If he does not, the nation cannot endure."
"And why do you consider yourself competent to deal with these
problems?" asked the caller, with a half-concealed sneer.
"Any man with education and horse sense can handle them, provided that
his philosophy is sound. You have come to Washington with the idea,
Mr. Reeves, of getting at me, of tempting me with some sort of share in
the wealth you see in your streams. Other men have come to the Capitol
with the same purpose. I have my temptations, Mr. Reeves, but they do
not lie in the desire to graft. I think there are jobs more
interesting in life than the job of getting rich. All the grafting in
the world couldn't touch in interest the job of directing America's
inland destiny. And I have a foolish notion that a man owes his
country public service, that he owes it for no reward beyond a living
and for no other reason than that he is a man with a brain."
Reeves, whose face had grown redder and redder, half rose from his
chair.
"One moment," said Enoch. "Have you a sound, fair, policy for Idaho
water power, that will help Bill Jones in the same proportion that it
helps you?"
"I had no policy. I came down here to get yours. I've got it all
right, and I'm going back and tell my folks they'd better give up any
idea of water power during the present administration.
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