“Nor can I, apparently,” returned the editor, frowning. “People absolutely refuse to believe that a man is responsible for his own paper—except when there’s something to kick on.”
“What are you going to do now about the bill?”
“Let it simmer. Take another shot at it when it comes up again.”
“Do you want to lose me the election?”
“Come out on the other side if you want to, Martin.”
“I am for the bill.”
“Make a speech and say so, then. We’ll report you in full, and give you a leading editorial courteously regretting that so brilliant and far-seeing and sturdily American a statesman should be in error on this one point.”
An answering smile came into Martin Embree’s expressive face. “Go a little light on the sturdy American feature.”
“But you are that, are n’t you?”
“Of course I am. Just on this bill, though, I don’t care to ram it down the Germans’ throats.”