Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/115

 *ways thinking of himself first. He button-holed me, took me into his bedroom, locked the door, and closed the transom. There were three other men present—all of whom I would not wish to offend. One of them has indorsed two unpaid notes for me. Sanders told me he had been looking for me, and with these other fellows—practical politicians every one of them—had already formulated a plan of campaign. The Governor would appoint me to fill the vacancy until the Legislature met in January and elected a senator for the short term, provided I would give him a clear track then. In further recompense, he agreed to support me for the long term—the election is only two years off. Sanders has had the senatorial bee in his bonnet for a long time, but the State organisation is not over-*kindly to him, and Senator Bicknell is a little bit afraid of him, and naturally wouldn't encourage his aspirations. And do you know, after an hour's talk I allowed Sanders and those three fellows to wheedle me into that arrangement—and, of course, I can't, in two years, supplant Senator Bicknell. Sanders is a long-headed rascal, and he knew very well that I was under money obligations to those