The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1914-05-22
A Political Story of Today
By n. Bart Horton

but this influence has been my stock in trade;
just as the merchant has a stock in trade. / have
never yet, however, sold that influence where /
thought that it would really distress to
any single individual or to the public. There
times when the public demanded or thought
they demanded certain measures that might prove
beneficial to them AS practical man, | have
always weighed the question, and have found out
in most cases that those benefits did not actually
exist. 1t has been my experience that practical
politician, well versed in municipal and public af
fairs, who is comparatively honest can give the
people far better administration than the aver
age business Why, who would make the
tatons thrown in his path by the business man
or corporation who desires some special measure
and who to save time and trouble goes to the
political leader to gain his end"
This is quite dissertation on politics, Mr..
White but | am good and sore. Jim Treadway
has been of the few men that have admired
and respected, and he has ability sufficient to
make him one of the big men in our country, and
yet a dirty crook, the tool of you, Gordon, gets
him. just left Jim Treadway's room, over at
the Northern Hotel. He called me by phone
| went into the room / scarcely knew him. His
face plainly showed that he had passed through
an ordeal of the most severe manner. When he
shook hands with me l was shocked. That firm,
manly Jim Treadway grip, we'll known, which
always makes it pleasure to shake hands with
him. gone. He threw his hand my Shout
der and said in tones that trembled with agitation
They have reached me at last, George"
What are you talking about, Jim? What's
the matter with you"
"The l. X. L. people have gotten me- You
know have fought for this two cent bill both
in committee and in every other way, despite
their overtures and their threats. They could
not reach me personally, but the dirty crooks
went after my boy. l sent for you to tell you
this much. George, but l am too upset to talk
any more about it. Go and ask Tom Cor
don the story, he will tell it to you"
81 that it was best to leave him alone
and ! am over here now to hear the details"
The General Manager, who had been silent
auditor to these remarks said, "Mr. Wells, ever
since / left college / have been railroad
and have had little to do with politics: We West
ern railroad men have had about all that we could
attend to in building up and managing our roads,
without paying much attention to the political
end of it. We have had legislative fights,
but that end of it was usually looked after by
Eastern capitalists. | went to college with
your Jim Treadway, in fact he was one of my
chums there and he had the reputation of being
one of the squarest men in college. | knew him
to be the soul of honor. / have not heard di-
recty from him him for years. / knew
that he was in your Legislat here. What's
the story of this deal, Gordon?"
Gordon answered: Meyers is probably out
OF course, you know, Mr. White, that we some
times have pretty rocky road to travel, men
come here opposed to railroads and corporations,
without any good for it, excepting a
overcome this prejudice. Sometimes we are able
to do 1t through argument, more often through
financial consideration, once in while
compelled to adopt other means"
White nodded, 81 understand. Get Meyers"
Gordon went out and returned with a short,
heavy-set man. whose frank and open counte-
nance was somewhat married by eyes that were
small and fox-like. Meyers this is Mr.. White,
the new General Manager of our road. Mr.. Wells
you know Mr.. Meyers is one of my assistants.
Joe, want to tell these gentlemen the complete
history of this Treadway deal"
"All right, Mr.. Gordon, you will remember
hat fter had fail RI Treadway here