhere
NJ other, in your past life, that
wouldn't shine out to any advantage
n print. I'm going to camp on the
rail Of your past performances. And
Vhen | strike the crooked by-path I'm
for, III"
Standish's dark face broke into a
mile. The red angry politicians
treats seemed to strike within the
nsurgent some genuine chord OF mer-
iment.
Tn that case, Governor Robertson"
said pleasantly, Il advise you to
taste not one minute of time in set
ing to work. Because, though I've
cen able to upset several pet plans
( yours during the past six years,
ouIl find everything i've done to you \