Page:Upbuilders by Lincoln Steffens.djvu/344

 for themselves; U'Ren wanted something for the people. On that basis, William U'Ren went into every political deal that he could get into.

And that he was a factor to be reckoned with, he proved right away. Quick, quiet, industrious, he had his "combine" organized before Mitchell woke up. The Simon-Bourne-Pop crowd captured the temporary organization of the House. This they did by a snap. They weren't ready to elect a United States Senator, and since the election must be held, by law, on the second Tuesday after the permanent organization was effected, their play was to put off the election of a Speaker. U'Ren himself made that play. There was a contest over one seat in the House. U'Ren was on the committee and he controlled three of the five votes. He wouldn't report. The minority, seeing the game, rushed back and, reporting a row in the committee, caused a row in the House. And a mad scene it was. The Mitchell men rose in a rage and, all on their feet, were crying "Fraud!" and demanding "Action." When U'Ren arrived, his side, uninformed and without a leader, was in a state of confusion. They greeted him with a cheer and he took the floor. Quietly, with great courtesy and unexpected ability, he met the attack. Everybody else was excited. U'Ren alone was cool and, as