“Yes, yes! Of course! And representative; representative of all classes. To make it so I’ve been obliged to include some of the German element.”
“Certainly. That’s all right, as long as they are n’t the ‘Deutschland über Alles’ lot.”
“Some of them, I’m afraid, don’t like you much; or you them. Now, Jem, don’t go off at half-cock,” he added persuasively as the other looked up at him with a gleam of discomposure. “I can’t ignore my best political friends and supporters, can I? And you know we have no sol-ider, more influential citizens than our Germans.”
“But what about their loyalty?”
“Don’t expect too much of them right now. They’ll be all right when the test comes.”
The editor thought it over.
“Yes; I get your point. If you go back on ’em now they’ll slaughter you for the senatorship.” In spite of himself, “Smiling Mart” Embree winced. “Well, a few of ’em in the conference, or even on the council, can’t do any harm; in fact, it may serve to bring ’em around, unless they’re too far gone. A lot depends on whom you appoint chairman.”
“What’s your idea on that?”
“Magnus Laurens.”
“Why a corporation grafter?” challenged the other, eyeing him narrowly; “and one that’s always fought us and may fight us again for the senatorship?”