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knowledge of legislation； sir； for more than twenty years in this state；
and in all that time I do not remember to have seen a bill more concisely
drawn； or better calculated to accomplish the ends of justice。 Indeed； I
often wondered why this very penalty was not imposed。 Foreign
magistrates are notoriously indifferent as to affairs in another state
than their own。 Rather than go into the hands of a receiver I venture to
say that hereafter； if this bill is made a law； the necessary testimony
will be forthcoming。〃
The Governor read the bill through again。
〃If it is introduced； Colonel；〃 he said； 〃the legislature and the people
of the state ought to have it made clear to them that its aim is to
remedy an injustice。 A misunderstanding on this point would be
unfortunate。〃
〃Most unfortunate； Governor。〃
〃And of course；〃 added the Governor； now addressing me； 〃it would be
improper for me to indicate what course I shall pursue in regard to it if
it should come to me for my signature。 Yet I may go so far as to say
that the defect it seeks to remedy seems to me a real one。 Come in and
see me； Mr。 Paret； when you are in town； and give my cordial regards to
Mr。 Watling。〃
So gravely had the farce been carried on that I almost laughed； despite
the fact that the matter in question was a serious one for me。 The
Governor held out his hand； and I accepted my dismissal。
I had not gone fifty steps in the corridor before I heard the Colonel's
voice in my ear。
〃We had to give him a little rope to go through with his act；〃 he
whispered confidentially。 〃But he'll sign it all right。 And now； if
you'll excuse me； Mr。 Paret； I'll lay a few mines。 See you at the hotel；
sir。〃
Thus he indicated； delicately； that it would be better for me to keep out
of sight。 On my way to the Potts House the bizarre elements in the
situation struck me again with considerable force。 It seemed so
ridiculous； so puerile to have to go through with this political farce in
order that a natural economic evolution might be achieved。 Without doubt
the development of certain industries had reached a stage where the units
in competition had become too small； when a greater concentration of
capital was necessary。 Curiously enough； in this mental argument of
justification； I left out all consideration of the size of the probable
profits to Mr。 Scherer and his friends。 Profits and brains went
together。 And； since the Almighty did not limit the latter； why should
man attempt to limit the former？ We were playing for high but
justifiable stakes； and I resented the comedy which an hypocritical
insistence on the forms of democracy compelled us to go through。 It
seemed unworthy of men who controlled the destinies of state and nation。
The point of view； however； was consoling。 As the day wore on I sat in
the Colonel's room； admiring the skill with which he conducted the
campaign： a green country lawyer had been got to introduce the bill； it
had been expedited to the Committee on the Judiciary； which would have an
executive session immediately after dinner。 I had ventured to inquire
about the hearings。
〃There won't be any hearings； sir；〃 the Colonel assured me。 〃We own that
committee from top to bottom。〃
Indeed； by four o'clock in the afternoon the message came that the
committee had agreed to recommend the bill。
Shortly after that the first flurry occurred。 There came a knock at the
door； followed by the entrance of a stocky Irish American of about forty
years of age； whose black hair was plastered over his forehead。 His sea…
blue eyes had a stormy look。
〃Hello； Jim；〃 said the Colonel。 〃I was just wondering where you were。〃
〃Sure； you must have been！〃 replied the gentleman sarcastically。
But the Colonel's geniality was unruffled。
〃Mr。 Maker；〃 he said； 〃you ought to know Mr。 Paret。 Mr。 Maker is the
representative from Ward Five of your city； and we can always count on
him to do the right thing； even if he is a Democrat。 How about it； Jim？〃
Mr。 Maker relighted the stump of his cigar。
〃Take a fresh one； Jim；〃 said the Colonel； opening a bureau drawer。
Mr。 Maker took two。
〃Say； Colonel；〃 he demanded； 〃what's this bill that went into the
judiciary this morning？〃
〃What bill？〃 asked the Colonel； blandly。
〃So you think I ain't on？〃 Mr。 Maker inquired。
The Colonel laughed。
〃Where have you been； Jim？〃
〃I've been up to the city； seem' my wifethat's where I've been。〃
The Colonel smiled； as at a harmless fiction。
〃Well； if you weren't here； I don't see what right you've got to
complain。 I never leave my good Democratic friends on the outside； do
I？〃
〃That's all right；〃 replied Mr。 Maker； doggedly； 〃I'm on； I'm here now；
and that bill in the Judiciary doesn't pass without me。 I guess I can
stop it； too。 How about a thousand apiece for five of us boys？〃
〃You're pretty good at a joke； Jim；〃 remarked the Colonel； stroking his
goatee。
〃Maybe you're looking for a little publicity in this here game；〃 retorted
Mr。 Maker； darkly。 〃Say； Colonel； ain't we always treated the Railroad
on the level？〃
〃Jim；〃 asked the Colonel； gently； 〃didn't I always take care of you？〃
He had laid his hand on the shoulder of Mr。 Maker； who appeared slightly
mollified； and glanced at a massive silver watch。
〃Well； I'll be dropping in about eight o'clock；〃 was his significant
reply； as he took his leave。
〃I guess we'll have to grease the wheels a little；〃 the Colonel remarked
to me； and gazed at the ceiling。。。。
The telegram apropos of the Ward Five leader was by no means the only
cipher message I sent back during my stay。 I had not needed to be told
that the matter in hand would cost money； but Mr。 Watling's parting
instruction to me had been to take the Colonel's advice as to specific
sums； and obtain confirmation from Fowndes。 Nor was it any surprise to
me to find Democrats on intimate terms with such a stout Republican as
the Colonel。 Some statesman is said to have declared that he knew
neither Easterners nor Westerners； Northerners nor Southerners； but only
Americans； so Colonel Varney recognized neither Democrats nor
Republicans； in our legislature party divisions were sunk in a greater
loyalty to the Railroad。
At the Colonel's suggestion I had laid in a liberal supply of cigars and
whiskey。 The scene in his room that evening suggested a session of a
sublimated grand lodge of some secret order； such were the mysterious
comings and goings； knocks and suspenses。 One after another the
〃important〃 men duly appeared and were introduced； the Colonel supplying
the light touch。
〃Why； cuss me if it isn't Billy！ Mr。 Paret； I want you to shake hands
with Mr。 Donovan； the floor leader of the 'opposition；' sir。
Mr。 Donovan has had the habit of coming up here for a friendly chat
ever since he first came down to the legislature。 How long is it；
Billy？〃
〃I guess it's nigh on to fifteen years； Colonel。〃
〃Fifteen years！〃 echoed the Colonel； 〃and he's so good a Democrat it
hasn't changed his politics a particle。〃
Mr。 Donovan grinned in appreciation of this thrust； helped himself
liberally from the bottle on the mantel； and took a seat on the bed。 We
had a 〃friendly chat。〃
Thus I made the acquaintance also of the Hon。 Joseph Mecklin； Speaker of
the House； who unbent in the most flattering way on learning my identity。
〃Mr。 Paret's here on that little matter； representing Watling； Fowndes
and Ripon；〃 the Colonel explained。 And it appeared that Mr。 Mecklin knew
all about the 〃little matter；〃 and that the mention of the firm of
Watling； Fowndes and Ripon had a magical effect in these parts。 The
President of the Senate； the Hon。 Lafe Giddings； went so far as to say
that he hoped before long to see Mr。 Watling in Washington。 By no means
the least among our callers was the Hon。 Fitch Truesdale； editor of the
St。 Helen's Messenger； whose editorials were of the trite effectiveness
that is taken widely for wisdom； and were assiduously copied every week
by other state papers and labeled 〃Mr。 Truesdale's Common Sense。〃 At
countless firesides in our state he was known as the spokesman of the
plain man； who was blissfully ignorant of the fact that Mr。 Truesdale was
owned body and carcass by Mr。 Cyrus Ridden； the principal manufacturer of
St。 Helen's and a director in several subsidiary lines of the Railroad。
In the legislature； the Hon。 Fitch's function was that of the moderate
counsellor and bellwether for new members； hence nothing could have been
more fitting than the choice of that gentleman for the honour of moving；
on the morrow； that Bill No。 709 ought to pass。
Mr。 Truesdale reluctantly consented to accept a small 〃loan〃 that would
help to pay the mortgage on his new press。。。。
When the last of the gathering had departed； about one o'clock in the
morning； I had added considerably to my experience； gained a pretty
accurate idea of who was who in the legislature and politics of the
state； and established relationshipsas the Colonel reminded melikely
to prove valuable in the future。 It seemed only gracious to congratulate
him on his management of the affair；so far。 He appeared pleased； and
squeezed my