Mr. ¬ÝSmith listened but shook his head.
‚ÄúWhen the time comes,‚Äù he announced deliberately, ‚ÄúI shall have something to say on several of these matters. At present I can only say that I cannot support this bill,‚Äù and Mr. ¬ÝTodd was ushered out. He met Mr. ¬ÝEasterly coming in and greeted him effusively. He knew him only as a rich philanthropist, who had helped the Neighborhood Guild in Washington‚ÅÝ‚Äîone of Todd‚Äôs hobbies.
Easterly greeted Smith quietly.
“Got my letter?”
“Yes.”
‚ÄúHere are the three bills. You will go on the Finance Committee tomorrow; Sumdrich is chairman by courtesy, but you‚Äôll have the real power. Put the Child Labor Bill first, and we‚Äôll work the press. The Tariff will take most of the session, of course. We‚Äôll put the cotton inspection bill through in the last days of the session‚ÅÝ‚Äîsee? I‚Äôm manoeuvring to get the Southern Congressmen into line.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ Oh, one thing. Thompson says he‚Äôs a little worried about the Negroes; says there‚Äôs something more than froth in the talk of a bolt in the Northern Negro vote. We may have to give them a little extra money and a few more minor offices than usual. Talk with Thompson; the Negroes are sweet on you and he‚Äôs going to be the new chairman of the campaign, you know. Ever met him?‚Äù
“Yes.”
‚ÄúWell‚ÅÝ‚Äîso long.‚Äù
“Just a moment,” the statesman stayed the financier.
‚ÄúTodd just let fall something of a combination against us in Congress‚ÅÝ‚Äîknow anything of it?‚Äù