CHAPTER 10
Many business men of every community are respectable cowards. The sense of property fills them with a cramping timidity.--From the Note Book of a Dreamer.
SAFE AND SOUND BUSINESS RALLIES TO THE DEFENSE OF THE COUNTRY. THEREBEL, FRUSTRATED, PLANS FURTHER VILLAINIES
Part 1
When James reached his office next morning he found Killen waiting forhim. One glance at the weak defiant face told him that the legislatorwas again in revolt. The lawyer felt a surge of disgust sweep over him.All through the session he had cajoled and argued the weak-kneed backinto line. Why didn't Hardy do his own dirty work instead of leaving itto him to soil his hands with these cheap grafters?
No longer ago than yesterday it had been a keen pleasure to feel himselfso important a factor in the struggle, to know that his power and hispersonality were of increasing value to his side.
But to-day--somehow the salt had gone out of it. The value of the issuehad dwindled, his enthusiasm gone stale. After all, what did it matterwho was elected? Why should not the corporate wealth that was developingthe country see that men were chosen to office who would safeguardvested interests? It was all very well for Jeff to talk about democracyand the rights of the people. But Jeff was an impracticable idealist.He, James, stood for success. Within the past twenty-four hours therehad been something of a shift of standards for him.
His visit to The Brakes had done that for him. He craved luxury just ashe did power, and the house on the hill had said the final word of bothto him in the personalities of Joe Powers and his daughter. It had comehome to him that the only way to satisfy his ambition was by makingmoney and a lot of it. This morning, with the sharpness of his hungerrendering him irritable, he was in no mood to conciliate disaffectantsto the cause of which he was himself beginning to weary.
"Well?" he demanded sharply of Killen.
"I've been looking for your cousin, but I can't find him. He was to havemet me here later."
"Then I presume he'll be here when he said he would." The eyes of thelawyer were cold and hard as jade.
"You can tell him it won't be necessary for me to see him. I've madeother arrangements," Killen said uneasily.
"You mean that you repudiate your agreement with him. Is that it?"Farnum's voice was like a whiplash.
"I've decided to support Frome. Fact is--"
"Oh, damn the facts! You made an agreement. You're going to sell out.That's all there is to it."
The young man's face was dark with furious disgust.
Killen flared up. "You better be careful how you talk to me, Mr. Farnum.I might want to know what Big Tim was doing in your office yesterday. Imight want to know what business took you up to The Brakes by a mightyroundabout way."
James strode forward in a rage. "Get out of here before I throw you out,you little spying blackguard."
"You bet I'll get out," screamed the mill man. "Get clear out and havenothing more to do with your outfit. But I want to tell you that folkswill talk a lot when they know how you and Big Tim fixed up a deal--"Killen, backing toward the door as he spoke, broke off to hasten hisexit before the lawyer's threatening advance.
James slammed the door shut on him and paced up and down in an impotentfury of passion. "The dirty little blackleg! He'd like to bracket me inthe same class as himself. He'd like to imply that I--By Heaven, ifhe opens his lying mouth to a hint of such a thing I'll horsewhip thelittle cad."
But running uneasily through his mind was an undercurrent ofdisgust--with himself, with Jeff, with the whole situation. Why had heever let himself get mixed up with such an outfit? Government by thepeople! The thing was idiotic, mere demagogic cant. Power was to thestrong. He had always known it. But yesterday that old giant at TheBrakes had hammered it home to him. He did not like to admit even tohimself that his folly had betrayed Hardy's cause, but at bottom he knewhe should not have gone to The Brakes until after the election andthat he ought never to have let Killen out of the office without anexplanation. Yesterday he would have won back the man somehow by anappeal to his loyalty and his self-interest.
He must send word at once to Jeff and let him try to remedy themischief.
His cousin, coming into the office with Rawson just as James took downthe receiver of the telephone, noticed at once the disturbance of thelatter.
James told his story. It was clear to him that he must anticipateKillen's disclosure of his visit to The Brakes and so draw the stingfrom it as far as possible. But his natural reluctance to shoulder blamemade him begin with Killen's defection.
"I told you to let me deal with the little traitor," Rawson exploded.
"He was quite satisfied when I left him yesterday. They must have gotat him again," Jeff suggested. "I left O'Brien with him. But I was deadsure of him."
James cleared his throat and began casually. "I expect the little beggargot suspicious when he saw Big Tim coming to my office."
"To your office?" Rawson cut in sharply.
The lawyer flushed, but his eyes met and quelled the incipient doubt inthose of the politician. "Yes, he came to feel the ground. Of course Itold him flatly where I stood. But Killen must have thought somethingwas doing he wasn't in on. It seems he followed me to The Brakesyesterday afternoon when I called on Mrs. Van Tyle."
"Followed you to The Brakes. Good Lord!" groaned Rawson. "What in Mexicowere you doing there?"
"Thought I mentioned that I was calling on Mrs. Van-Tyle," returnedJames stiffly.
"Wasn't that call a little injudicious under the circumstances, James?"contributed Jeff with his whimsical smile.
"I suppose I may call wherever I please."
"It was a piece of dashed foolishness, that's what it was. You sayKillen saw you. The thing will fly like dust in the wind. It will bebuzzed all over the House by this time and every man that wants to sellout will find a reason right there," stormed Rawson.
"Are you implying that I sold out?" demanded James icily.
Jeff put a conciliatory hand on his cousin's shoulder. "Of course hedoesn't. He isn't a fool, James. But there's a good deal in what Rawsonsays. It was a mistake. The waverers will find in it their excuse fordeserting. Of course Big Tim has been at them all night. We'll go rightup to the House in your machine, Rawson. We haven't a moment to lose."
Rawson nodded. "It's dollars to doughnuts the thing is past mending, butit's up to us to see. If I can only get at Killen in time I'll choke thestory in his throat. You wait here at the 'phone, Jeff, and I'll callyou up if you're needed at this end of the line. Better have a taxiwaiting below in case you need one. Come along, James."
If he did not get to Killen in time it was not Rawson's fault, for hemade his car flash up and down Verden's hills with no regard to thespeed limit. He swept it along Powers Avenue, dodging in and out amongthe traffic of the busy city like a halfback through a broken fieldafter a kick. With a twist of the wheel he put the machine at the steephill of Yarnell Way, climbed the brow of it, and plunged with a flyingleap down the long incline to the State House.
James clung to the swaying side of the car as it raced down. It wasraining hard, and the drops stung their faces like bird shot. Twohundred yards in front appeared a farm wagon, leaped toward them, anddisappeared in the gulf behind. A dog barking at them from the roadsidewas for an instant and then was not. In their wake they left cursingteamsters, frightened horses, women and children scurrying for safety;and in the driver's seat Rawson sat goggle-eyed and rigid, swallowingthe miles that lay in front of him.
The car took the last incline superbly and swung up the asphalt carriageway to a Yale finish at the marble stairway of the State House. Rawsonwas running up the steps almost before the machine had stopped. Farnumcaught him at the elevator and a minute later they entered together theassembly room of the House.
One swift glance told Rawson that Killen was not in his seat, and ashis eyes swept the room he noted also the absence of Pitts, Bentley, andMiller. Of the doubtful votes only Ashton and Reilly were pres
ent.
He flung a question, "anything of Bentley, Akers?"
"Mr. Bentley! Why, yes, sir. He was called to the telephone a fewminutes ago and he left at once. Mr. Miller went with him, and Mr.Pitts."
"Were Ashton and Reilly here then?"
"No, sir. They came in a moment before you did."
Rawson drew Farnum to one side and whispered.
"Killen must have gone right from your room to Big Tim. They got theothers on the phone. They must have been on that street car we met amile back. There's just a chance to head 'em off. I'll chase back in mymachine while you call up Jeff and have him meet the car as it comes in.Tell him not to let them out of his sight if he has to hold them with agun. You keep an eye on Reilly and Ashton. Don't let anyone talk to themor get them on the phone. Better take them up to the library."
James nodded sulkily. He did not like Rawson's peremptory manner anythe better because he knew his indiscretion had called it down upon him.What he had been unable to forget for the past hour was that if thisbreak to Frome had happened yesterday it would have been he that gavethe orders and Rawson who jumped to execute them. Now he had slippedback to second place.
He caught Jeff on the line and repeated Rawson's orders without commentof his own, after which he went back from the committee room, gatheredup Reilly and Ashton, and took them on a pretext to the library.
It must have been nearly an hour later that a messenger boy handed Jamesa note. It was a hasty scribble from Rawson.
Euchred, by thunder! Both Jeff and I missed them. Big Tim butted in witha car at Grover Street before we could make connections. Am waitingat the House for them. Don't bring A. & R. in till time to vote. FROMECAN'T WIN IF YOU MAKE THEM BOTH STICK.
James stuck the note in his pocket and flung himself with artificialanimation into the story he was telling. Once or twice the otherssuggested a return to the House, but he always had just one more goodstory they must hear. Since only routine business was under way therewas no urgency, and when at length they returned to the House chamberthe clock pointed to five minutes to twelve.
Rawson and two or three of the staunchest Hardy men relieved Farnum ofhis charge in the cloak room and took care of the two doubtfuls. Theseats of Bentley, Miller, Pitts and Killen were still vacant, and therewas a tense watchfulness in the room that showed rumors were flying of abreak in the deadlock.
Already the state senators were drifting in for the noon joint sessions,and along with them came presently the missing assemblymen flanked byO'Brien and Frome adherents.
The President of the Senate called the session to order and announcedthat the eleventh general assembly would now proceed to take thesixty-fourth ballot for the election of a United States Senator.
In an oppressive silence the clerk began to call the roll.
"Allan."
A raw-boned farmer from one of the coast counties rose and answered"Hardy."
"Anderson."
In broken English a fat Swede shouted, "Harty."
"Ashton."
"Hardy." The word fell hesitantly from dry lips. The man would havevoted for the Transcontinental candidate had he dared, but he was notsure enough that the crucial moment was at hand and the pressure of hisenvironment was too great.
"Bentley."
Three hundred eyes focused expectantly on the gaunt white-facedlegislator who rose nervously at the sound of his name and almostinaudibly gulped the word "Frome."
A fierce tumult of rage and triumph rose and fell and swelled again.Bentley became the center of a struggling vortex of roaring humanity andfound himself tossed hither and thither like a chip in a choppy sea.
It was many minutes before the clerk could proceed with the roll-call.When his name was reached James said "Hardy" in a clear distinct voicethat brought from the gallery a round of applause sharply checked by thepresiding officer. Killen gave his vote for Frome tremulously and shrankfrom the storm he had evoked. Rawson could be seen standing on hisseat, one foot on the top of his desk, shaking his fist at him in purpleapoplectic rage, the while his voice rose above the tumult, "You damnedJudas! You damned little traitor!"
The presiding officer beat in vain with his gavel for quiet. Not untilthey had worn themselves to momentary exhaustion could the roll-call becontinued.
Miller and Pitts voted for Frome and stirred renewed shouts of supportand execration.
"Takes one more change to elect Frome. All depends on Reilly now,"Rawson whispered hoarsely to Jeff. "If he sticks we're safe for anothertwenty-four hours."
But Reilly, knowing the decisive moment had come, voted for Frome andgave him the one more needed to elect. Pandemonium was loose at once.The Transcontinental forces surrounded him and fought off the excitedmen he had betrayed who tried to get at him to make him change his vote.The culminating moment of months of battle had come and mature mengave themselves to the abandon of the moment like college boys after afootball game.
When at last the storm had subsided Ashton, who had seen severalthousand dollars go glimmering because his initial came at the beginningof the alphabet instead of at the close, in the hope of still gettinginto the bandwagon in time moved to make the election unanimous. Hissuggestion was rejected with hoots of derision, and Frome made theconventional speech of acceptance to a House divided against itself.
Jeff joined his cousin as he was descending the steps to the lower hall."Don't blame yourself, old man. It would have happened anyhow in a dayor two. They were looking for a chance to desert. We couldn't have heldthem. Better luck next time."
James found cold comfort in such consolation. He was dissatisfied withthe part he had played in the final drama. Instead of being the heroof the hour, he was the unfortunate whose blunder had started theavalanche. Yet he was gratified when Rawson said in effect the samething as Jeff.
"And I'm going to have the pleasure of telling that damned little Killenwhat I think of him," the politician added with savage satisfaction.
"Don't blame him. He's only a victim. What we must do is to change thesystem that makes it possible to defeat the will of the people throughmoney," Jeff said.
"How are you going about it?" Rawson demanded incredulously.
"We'll go after the initiative and referendum right now while the peopleare stirred up about this treachery. The very men who threw us down willsupport us to try and square themselves. The bill will slip through asif it were oiled," Jeff prophesied.
"Oh, hang your initiative and referendum. I'm a politician, not asocialist reformer," grinned Rawson.
James said nothing.
Part 2
If the years were bringing Jeff a sharper realization of the forces thatcontrol so much of life they were giving him too the mellowness thatcan be in revolt without any surrender of faith in men. He could forinstance now look back on his college days and appreciate the kindnessand the patience of the teachers whom he had then condemned. They hadbeen conformists. No doubt they had compromised to the pressure of theirenvironment. But somehow he felt much less like judging men than he usedto in the first flush of his intellectual awakening. It was perhaps thishabit of making allowance for weakness, together with his call to theidealism in them, that made him so effective a worker with men.
He was as easy as an old shoe, but people sensed the steel in himinstinctively. In his quiet way he was coming to be a power. For onething he was possessed of the political divination that understands howfar a leader may go without losing his following. He knew too how to getpractical results. It was these qualities that enabled him out of thewreckage of the senatorial defeat to build a foundation of victory forHouse Bill 77.
To bring into effect Jeff's pet measure of the initiative and referendumnecessitated an amendment to the state constitution, which must bepassed by two successive legislative assemblies and ratified by a voteof the people in order to become effective. The bill had been slumberingin committee, but immediately after the senatorial election Jeffinsisted on having it brought squarely to the attention of the Hou
se.
His feeling for the psychological moment was a true one and he succeededby a skillful newspaper campaign in rallying the people to his support.The sense of outrage felt at this shameless purchase of a seat in theSenate, accented by a knowledge of its helplessness to avenge the wrongdone it, counted mightily in favor of H. B. No. 77 just now. It promiseda restoration of power to the people, and the clamor for its passagebecame insistent.
A good deal of quiet lobbying had been done for the bill, and thelegislators who had sold themselves, having received all they couldreasonably expect from the allied corporations, were anxious to makea show of standing for their constituents. Politicians in generalconsidered the bill a "freak" one. Some who voted for it explained thatthey did not believe in it, but felt the people should have a chance tovote on it themselves. By a large majority it passed the House. Two dayslater it squeezed through the Senate.
Rawson, who had been persuaded half against his judgment to support thebill, lunched with Jeff that day.
"Now watch the corporations dig a grave for your little pet at the nextlegislature," he chuckled, helping himself to bread while he waited forthe soup.
"They may. Then again they may not," Farnum answered. "We are ruled bypolitical machines and corporations only as long as we let them. I've anotion the people are going to assert themselves at the next election."
"How are you going to make the will of the dear people effective withthe assembly?" asked Rawson, amused.
"Make the initiative and referendum the issue of the campaign. Pledgethe legislators to vote for it before nominating them."
"Pledge them?" grinned Rawson cynically. "Weren't they pledged tosupport Hardy? And did they?"
"No, but they'll stick next time, I think."
"You're an incurable optimist, my boy."
"It isn't optimism this time. It's our big stick."
"Didn't know we had one."
"Do you remember House Bill 19?"
"No. What's that got to do with it?"
"It slipped through early in the session. Anderson introduced it. Nobodypaid any attention to it because he's a back country Swede and his billwas very wordy. The governor signed it to-day. That bill provides forthe recall of any public official, alderman or legislator if the peopleare not satisfied with his conduct."
The big man stared. "I thought it only applied to district roadsupervisors. Were you back of that bill, Jeff?"
"I had it drawn up and helped steer it through the committee, though Iwas careful not to appear interested."
"You sly old fox! And nobody guessed it had general application. Noneof us read the blamed thing through. You're going to use it as a club tomake the legislators stand pat on their pledges."
"Yes."
"But don't you see how revolutionary your big stick is?" Rawson's smilewas expansive. "Why, hang it, man, you're destroying the fundamentalvalue of representative government. It's a deliberate attack on graft."
"Looks like it, doesn't it?"
It was while Rawson was waiting for his mince pie piled with ice creamthat he ventured a delicate question.
"Say, Jeff! What about James? Is he getting ready to flop over to theenemy?"
"No. Why do you ask that?"
"I notice he explained when he voted for House Bill 77 that he reservedthe right to oppose it later. Said he hadn't made up his mind, but feltthe people should be given a chance to express themselves on it."
Upon Farnum's face rested a momentary gravity. "I can't make Jamesout lately. He's lost his enthusiasm. Half the time he's irritable andmoody. I think perhaps he's been blaming himself too much for Hardy'sdefeat."
Rawson laughed with cynical incredulity. "That's it, is it?"
The Vision Splendid Page 11
