“Charlie,” Mr. Goodwin called, “Mr. Ickes is here to see you.” Receiving no answer, he walked over to the car and added that Mr. Ickes was in a hurry. Still, no answer. “It’s Secretary Ickes, Department of the Interior. This is important.”
“So’s this,” Brown grunted. When he’d finished, he crawled out and wiping the grime from his hands, joined Goodwin at the waiting car. After being introduced to the bride and the self-styled “Old Curmudgeon” the latter explained his plan to add certain lands in Charlie’s district, to the Forest Reserve. “... You’re opposing me. You’re a Democrat, aren’t you?”
“I came from Georgia,” Charlie drawled.
“You’re for Roosevelt, aren’t you?”
“Within reason,” Charlie answered.
Then Mr. Ickes, with the assurance of the perfectionist began to sell his idea.
“Do you know of any reason why the area designated as Forest Reserve should not be protected as any other of our natural resources?” he concluded.
“Just one,” Charlie said.
“What’s that?” Ickes snapped.
“Your forest is nearly all brush land without a tree on it big enough to shade a lizard.”