\"It\'snothalfsorawassomethingsImightmention,thatwentthroughlikegreasedlightning,\"hereplied.\"Whatcantheydo?Ibelieveitwillholdwater.Tallant\'s,andmostoftheothernewspapersinthestate,won\'tprintalineaboutit,andonlySocialistsandPopulistsreadthePilot.They\'redisgruntledanyway.Thepointis,there\'snootherwayoutforus.Justthinkamoment,bearinginmindwhatI\'vetoldyouaboutthecase,andyou\'llseeit.\"
Mr.Gorsetookupthepaperagain,andreadthedraftover.
\"YouknowaswellasIdo,Miller,howdangerousitistoleavethisRibblevalebusinessatlooseends.TheCarlislesteelpeopleandtheLakeShoreroadareaftertheRibblevaleCompany,andwecan\'taffordtorunanyriskoftheirgettingit.It\'slogicallyapartoftheBoyneinterests,asScherersays,andDickinsonisreadywiththemoneyforthereorganization.IftheCarlislepeopleandtheLakeShoregetit,theproductwillbeshippedoutbytheLandG,andtheRailroadwilllose.
WhatwouldBarboursay?\"
Mr.Barbour,asIhaveperhapsmentioned,wasthepresidentoftheRailroad,andhadhisresidenceintheothergreatcityofthestate.Hewasthen,Iknew,intheWest.
\"We\'vegottoactnow,\"insistedMr.Watling.\"That\'sopenandshut.Ifyouhaveanyotherplan,Iwishyou\'dtrotitout.Ifnot,IwantalettertoPaulVarneyandthegovernor.I\'mgoingtosendParetdownwiththemonthenighttrain.\"
Itwascleartomethen,inthediscussionfollowing,thatMr.Watling\'sgiftofpersuasion,thoughgreat,wasnotthedeterminingfactorinMr.
Gorse\'sdecision.He,too,possessedboldness,thoughhepreferredcaution.Nordidthefriendshipbetweenthetwoenterintothetransaction.Iwasimpressedmorestronglythaneverwiththefactthatalawsuitwasseldomamereprivateaffairbetweentwopersonsorcorporations,butinvolvedachainofrelationshipsandninetimesoutoftenthatchainleduptotheRailroad,whichnearlyalwayswasvitallyinterestedintheselegalcontests.HalfanhourofmasterlypresentationofthesituationwasnecessarybeforeMr.Gorsebecameconvincedthattheintroductionofthebillwastheonlywayoutforallconcerned.
\"Well,Iguessyou\'reright,Theodore,\"hesaidatlength.Whereuponheseizedhispenandwroteofftwonoteswithgreatrapidity.TheseheshowedtoMr.Watling,whonoddedandreturnedthem.Theywerefoldedandsealed,andhandedtome.OnewasaddressedtoColonelPaulVarney,andtheothertotheHon.W.W.Trulease,governorofthestate.
\"Youcantrustthisyoungman?\"demandedMr.Gorse.
\"Ithinkso,\"repliedMr.Watling,smilingatme.\"Thebillwashisownidea.\"
Therailroadattorneywheeledaboutinhischairandlookedatme;lookedaroundme,wouldbetterexpressit,withhisindefinite,encompassingyetinclusiveglance.Ihadrivetedhisattention.Andfromhenceforth,I
knew,Ishouldenterintohiscalculations.Hehadmadeformeacompartmentinhismind.
\"Hisownidea!\"herepeated.
\"Imerelysuggestedit,\"Iwasputtingin,whenhecutmeshort.
\"Aren\'tyouthesonofMatthewParet?\"
\"Yes,\"Isaid.
Hegavemeaqueerglance,thesignificanceofwhichIleftuntranslated.
Myexcitementwastoogreattoanalyzewhathemeantbythismentionofmyfather
Whenwereachedthesidewalkmychiefgavemeafewpartinginstructions.
\"Ineedscarcelysay,Hugh,\"headded,\"thatyourpresenceinthecapitalshouldnotbeadvertisedasconnectedwiththis——legislation.Theywillprobablyattributeittousintheend,butifyou\'rereasonablycareful,they\'llneverbeabletoproveit.Andthere\'snouseinputtingourcardsonthetableatthebeginning.\"
\"Noindeed,sir!\"Iagreed.
Hetookmyhandandpressedit.
\"Goodluck,\"hesaid.\"Iknowyou\'llgetalongallright.\"
AFARCOUNTRY
ByWinstonChurchillBOOK2.
X.
Thiswasnotmyfirstvisittothestatecapital.Indeed,someofthatreconditeknowledge,inwhichItookapride,hadbeengainedontheoccasionsofmypreviousvisits.Risinganddressingearly,Ibeheldoutofthecarwindowthebroad,shallowriverglintinginthemorningsunlight,thedomeofthestatehouseagainsttheblueofthesky.EvenatthatearlyhourgroupsofthegentlemenwhomadeourlawswerescatteredaboutthelobbyofthePottsHouse,standingorseatedwithineasyreachofthegailycolouredcuspidorsthatprotectedthemarblefloor:heavy-jawedworkersfromthecitiesmingledwithmoon-facedbutastutecountrymenwhomanipulatedvotesamongstfarmsandvillages;fatorcadaverous,Irish,GermanorAmerican,allboreincommonacertainindefinablestamp.Havingeatenmybreakfastinalargedining-roomthatresoundedwiththeclatterofdishes,IdirectedmystepstotheapartmentoccupiedfromyeartoyearbyColonelPaulBarney,generalissimooftheRailroadonthelegislativebattlefield,——apositionthatdemandedacertainuniquenessofgenius.
\"Howdoyoudo,sir,\"hesaid,inaguardedbutcourteoustoneasheopenedthedoor.Ienteredtoconfrontagroupofthreeorfourfigures,silentandratherhostile,seatedinahazeoftobaccosmokearoundamarble-toppedtable.OnitreposedaBible,attachedtoachain.
\"Youprobablydon\'trememberme,Colonel,\"Isaid.\"MynameisPared,andI\'massociatedwiththefirmofWatling,Fowndes,andRipon.\"
Hisairofmarginality,——heightenedbyagreymoustacheandgoateealaNapoleonThird,——vanishedinstantly;hebecamehospitable,ingratiating.
\"Why——whycertainly,youweredownheahwithMr.Fowndestwoyearsago.\"
TheColonelspokewithaslightSouthernaccent.\"Tobesure,sir.I\'vehadthehonourofmeetingyourfather.Mr.Norris,ofNorthHaven,meetMr.Paret——oneofourrisinglawyers\"Ishookhandswiththemallandsatdown.Openinghislongcoat,ColonelVarneyrevealedtworowsofcigars,suggestingcartridgesinabelt.Theseheproceededtohandoutashetalked.\"I\'mgladtoseeyouhere,Mr.Paret.Youmuststayawhile,andbecomeacquaintedwiththemenwho——ahem——areshapingthedestiniesofagreatstate.Itwouldgivemepleasuretoescortyouabout.\"
Ithankedhim.Ihadlearnedenoughtorealizehowimportantaretheamenitiesinpoliticsandbusiness.TheColoneldidmostoftheconversing;hecouldnothavefilledwithefficiencyandeasetheimportantpostthatwashishaditnotbeenfortheendlessfundofhumorousanecdotesathisdisposal.Onebyonethevisitorsleft,eachassuringmeofhispersonalregard:theColonelclosedthedoor,softly,turningthekeyinthelock;therewasaslylookinhisblackeyesashetookachairinproximitytomine.
\"Well,Mr.Paret,\"heaskedsoftly,\"what\'sup?\"
WithoutfurtheradoIhandedhimMr.Gorse\'sletter,andanotherMr.
Watlinghadgivenmeforhim,whichcontainedacopyofthebill.Hereadthese,laidthemonthetable,glancingatmeagain,strokinghisgoateethewhile.Hechuckled.
\"Bygum!\"heexclaimed.\"ItakeoffmyhattoTheodoreWatling,alwaysdid.\"Hebecamecontemplative.\"Itcanbedone,Mr.Paret,butit\'sgoingtotakesomecarefuldriving,sir,somereachingoutandflicking\'emwhentheyr\'arandbuck.PaulVarney\'sneverbeenstumpedyet.Justassoonasthisisintroducedwe\'llhaveGatesandArmstrongdownhere——
they\'retheRibblevaleattorneys,aren\'tthey?Ithoughtso,——andthebestlegaltalenttheycanhire.Andthey\'llroundupallthedisgruntledfellows,youknow,——thatain\'tfriendlytotheRailroad.
We\'vegottodoitquick,Mr.Paret.GorsegaveyoualettertotheGovernor,didn\'the?\"
\"Yes,\"Isaid.
\"Well,comealong.I\'llpassthewordaroundamongtheboys,justtolet\'emknowwhattoexpect.\"Hiseyesglitteredagain.\"I\'vebeenfollowingthisRibblevalebusiness,\"headded,\"andIunderstandLeonardDickinson\'sallreadytoreorganizethatcompany,whenthetimecomes.
Heoughttoletmeinforalittle,onthegroundfloor.\"
IdidnotventuretomakeanypromisesforMr.Dickinson.
\"Ireckonit\'sjustaswellifyouweretomeetmeattheGovernor\'soffice,\"theColoneladdedreflectively,andthehintwasnotlostonme.
\"It\'sbetternottolet\'emfindoutanysoonerthantheyhavetowherethisthingcomesfrom,——youunderstand.\"Helookedathiswatch.\"Howwouldnineo\'clockdo?I\'llbethere,withTrulease,whenyoucome,——byaccident,youunderstand.Ofcoursehe\'llbereasonable,butwhentheygettobegovernorstheyhavelittlenotions,youknow,andyou\'vegottoindulge\'em,flatter\'emalittle.Itdoesn\'thurt,forwhentheygettheirbacksupitonlymakesmoretrouble.\"
Heputonasoft,blackfelthat,anddepartednoiselessly
Atnineo\'clockIarrivedattheStateHouseandwasusheredintoagreatsquareroomoverlookingthepark.TheGovernorwasseatedatadeskunderanelaboratechandelier,andsureenough,ColonelVarneywastherebesidehim;makingbarelyperceptiblesignals.
\"Itisapleasuretomakeyouracquaintance,Mr.Paret,\"saidMr.
Trulease.\"Yournameisafamiliaroneinyourcity,sir.AndIgatherfromyourcardthatyouareassociatedwithmygoodfriend,TheodoreWatling.\"
Iacknowledgedit.Iwasnotalittleimpressedbytheperfectblendofcordiality,democraticsimplicityandimpressivenessMr.Truleasehadachieved.Forhehadmanaged,inthecourseofalongpoliticalcareer,tocombineinexactproportionstheseelementswhich,inthepublicmind,shouldupthepersonalityofachiefexecutive.MomentarilyheovercamethefeelingofsuperioritywithwhichIhadenteredhispresence;
neutralizedthesenseIhadofbeingassociatednowwiththehigherpowerswhichhadputhimwherehewas.ForIknewallabouthis\"record.\"
\"You\'reacquaintedwithColonelVarney?\"heinquired.
\"Yes,Governor,I\'vemettheColonel,\"Isaid.
\"Well,Isupposeyourfirmisgettingitsshareofbusinessthesedays,\"
Mr.Truleaseobserved.Iacknowledgeditwas,andafterdiscussingforafewmomentstheremarkablegrowthofmynativecitytheGovernortappedonhisdeskandinquiredwhathecoulddoforme.IproducedtheletterfromtheattorneyfortheRailroad.TheGovernorreaditgravely.
\"Ah,\"hesaid,\"fromMr.Gorse.\"Acopyoftheproposedbillwasenclosed,andtheGovernorreadthatalso,hemmedandhawedalittle,turnedandhandedittoColonelVarney,whowassittingwithadetachedair,smokingcontemplatively,avacantexpressiononhisface.\"Whatdoyouthinkofthis,Colonel?\"
WhereupontheColoneltorehimselfawayfromhisreflections.
\"What\'sthat,Governor?\"
\"Mr.Gorsehascalledmyattentiontowhatseemstohimaflawinourstatutes,aninabilitytoobtaintestimonyfromcorporationswhosebooksareelsewhere,andwhomaythusevade,hesays,toacertainextent,thesovereignwillofourstate.\"
TheColoneltookthepaperwithanadmirableairofsurprise,adjustedhisglasses,andbecameabsorbedinreading,clearinghisthroatonceortwiceandemittinganexclamation.
\"Well,ifyouaskme,Governor,\"hesaid,atlength,\"allIcansayisthatIamastonishedsomebodydidn\'tthinkofthissimpleremedybeforenow.Manytimes,sir,haveIseenjusticedefeatedbecausewehadnosuchlegislationasthis.\"
Hehandeditback.TheGovernorstudieditoncemore,andcoughed.
\"Doesthepenalty,\"heinquired,\"seemtoyoualittlesevere?\"
\"No,sir,\"repliedtheColonel,emphatically.\"PerhapsitisbecauseI
amanxious,asacitizen,toseeanevilabated.Ihavehadanintimateknowledgeoflegislation,sir,formorethantwentyyearsinthisstate,andinallthattimeIdonotremembertohaveseenabillmoreconciselydrawn,orbettercalculatedtoaccomplishtheendsofjustice.Indeed,I
oftenwonderedwhythisverypenaltywasnotimposed.Foreignmagistratesarenotoriouslyindifferentastoaffairsinanotherstatethantheirown.RatherthangointothehandsofareceiverIventuretosaythathereafter,ifthisbillismadealaw,thenecessarytestimonywillbeforthcoming.\"
TheGovernorreadthebillthroughagain.
\"Ifitisintroduced,Colonel,\"hesaid,\"thelegislatureandthepeopleofthestateoughttohaveitmadecleartothemthatitsaimistoremedyaninjustice.Amisunderstandingonthispointwouldbeunfortunate.\"
\"Mostunfortunate,Governor.\"
\"Andofcourse,\"addedtheGovernor,nowaddressingme,\"itwouldbeimproperformetoindicatewhatcourseIshallpursueinregardtoitifitshouldcometomeformysignature.YetImaygosofarastosaythatthedefectitseekstoremedyseemstomearealone.Comeinandseeme,Mr.Paret,whenyouareintown,andgivemycordialregardstoMr.Watling.\"
SogravelyhadthefarcebeencarriedonthatIalmostlaughed,despitethefactthatthematterinquestionwasaseriousoneforme.TheGovernorheldouthishand,andIacceptedmydismissal.
IhadnotgonefiftystepsinthecorridorbeforeIheardtheColonel\'svoiceinmyear.
\"Wehadtogivehimalittleropetogothroughwithhisact,\"hewhisperedconfidentially.\"Buthe\'llsignitallright.Andnow,ifyou\'llexcuseme,Mr.Paret,I\'lllayafewmines.Seeyouatthehotel,sir.\"
Thusheindicated,delicately,thatitwouldbebetterformetokeepoutofsight.OnmywaytothePottsHousethebizarreelementsinthesituationstruckmeagainwithconsiderableforce.Itseemedsoridiculous,sopueriletohavetogothroughwiththispoliticalfarceinorderthatanaturaleconomicevolutionmightbeachieved.Withoutdoubtthedevelopmentofcertainindustrieshadreachedastagewheretheunitsincompetitionhadbecometoosmall,whenagreaterconcentrationofcapitalwasnecessary.Curiouslyenough,inthismentalargumentofjustification,IleftoutallconsiderationofthesizeoftheprobableprofitstoMr.Schererandhisfriends.Profitsandbrainswenttogether.And,sincetheAlmightydidnotlimitthelatter,whyshouldmanattempttolimittheformer?Wewereplayingforhighbutjustifiablestakes;andIresentedthecomedywhichanhypocriticalinsistenceontheformsofdemocracycompelledustogothrough.Itseemedunworthyofmenwhocontrolledthedestiniesofstateandnation.
Thepointofview,however,wasconsoling.AsthedayworeonIsatintheColonel\'sroom,admiringtheskillwithwhichheconductedthecampaign:agreencountrylawyerhadbeengottointroducethebill,ithadbeenexpeditedtotheCommitteeontheJudiciary,whichwouldhaveanexecutivesessionimmediatelyafterdinner.Ihadventuredtoinquireaboutthehearings.
\"Therewon\'tbeanyhearings,sir,\"theColonelassuredme.\"Weownthatcommitteefromtoptobottom.\"
Indeed,byfouro\'clockintheafternoonthemessagecamethatthecommitteehadagreedtorecommendthebill.
Shortlyafterthatthefirstflurryoccurred.Therecameaknockatthedoor,followedbytheentranceofastockyIrishAmericanofaboutfortyyearsofage,whoseblackhairwasplasteredoverhisforehead.Hissea-
