better man！
It was a memorable day。 In spite of Mr。 Lawler's Pilot； which was as a
voice crying in the wilderness； citizens who had wives and homes and
responsibilities； business men and clerks went to the voting booths and
recorded their choice for Trulease； Watling and Prosperity： and working…
men followed suit。 Victory was in the air。 Even the policemen wore
happy smiles； and in some instances the election officers themselves in
absent…minded exuberance thrust bunches of ballots into the boxes！
In response to an insistent demand from his fellow…citizens Mr。 Watling；
the Saturday evening before； had made a speech in the Auditorium； decked
with bunting and filled with people。 For once the Morning Era did not
exaggerate when it declared that the ovation had lasted fully ten
minutes。 〃A remarkable proof〃 it went on to say； 〃of the esteem and
confidence in which our fellow…citizen is held by those who know him
best； his neighbours in the city where he has given so many instances of
his public spirit； where he has achieved such distinction in the practice
of the law。 He holds the sound American conviction that the office
should seek the man。 His address is printed in another column； and we
believe it will appeal to the intelligence and sober judgment of the
state。 It is replete with modesty and wisdom。〃
Mr。 Watling was introduced by Mr。 Bering of the State Supreme Court （a
candidate for re…election）； who spoke with deliberation； with owl…like
impressiveness。 He didn't believe in judges meddling in politics； but
this was an unusual occasion。 （Loud applause。） Most unusual。 He had
come here as a man； as an American； to pay his tribute to another man； a
long…time friend； whom he thought to stand somewhat aside and above mere
party strife； to represent values not merely political。。。。 So
accommodating and flexible is the human mind； so 〃practical〃 may it
become through dealing with men and affairs； that in listening to Judge
Bering I was able to ignore the little anomalies such a situation might
have suggested to the theorist； to the mere student of the institutions
of democracy。 The friendly glasses of rye and water Mr。 Bering had taken
in Monahan's saloon； the cases he had 〃arranged〃 for the firm of Watling；
Fowndes and Ripon were forgotten。 Forgotten； too； when Theodore Watling
stood up and men began； to throw their hats in the air；were the
cavilling charges of Mr。 Lawler's Pilot that； far from the office seeking
the man； our candidate had spent over a hundred thousand dollars of his
own money； to say nothing of the contributions of Mr。 Scherer； Mr。
Dickinson and the Railroad！ If I had been troubled with any weak；
ethical doubts； Mr。 Watling would have dispelled them； he had red blood
in his veins； a creed in which he believed； a rare power of expressing
himself in plain； everyday language that was often colloquial； but never…
…as the saying goes …〃cheap。〃 The dinner…pail predicament was real to
him。 He would present a policy of our opponents charmingly； even
persuasively； and then add； after a moment's pause： 〃There is only one
objection to this； my friendsthat it doesn't work。〃 It was all in the
way he said it； of course。 The audience would go wild with approval； and
shouts of 〃that's right〃 could be heard here and there。 Then he
proceeded to show why it didn't work。 He had the faculty of bringing his
lessons home； the imagination to put himself into the daily life of those
who listened to him；the life of the storekeeper； the clerk； of the
labourer and of the house…wife。 The effect of this can scarcely be
overestimated。 For the American hugs the delusion that there are no
class distinctions； even though his whole existence may be an effort to
rise out of once class into another。 〃Your wife；〃 he told them once；
〃needs a dress。 Let us admit that the material for the dress is a little
cheaper than it was four years ago； but when she comes to look into the
family stocking〃 （Laughter。） 〃I needn't go on。 If we could have things
cheaper； and more money to buy them with； we should all be happy； and the
Republican party could retire from business。〃
He did not once refer to the United States Senatorship。
It was appropriate； perhaps； that many of us dined on the evening of
election day at the Boyne Club。 There was early evidence of a Republican
land…slide。 And when； at ten o'clock； it was announced that Mr。 Trulease
was re…elected by a majority which exceeded Mr。 Grunewald's most hopeful
estimate； that the legislature was 〃safe；〃 that Theodore Watling would be
the next United States Senator； a scene of jubilation ensued within those
hallowed walls which was unprecedented。 Chairs were pushed back； rugs
taken up； Gene Hollister played the piano and a Virginia reel started； in
a burst of enthusiasm Leonard Dickinson ordered champagne for every
member present。 The country was returning to its senses。 Theodore
Watling had preferred； on this eventful night； to remain quietly at home。
But presently carriages were ordered； and a 〃delegation〃 of enthusiastic
friends departed to congratulate him； Dickinson； of course； Grierson；
Fowndes； Ogilvy； and Grunewald。 We found Judah B。 Tallant there；in
spite of the fact that it was a busy night for the Era； and Adolf Scherer
himself； in expansive mood； was filling the largest of the library
chairs。 Mr。 Watling was the least excited of them all； remarkably calm；
I thought； for a man on the verge of realizing his life's high ambition。
He had some old brandy； and a box of cigars he had been saving for an
occasion。 He managed to convey to everyone his appreciation of the value
of their cooperation。。。。
It was midnight before Mr。 Scherer arose to take his departure。 He
seized Mr。 Watling's hand； warmly； in both of his own。
〃I have never；〃 he said； with a relapse into the German f's；
〃I have never had a happier moment in my life； my friend； than when
I congratulate you on your success。〃 His voice shook with emotion。
〃Alas； we shall not see so much of you now。〃
〃He'll be on guard； Scherer；〃 said Leonard Dickinson； putting his arm
around my chief。
〃Good night； Senator；〃 said Tallant； and all echoed the word； which
struck me as peculiarly appropriate。 Much as I had admired Mr。 Watling
before； it seemed indeed as if he had undergone some subtle change in the
last few hours； gained in dignity and greatness by the action of the
people that day。 When it came my turn to bid him good night； he retained
my hand in his。
〃Don't go yet； Hugh；〃 he said。
〃But you must be tired；〃 I objected。
〃This sort of thing doesn't make a man tired；〃 he laughed； leading me
back to the library； where he began to poke the fire into a blaze。 〃Sit
down awhile。 You must be tired； I think；you've worked hard in this
campaign； a good deal harder than I have。 I haven't said much about it；
but I appreciate it； my boy。〃 Mr。 Watling had the gift of expressing his
feelings naturally； without sentimentality。 I would have given much for
that gift。
〃Oh； I liked it；〃 I replied awkwardly。
I read a gentle amusement in his eyes； and also the expression of
something else； difficult to define。 He had seated himself； and was
absently thrusting at the logs with the poker。
〃You've never regretted going into law？〃 he asked suddenly； to my
surprise。
〃Why； no； sir；〃 I said。
〃I'm glad to hear that。 I feel； to a considerable extent； responsible
for your choice of a profession。〃
〃My father intended me to be a lawyer；〃 I told him。 〃But it's true that
you gave me mymy first enthusiasm。〃
He looked up at me at the word。
〃I admired your father。 He seemed to me to be everything that a lawyer
should be。 And years ago； when I came to this city a raw country boy
from upstate； he represented and embodied for me all the fine traditions
of the profession。 But the practice of law isn't what it was in his day；
Hugh。〃
〃No；〃 I agreed； 〃that could scarcely be expected。〃
〃Yes； I believe you realize that；〃 he said。 〃I've watched you； I've
taken a personal pride in you； and I have an idea that eventually you
will succeed me hereneither Fowndes nor Ripon have the peculiar ability
you have shown。 You and I are alike in a great many respects； and I am
inclined to think we are rather rare； as men go。 We are able to keep one
object vividly in view； so vividly as to be able to work for it day and
night。 I could mention dozens who had and have more natural talent for
the law than I； more talent for politics than I。 The same thing may be
said about you。 I don't regard either of us as natural lawyers； such as
your father was。 He couldn't help being a lawyer。〃
Here was new evidence of his perspicacity。
〃But surely；〃 I ventured； 〃you don't feel any regrets concerning your
career； Mr。 Watling？〃
〃No；〃 he said； 〃that's just the point。 But no two of us are made wholly
alike。 I hadn't practised law very long before I began to realize that
conditions were changing； that the new forces at work in our industrial
life made the older legal ideals impracticable。 It was a case of
choosing between efficiency and inefficiency； and I chose efficiency。
Well； that was my own affair； but when it comes to influencing others〃
He paused。 〃I want you to see this as I do； not for the sake of
justifying myself； but because I honestly believe there is more to it
than expediency；a good deal more。 There's a weak way of looking at it；
and a strong way。 And if I feel sure you understand it； I shall be
satisfied。
〃Because things are going to change in this country； Hugh。 They are
changing； but they are going to change more。 A man has got to make up
his mind what he believes in； and be ready to fight for it。 We'll have
to fight for it； sooner perhaps than we realize。 We are a nation divided
against ourselves； democracyJacksonian democracy； at all events； is a
flat failure； and we may as well acknowledge it。 We have a political
system we have outgrown； and which； therefore； we have had to nullify。
There are certain needs； certain tendencies of development in nations as
well as in individuals；needs stronger than the state； stronger than the
law or constitution。 In order to make our r