“An open discussion is my guess. That was the object of the editorial.”
“Oh, you’ll get that! If that were all—or half!”
“We have n’t killed the bill, have we?” asked the editor hopefully.
“No. But it will have to be cut and pruned a good deal, to meet arguments.”
“Will that hurt your feelings?”
“I care nothing about the bill. It’s only a sop to the harmless vanity of the Germans. But you’ve got them down on you again. And they blame me for it.”
“Do they! Why?”
The Senator laughed in a half-embarrassed way. “Well, you know, Jem, I’m credited with having some influence with The Guardian. I wish I had half I’m credited with.”
“You mean that you ‘re supposed to control the paper’s policies.”
“Don’t get disturbed over it. I can’t help it.”