Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/92

 Standiford had seen to it that his junior Senator was a man of straw, put in the place in order that the boss might have two votes in the Senate. Never had the junior Senator yet voted or acted in opposition to his master; but had Thorndyke been the junior it would have been another story, and both men knew it. This caused Thorndyke to remark, coolly:

"He would have no reason to disturb himself—the ass! You have been kind enough to give me to understand that I am ineligible for promotion, not being made of putty, as our junior Senator is."

"Now, now!" remonstrated Senator Standiford, again assuming his air of a seventeenth-century Puritan. "To hear you anybody would think that our State organisation didn't want every first-class man it can get! We have the highest regard for your services, and we do what we can to keep you in your present place because we see your usefulness there."

Senator Standiford punctiliously used the euphemism "we" just as he gravely consulted all the pothouse politicians and heelers in "the organisa