The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-08-23


said in books to flash before the mind
of a drowning man. He recalled ev-
cry vivid detail of the call Baldwin
had made upon him, how he entered
his private office without troubling
the pale, pimpled office boy TO an
nounce him. how he lifted from his
carefully parted hair his straw hat
with its youthful band of blue. and
laughed out, John, my boy, how are /
you? Hot, isn't it," He could see .
Baldwin as he sat in the solid oak |
chair that stood intimately beside his .
roll-top desk, tanning his rudy face
with the hat, which had impressed
broad red band on his forehead. Tn /
| derwood had been glad enough to
close Cooley on Taxation" and re-
| volve his chair to face Baldwin, just
as if he had been a client, for Bald
win was the most important politician
who had ever called upon him profess
sionally.
Underwood remembered clearly how
Baldwin's excellent teeth glistened
when he smiled how he lighted
Turkish cigarette and. fitting up his
chin, blew long. airy stream OF blue
smoke through the thick hairs of his
mustache He could even remember
how carefully Baldwin sheltered the
flame of the match for Underwood's
cigarette, in that curious spirit OF
economy men always practice with re-
gard to matches, much as II there
were only one match left in the whole
world And then he could recall al
most word for word their converse
ton. Baldwin had frankly told him
that Conway had him handicapped. be-
cause he had the city hall with him
aud controlled the Fifth ward. Sim
; mons, Baldwin had said. didn't cut
} much ice: he had some labor leaders
with him, and would get a bunch OF
delegates from his own ward. but that
: was about all. In fact, said Baldwin,
: concluding his judicial summing up,
: Conway could win out, hands down, II
s it were not for his recent quarrel With
e Malachi Nolan Underwood remem-
n bered that during all this frankness
e he had refiectively drawn rude little
g geometrical figures on an envelope
and had been somehow afraid to look
up at Baldwin. for the noted lobbyist
3 had sat there transfxing~ him with an
e eve that could read the mind of man
If when II was impinged on politics
5. that is. practical politics-as easily as
L II could a poker hand across a table
e stacked with blue chips.
He knew Baldwin had come will
~" some practical proposition. and wheI
f. the lobbyist suggested that he was toe
D. respectable. and would run better II
some residence district, that the boy!
r looked upon him as reformer, ant
IS that the silk stockings were not prac
teal enough to help him, underwood
P. had felt that at last it was coming
" 1t was simple enough. Baldwin ha'
lie been talking that very morning abou
Underwood's candidature to Mr.. Wee,
NJ of the Metropolitan Motor System
"a and to Mr. Peabody president Of tn
m Gas company, and they had been YER
A much interested. They had an anxiet
ly to see good men nominated that veal
~ for they had large business interest
10 that were more or less affected b
n legislation. and had feared they woul
=, have to settle on Conway. Conwa
- had experience in legislative matters
a. and had been friendly enough in tn
city council yet they felt they coul
hardly trust him-he was such
~ CRATER. and in such things. Baldwi
blandly assured Underwood, they ha
-, to depend upon a mans honor alon
and so they had sent Baldwin to SUI
gest that Underwood meet them ;
- luncheon. and talk matters over. Bal
-, win. with his love of ease and luxur
"a had preferred a dinner over at ii
Cardinals in the evening, but Mr.. Pc
~ body had something on hand with II
-, trustees of his church and couldn
nfset them then. Baldwin had take
~, OF. hfs watch at this point. with IL
Ne air OF n man who suddenly remembe
some important ensagement-the d
tails all came back Nth a If3elty tn
,'e was rainful-and stood ayuitSng q
u derwoods reply. with the open wat,
'1 ticking impatiently in MS palm.
ho OF course Underwood had undt
A. stood-and he wished ardeEtly to
"a nominated and elected. He could g
~ himself swinging idly In big cha
- behind a walnut desk in the sena
~ chamber, just as an actor sees hi
.. self. with an artists ecstatic. ha
o. frightened gasp. IN some new part
M is about to study. The position Won
give him much importance, he wou
80 be riding back and forth between G.
e. cago ana Springfield on a pass,
20, would be so pleasant to be address
~ as senator, to be consulted. to he
delegations in state conventions a
80 cast the solid vote for any one
~ pleased: besides, it would be a go
~, training for Washington. he COZ
in practice in oratory and parliamenta
10 law just as he practiced on frienale
paupers over in the criminal cot
when his father Influenced sol
IA Judge to appoint him TO defend
INDECENT prisoner. It meant only @
- little word, he could be wary of pro
49, ises. His heart had expanded. he h
49, turned half around in his chair to ia
.ar Baldwin, when suddenly the reform
g.. within him rose to object, pointed
-, his ideals. rehearsed the speech
THE Tendencies of Modern Politic
90 recalled all the good words the in