Page:Upbuilders by Lincoln Steffens.djvu/103



“Ed,” adopted that resolution with not one negative vote!

But before the Speaker declared the resolution carried, the lobby woke up. Governor Stokes’s Pennsylvania man came rushing in out of breath; wanted to know what the- thing meant any- how. “Can’t you give us time?” he begged. Colby knew that A. J. Cassatt would call down Stokes and that Stokes would call down his man, and that the Public Service lobbyist and legislators would catch it; and besides, he didn’t want to join in a fluke, so he said: “Surely; we’ll make it a special order for Thursday.”

The next day a telephone message summoned him to one of the business-political leaders of the state, a man who usually had been able to “handle Colby.”

“Everett,” said this man, “our friends are awfully upset by this resolution of yours.” Of course, he said, it had gone too far to be absolutely withdrawn — by Colby, but “our friends will fix up an amendment,” and “if you will accept this amendment, they’ll let it pass.” “They’ll let it pass!”

“You don’t mean to tell me,” Colby exclaimed, “that they are to determine what bills shall pass!”

“Now, Everett,” said this gentleman,“you ought to know by this time how all these things are.”