the vision spendid(美景)-第23部分
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what I think of him；〃 the politician added with savage satisfaction。
〃Don't blame him。 He's only a victim。 What we must do is to change
the system that makes it possible to defeat the will of the people through
money；〃 Jeff said。
〃How are you going about it？〃 Rawson demanded incredulously。
〃We'll go after the initiative and referendum right now while the
people are stirred up about this treachery。 The very men who threw us
down will support us to try and square themselves。 The bill will slip
through as if it were oiled；〃 Jeff prophesied。
〃Oh； hang your initiative and referendum。 I'm a politician； not a
socialist reformer；〃 grinned Rawson。
James said nothing。
PART 2
If the years were bringing Jeff a sharper realization of the forces that
control so much of life they were giving him too the mellowness that can
be in revolt without any surrender of faith in men。 He could for instance
now look back on his college days and appreciate the kindness and the
patience of the teachers whom he had then condemned。 They had been
conformists。 No doubt they had compromised to the pressure of their
environment。 But somehow he felt much less like judging men than he
used to in the first flush of his intellectual awakening。 It was perhaps this
habit of making allowance for weakness； together with his call to the
idealism in them； that made him so effective a worker with men。
He was as easy as an old shoe； but people sensed the steel in him
instinctively。 In his quiet way he was coming to be a power。 For one thing
he was possessed of the political divination that understands how far a
leader may go without losing his following。 He knew too how to get
practical results。 It was these qualities that enabled him out of the
wreckage of the senatorial defeat to build a foundation of victory for
House Bill 77。
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To bring into effect Jeff's pet measure of the initiative and referendum
necessitated an amendment to the state constitution； which must be passed
by two successive legislative assemblies and ratified by a vote of the
people in order to become effective。 The bill had been slumbering in
committee； but immediately after the senatorial election Jeff insisted on
having it brought squarely to the attention of the House。
His feeling for the psychological moment was a true one and he
succeeded by a skillful newspaper campaign in rallying the people to his
support。 The sense of outrage felt at this shameless purchase of a seat in
the Senate； accented by a knowledge of its helplessness to avenge the
wrong done it； counted mightily in favor of H。 B。 No。 77 just now。 It
promised a restoration of power to the people； and the clamor for its
passage became insistent。
A good deal of quiet lobbying had been done for the bill； and the
legislators who had sold themselves； having received all they could
reasonably expect from the allied corporations； were anxious to make a
show of standing for their constituents。 Politicians in general considered
the bill a 〃freak〃 one。 Some who voted for it explained that they did not
believe in it； but felt the people should have a chance to vote on it
themselves。 By a large majority it passed the House。 Two days later it
squeezed through the Senate。
Rawson； who had been persuaded half against his judgment to support
the bill； lunched with Jeff that day。
〃Now watch the corporations dig a grave for your little pet at the next
legislature；〃 he chuckled； helping himself to bread while he waited for the
soup。
〃They may。 Then again they may not；〃 Farnum answered。 〃We are
ruled by political machines and corporations only as long as we let them。
I've a notion the people are going to assert themselves at the next
election。〃
〃How are you going to make the will of the dear people effective with
the assembly？〃 asked Rawson； amused。
〃Make the initiative and referendum the issue of the campaign。 Pledge
the legislators to vote for it before nominating them。〃
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〃Pledge them？〃 grinned Rawson cynically。 〃Weren't they pledged to
support Hardy？ And did they？〃
〃No； but they'll stick next time； I think。〃
〃You're an incurable optimist； my boy。〃
〃It isn't optimism this time。 It's our big stick。〃
〃Didn't know we had one。〃
〃Do you remember House Bill 19？〃
〃No。 What's that got to do with it？〃
〃It slipped through early in the session。 Anderson introduced it。
Nobody paid any attention to it because he's a back country Swede and his
bill was very wordy。 The governor signed it to…day。 That bill provides for
the recall of any public official； alderman or legislator if the people are not
satisfied with his conduct。〃
The big man stared。 〃I thought it only applied to district road
supervisors。 Were you back of that bill； Jeff？〃
〃I had it drawn up and helped steer it through the committee； though I
was careful not to appear interested。〃
〃You sly old fox！ And nobody guessed it had general application。
None of us read the blamed thing through。 You're going to use it as a club
to make the legislators stand pat on their pledges。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But don't you see how revolutionary your big stick is？〃 Rawson's
smile was expansive。 〃Why； hang it； man； you're destroying the
fundamental value of representative government。 It's a deliberate attack on
graft。〃
〃Looks like it； doesn't it？〃
It was while Rawson was waiting for his mince pie piled with ice
cream that he ventured a delicate question。
〃Say； Jeff！ What about James？ Is he getting ready to flop over to the
enemy？〃
〃No。 Why do you ask that？〃
〃I notice he explained when he voted for House Bill 77 that he
reserved the right to oppose it later。 Said he hadn't made up his mind； but
felt the people should be given a chance to express themselves on it。〃
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Upon Farnum's face rested a momentary gravity。 〃I can't make James
out lately。 He's lost his enthusiasm。 Half the time he's irritable and moody。
I think perhaps he's been blaming himself too much for Hardy's defeat。〃
Rawson laughed with cynical incredulity。 〃That's it； is it？〃
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CHAPTER 11
〃Faustina hath the fairest face； And Phillida the better grace； Both have
mine eye enriched： This sings full sweetly with her voice； Her fingers
make so sweet a noise； Both have mine ear bewitched。 Ah me！ sith Fates
have so provided； My heart； alas！ must be divided。〃
THE HERO； ASSISTED BY THE MONA LISA SMILE；
DEPLORES THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF MODERN
CIVILIZATION
PART 1
With the adjournment of the legislature politics became a less
absorbing topic of interest。 James at least was frankly glad of this； for his
position had begun to be embarrassing。 He could not always stand with a
foot in either camp。 As yet he had made no break with the progressives。
Joe Powers had given him a hint that he might be more useful where he
was。 But as much as possible he was avoiding the little luncheons at which
Jeff and his political friends were wont to foregather。 He gave as an excuse
the rush of business that was swamping him。 His excuse at least had the
justification of truth。 His speeches had brought him a good many clients
and Frome was quietly throwing cases his way。
It was at one of these informal little noonday gatherings that Rawson
gave his opinion of the legal ability of James。
〃He isn't any great lawyer； but he never gives it away。 He knows how
to wear an air of profound learning with a large and impressive silence。
Roll up the whole Supreme Court into one and it can't look any wiser than
James K。 Farnum。〃
Miller laughed。 〃Reminds me of what I heard last week。 Jeff was
walking down Powers Avenue with James and an old fellow stopped me to
point them out。 There go the best citizen and the worst citizen in this town；
he said。 I told him that was rather hard on James。 You ought to have heard
him。 For him James is the hero of the piece and Jeff the villain。〃
〃Half the people in this town have got that damn fool notion；〃 Captain
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Chunn
