National Education Bill and the amendment to the Child Labor Bill. The movement became strong enough to call Mr. ¬ÝEasterly down from New York. He and the inner circle went over matters carefully.
‚ÄúWe need the political strength of the South,‚Äù said Easterly; ‚Äúnot only in framing national legislation in our own interests, but always in State laws. Particularly, we must get them into line to offset Todd‚Äôs foolishness. The Child Labor Bill must either go through unamended or be killed. The Cotton Inspection Bill‚ÅÝ‚Äîour chief measure‚ÅÝ‚Äîmust be slipped through quietly by Southern votes, while in the Tariff mix-up we must take good care of cotton.
“Now, on the other hand, we are offending the Southerners in three ways: Todd’s revived Blair Bill is too good a thing for niggers; the South is clamoring for a first classy embassy appointment; and the President’s nomination of Alwyn as Treasurer will raise a howl from Virginia to Texas.”
“There is some strong influence back of Alwyn,” said Senator Smith; “not only are the Negroes enthused, but the President has daily letters from prominent whites.”
“The strong influence is named Vanderpool,” Easterly drily remarked. “She’s playing a bigger political game than I laid out for her. That’s the devil with women: they can’t concentrate: they get too damned many side issues. Now, I offered her husband the French ambassadorship provided she’d keep the Southerners feeling good toward us. She’s hand in glove with the Southerners, all right; but she wants not only her husband’s appointment but this darkey’s too.”
“But that’s been decided, hasn’t it?” put in Smith.
“Yes,” grumbled Easterly; “but it makes it hard already. At any rate, the Educational Bill must be killed right off. No more talk; no more