Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-08-23
Copyright BY The Bobbs- Merrill CouSsny

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 -uddy face
with the hat, which had Impressed a
broad red band on his forehead. I'm
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 profes
siOnally.
Underwood remembered clearly how
Baldwin's excellent teeth glistened
when he smiled. how he lighted a
Turkish cigarette and. fitting up his
chin, blew a 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 If there
we're 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
and controlled TIE Fifth ward. Sim
mons. Baldwin aad 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
ii were not for his recent quarrel With
Malachi Nolan. Underwood remem-
bered that during all this frankness
he had ref1ectively drawn rude little
geometrical figures on an envelope
and had been somehow afraid to look
I'D at Baldwin. for the noted lobbyist
had sat there transfixing him with an
eye that could read the mind of man
when 1t was impinged on politics
that is. practical politics-as easily as
it could a poker hand across a table
stacked with blue chips.
He knew Baldwin had come with
some practical proposition, and when
the lobbyist suggested that he was toe
respectable, and would run better in
some residence district, that the boys
looked upon him as a reformer, and
that the silk stockings were not prac
teal enough to help him, underwood
had felt that at last 1t was coming
1t was simple enough. Baldwin had
been talking that very morning abou
Underwood's candidature to Mr.. Weed
of the Metropolitan Motor System
and to Mr.. Peabody. president Of thu
Gas company, and they had been yer!
much interested. They had an anxiet!
to see good men nominated that year
for they had large business Interest,"
that were more or less affected b.
legislation. and had feared they woul'
have to settle on Conway. Conwa.
had experience IN legislative matters
and had been friendly enough In tn
city council, yet they felt they coul
hardly trust him-he was such
CRATER, and " such things. Baldwin
blandly assured Underwood, they ha
| 20 hnnnr
and SO they had sent Baldwin to sue
gest that Underwood meet them a
luncheon, and talk matters over. Bald
win. with his love of ease and luxury
had preferred a dinner over at tn
Cardinals In the evening, but Mr.. Pes
body had something on hand with tn
trustees Of his church and couldn
meet them then. Baldwin had take
out his watch at this point, with tn
air of a man who suddenly remember
some important engagement-the d.
tails all came back with a fidelity tina
was painful-and stood awaiting VI
derwood's reply, with the open waite
ticking impatientiy in his palm.
OF course, Underwood had unde
stood-and he wished ardently to b
nominated and elected. He could sc
himself swinging idly in a big cha
behind a walnut desk in the senat
chamber, Just as an actor sees hin
self, with an artists ecstatic, hal
, frightened gasp in some new part b
is about to study. The position woul
a give him much importance, he woul
, be riding back and forth between Oh
!. cago and Springfield on a pass.
4 would be SO pleasant to be addresse
!. as senator, to be consulted. to hea
!. delegations in state conventions an
A cast the solid vote for any one b
pleased besides, 1t would be 8 goo
8 training for Washington. he coul
. practice in oratory and parf1amentar
. law Just as he practiced on friendlet
. paupers over in the criminal cou
when his father Influenced SON
!. Judge to appoint him to defend q
;. INDECENT prisoner II meant only or
A little word, he could be wary of pror
u ises. His heart had expanded. he hs
a turned half around In his chair to fat
!. Baldwin, when suddenly the reforms
!. within him rose to object, pointed
;. his ideals. rehearsed the speech {
q The Tendencies of Modern Politics
y recalled all the good words the ind
r. pendent papers had spoken Of hir