The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-02-16
Jane AND POLITICS
BY ELSIE SEE.

the Sunday night before the legisla-
ture opened. 1t was the first time in
her life she had registered at hotel.
She saw groups of men and over.
heard enough of their conversation
TO learn that many of them were
oHce-seekers, like herself She began
to wish she had not let Amy Mason
persuade her to run for senate filing
clerk in order to make some easy
money.
Jane noticed that these men looked
over the register and buttonholed all
the legislators who entered the lobby.
Next morning the lobby of the hotel,
long the headquarters for legislators,
lobbyists and ofice-seekers, was
crowded with many kinds of men.
Across the lobby in the center of
group of deferential men, Jane saw
dainty pink-and-white girl chaperoned
by q handsome matron. Later, she
found that the girl was Miss Mayo,
her opponent. who was running for
reelection. When Jane saw how well
the senators seemed to know her fair
opponent and how we'll the opponent
seemed to know the ropes she felt
that her chances were like those of
poor, unknown gray dove against
brilliant bird of paradise.
She regretted having allowed Amy
to persuade her to get Judge Morton's
support for the position. She now felt
more frightened than when she had
walked timidly into his office. But
his cordial assurance of support had
put her at ease there. He had told
ner that in order to be elected filing
clerk she would have to secure the
vote of a majority of the Republican
senator's, of whom there were twen-
ty-two. AS she was acquainted with
only one senator, Amy's uncle, the
prospect did not look bright, but Judge
Morton spoke encouragingly and told
her many preliminary steps to take
by securing Endorsements from promi-
nent men who had been her fathers
friends.
Through it all Jane kept thinking
that Judge Morton seemed so much
younger than she had thought him, for
when he had helped administer her fa-
ther's estate she was fifteen, and as
man of thirty he had seemed an old
bachelor to her But twenty-five and
forty did not seem SO far apart.
All the experience of that visit to
Judge Morton's office passed through
James troubled mind as she looked at
the swarming group of men in that
smoky lobby and realized that she
must appeal to twenty-five of them to
vote for her. Just as she was begin
ming to plan anme way to escape the
whole dreadful situation, a senator
approached her.
Miss Gray" he began, "I'm not yet
in a position to pledge my support ell
ther to you or to your opponent, but |
do want to tell you that you're using
the right methods. Don't nag the SEN
ators-that's what your opponents do
ing"
Jane had not realized that she pos
sessed any methods, but it encouraged
her to hear that she did. When Judge
Morton arrived on Tuesday the fight
had waxed warm, and every senator
had a string of candidates and their
supporters after him. Hardly sena-
tor would commit himself to prom
ise for fear of losing vote for one
of his own wards. When Wednesday
afternoon came Jane had three definite
promises. three favorable prospects
and the rest in awful uncertainty.
She must have twelve votes to win.
The thought of it sickened her.
You'll be expected to go to the
statehouse to hear the result of the
vote," said Judge Morton. And don't
run away If you lose. for we'll take
care of you with something else
AS they walked together toward the
statehouse she found it awkward to
talk to him She feared he was dis
gusted with all this vote begging; and
she felt angry with herself Ter getting
him into such a muddle. She was
tired and discouraged and poisoned by !
the smoky air of the hotel lobby The
warm dampness outside did not re-
fresh her She did not dream that
Judge Morton was noticing her until |
he abruptly asked her what was the
matter.
Try as she would, she could not !
speak word in reply. Her throat
seemed closed tight Then two big
tears rolled down her cheeks. But |
came to the rescue. for big |
drops of rain began to fall. Thicker
and thicker they came and while
Judge Morton said no more. the way |
he almost lifted Jane along the walk
and up the broad steps gave her such |
a reassured feeling that she didn't !
care whether she won the old position
or not.
There was an hour to wait Many |
people were about and her opponent |
was smiling on everybody. But her
smiles did not keep her from stealing
many an anxious glance toward the
door of the caucus chamber where the
vote was being taken. James over
wrought nerves we're near collapse |
when the senator from her district |