Page:The American Magazine (1906-1956) - volume 73.pdf/444



G. HAROLD POWELL

Who is teaching the world how to save millions in packing and shipping fruit. "Fruit is a living organism, with an allotted span of existence," he says. "Harsh handling shortens its life, and renders it valueless for food"

through the Senate but it will be killed in the House."

But Agnes Nestor herself was sure that the bill would go through. It was that faith that kept her thirteen long weeks at the capitol, never missing one legislative day. Sometimes she might be seen in the corridors buttonholing the members. Their attitude toward her bill she noted in a little book that lay ready to her hand in the large shopping bag she always carried.

Throughout the session her advice was sought by the friends of the bill both in House and Senate. Upon one occasion the representative introducing the bill in the House actually asked the members to waive their rules and allow Agnes Nestor to come down on the floor that he might confer with her.

The conference concerned the wisdom of accepting an amendment to the bill. Agnes Nestor absolutely refused her consent to that bill being touched. She said that she knew it could be passed just as it was drafted. Both her friends and enemies said that it did not have a ghost of a chance.

"No amendment," she said. She did not take this stand from mere stubbornness. She took it because in her knowledge of the amendments they proposed she knew that one would invalidate the bill in the supreme court, and that others were not practical.

But in spite of all her opposition an amendment was adopted. It was so worded that many of the bill's friends voted for its adoption in good faith. Yet it was so vicious in its intention that as soon as it was understood the same men would vote it down. It is an old political trick- to change a bill so that its original friends will defeat it.

The employers thought that the fight was over. They all left for home. The girls had been put to rout.

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