CodalSearch this book — or all of Codal…⌘K
nydus/The Quest of the Silver FleecePublic

In the post-Reconstruction era, a young Black man and woman from the deep South struggle to overcome the economic and political fleecing of their community.

Page 299 of 464
Table of Contents

XXVI

Congressman Cresswell

The election of Harry Cresswell to Congress was a very simple matter. The Colonel and his son drove to town and consulted the Judge; together they summoned the sheriff and the local member of the State legislature.

“I think it’s about time that we Cresswells asked for a little of the political pie,” the Colonel smilingly opened.

“Well, what do you want?” asked the Judge.

“Harry wants to go to Congress.”

The Judge hesitated. “We’d half promised that to Caldwell,” he objected.

“It will be a little costly this year, too,” suggested the sheriff, tentatively.

“About how much?” asked the Colonel.

“At least five thousand,” said the Legislator.

The Colonel said nothing. He simply wrote a check and the matter was settled. In the Fall Harry Cresswell was declared elected. There were four hundred and seventy-two votes cast but the sheriff added a cipher. He said it would look better.

Early December found the Cresswells domiciled in a small house in Du Pont Circle, Washington. They had an automobile and four servants,

299