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Ninety Days Inside The Empire: A Novel by William Appleman Williams

Glimpses of An Election

Page 79

Chuckles while people settled in.

"Also I like it because the rules are simple. Each speaker gets fifteen minutes to state his position. Then both come to the lectern and you folks have an hour or so to ask your questions. That gets us out of here before we fall asleep.

"Our first speaker was scheduled to be former State Senator Charles Burton...."

The words "was scheduled" altered the feeling in the crowd. There was a general unhappy fussing in the pews, and a few of both colors began to walk out.

"To speak for Mr. Burton, however, we have one of his closest associates. Mr. Norm Thorpe."

Thorpe had clearly done more work for Burton than shuffle papers in an office. He was above six feet, lined and tanned, and a bit bow-legged even in a tailored blue-and-white linen seersucker suit. His boots were hand-tooled and pointed.

He had presence. He took a step beyond the lectern and raised his hand and voice to those who were leaving.

"I know you're disappointed. Hell, I'm disappointed."

He held up a few sheets of paper.

"The Senator wrote this himself, so come on back and listen."

It halfway worked. Some of those who were disgusted turned around and stood in the aisles. Others sat down on a terrace step up near the top.

"The Senator called me late this afternoon and told me to read his remarks because he and Mr. Crown had to go out to Austin and then back east to Washington to see Mr. Sam Rayburn about some plans they have to get us more jobs and money down here."

Marsh looked at Clay, who was scribbling on the back of his papers.

-- That's a mistake you'll hear about, Mr. Thorpe. You'll get questions on that and it's supposed to be secret.

Thorpe seemed to hear Marsh's thoughts and lost his momentum. He fumbled a bit and then began to read what he presented as words direct from Burton.

"I appreciate your invitation to come along and trade thoughts with you and Mr. Clay. Mr. Clay and I don't see enough of each other, and I hoped we might get to know each other a bit."

Along with more than a few others, Clay smiled. They knew Burton avoided Clay like a rattler in the sun.

"But I decided it was more important for me to be doing my best to see if I couldn't get some jobs lined up for this district. I think you know I do pretty well at that in my own business, and that I did the same when you folks sent me out to Austin.

"I am better at answering questions than making speeches, but I do have two other things to say. First off, I think you know I was against using the National Guard to keep you people from voting after the Lonnie Smith case was decided by The Supreme Court. That was a damn fool thing to try, and you have my word it won't happen again. Lastly, this is a very important time in our country and here in Texas, and so it's a damned important election. We need people in Washington with experience and connections. Young Mr. Clay will forgive me I'm sure for telling you the truth -I got more of both than he does. Thank you."

There was a hoot or two, a few whistles, and little pockets of clapping. Thorpe had enough sense to sit down.

Well, Wendell Rogers thought, old Burton himself just might'a slid by with that, but Mr. Thorpe is in for some difficulty.

Gillmor was already into his introduction of Clay; he had undone the neck button of his shirt and loosened his tie, forgiven Marsh, and was jiggling on his toes at the prospects for the rest of the evening.