The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-09

Then it was all buncombe?'
The pure juice. sir
But you are going to be an enemy to
graft" was uueried.
oh. there isn't any graft. A firm gets
State or city contract and skimps the
work and divides the profits with some
hope you don't call that graftingS'
The people at large have got into the
habit of applying that term to it, re-
piled the p. d. ca Man.
Then they had better shake the habit
right away
You don't expect to find single case
of graft during YOUR term"
Hardly. though my attention may be
measuring up public work if it was found
that the contractor had put in a bill for
n mile. when it should have been for
forty rods instead. l should certainly
take notice of it"
And demand his punishment"
We'll. l should not act on impulse.
Perhaps he had a Cinder in his eye as
he measured. Perhaps some rival. hoping
to get him into trouble. had tackled TWEEN
ty-fivc feet onto his ten-foot pole Per-
haps, Just as he started out to measure
he was handed n telegram saying that
his wife was dead. There are many
be mistaken"
But if the contractor had got hold of
his money before the grating had been
discovered; did he Ray back the money
too much bookkeeping and muddled
things up. l believe that many an hon
est but mistaken contractor has had his
reputation ruined by a simple mistake
And sent UP to Sing Sing added the
interviewer.
Yes. but the warden has made it
pleasure for them to stay at his hotel.
Books to read-the daily papers-no
stripes-no work-good things to eat
auto rides-vistors every day, and the
chaplain given hint TO stay away, as
they had nothing to confess"
well. about the workinCmen and the
full dinner pails?"
Didn't Bryan use that hot-air stun"
II think he did
Didn't Teddy"
Yes"
And Taft?
And what was good enough for them
is good enough for me. l guess. It's
fine phrase. and always brings the
cheers
But it never brings ANYTHING else"
"Oh. the working man is all right"
And We are to have cheaper coal and
-four. Major
Are We" he asked with a laugh
But YOU pledged yourself"
Hot air. my son-more hot air Can
control the mine operators or the rail-
roads?
And how can you stand between
hunger and cold and the .poor?''
"On my head. I reckon"
But il WAS only an hour ago that I
You about fuel and provisions"
He must be an idiot If he thinks
meant everything by that talk
tor." said the p. ID. Q. Man after
a minute, lit is figured that you will
have at least thirty political appoint
ments to make"
over forty was the complacent re-
ply.
And you are going to hunt for the
very best men,
oh, that was all settled long ago"
But how"
WHY. the places were promised TO the
men who could do me the most good"
You know that YOUR majority came
from the independents What share of
the Offices do they eet?''
I'm, I'm It wouldn't do for YOU to
know. Our boys are kicking 1t is
Il see. The independents are to get
nothing
The major wrigGled around in his
chair, but was silent.
''Eut yOu will at least give us a clean
and honest administrator" was asked. !
Il shall try and make good a rec
ord as the man who preceded me-" was
the answer.
But his record was a disgracei"
See here, my son, l didn't go into this |
thing for my health. am out a whole /
lot of money. I've got to get 1t back. |
Now. then. You have pumped me dry. !
and as | am " very busy man you had
best he going"
But do you expect a reelection when !
your term eXpires?" |
surely. l do. l am laying the wires |
for II now. Good day.