U.S.A_ - John Dos Passos [561]
"what you say may be true but the bil has a good deal of popular support and you gentlemen mustn't forget that I am not entirely a free agent in this matter. I have to consult the wishes of my constituents . . ." "As I look at it," interrupted Colonel Judson, "al these socal ed pure food and' drug bil s are class legislation in favor of the medical profession. Natural y the doctors want us to con-sult them before we buy a toothbrush or a package of licorice powder." J. W. picked up where he left off: "The tendency of the growth of scientifical yprepared proprie-tary medicine has been to make the layman free and selfsufficient, able to treat many minor il s without consulting a physician." The senator finished his brandy without an-swering.
"Bowie," said Colonel Judson, reaching for the bottle and pouring out some more. "You know as wel as I do that the plain people of your state don't want their free-dom of choice curtailed by any Washington snoopers and
-506-busybodies. . . . And we've got the money and the or-ganization to be of great assistance in your campaign. Mr. Moorehouse is about to launch one of the biggest educa-tional drives the country has ever seen to let the people know the truth about proprietary medicines, both in the metropolitan and the rural districts. He wil rol up a great tidal wave of opinion that Congress wil have to pay at-tention to. I've seen him do it before."
"Excel ent brandy," said the senator. "Fine Armagnac has been my favorite for years." He cleared his throat and took a cigar from a box in the middle of the table and lit it in a leisurely fashion. "I've been much criticized of late, by irresponsible people of course, for what they term my reactionary association with big business. You know the demagogic appeal."
"It is particularly at a time like this that an intel igently-run organization can be of most use to a man in public life," said Colonel Judson earnestly. Senator Planet's black eyes twinkled and he passed a hand over the patch of spiky black hair that had fal en over his low forehead, leaving a segment of the top of his head bald. "I guess it comes down to how much assistance wil be forthcoming," he said, getting to his feet. "The paral elogram of forces." The other men got to their feet too. The senator flicked the ash from his cigar. "The force of public opinion, sena-tor," said J. W. portentously. "That is what we have to offer.""Wel , Mr. Moorehouse, you must excuse me, I have some speeches to prepare. . . . This has been most delightful. . . . Dick, you must come to dinner while you're in Washington. We've been missing you at our lit-tle dinners. . . . Goodnight, Joel, see you tomorrow." J. W.'s valet was holding the senator's furlined overcoat for him. "Mr. Bingham," said J. W., "is a very public-spirited man, senator, he's wil ing to spend a very consid-erable sum of money." "He'l have to," said the senator. After the door had closed on Senator Planet the rest of
-507-them sat silent a moment. Dick poured himself a glass of the Armagnac. "Wel , Mr. Bingham don't need to worry," said Colonel Judson. "But it's going to cost him money. Bowie an' his friends are just trying to raise the ante. You know I can read 'em like a book. . . . After al , I been around this town for fifteen years."
"It's humiliating and absurd that legitimate business should have to stoop to such methods," said J. W.
"Sure, J. W., you took the words right out of my mouth. . . . If you