The Legislator and the Citizen
The
Legislator and the Citizen
An ex-Legislator
asked a Most Respectable Citizen for a letter to the Governor recommending him
for appointment as Commissioner of Shrimps and Crabs. “Sir,” said the Most
Respectable Citizen, austerely, “were you not once in the State Senate?” “Not
so bad as that, sir, I assure you,” was the reply. “I was a member of the
Slower House. I was expelled for selling my influence for money.” “And
you dare to ask for mine!” shouted the Most Respectable Citizen. “You
have the impudence? A man who will accept bribes will probably offer
them. Do you mean to—” “I should not think of making a corrupt
proposal to you, sir; but if I were Commissioner of Shrimps and Crabs, I might
have some influence with the water-front population, and be able to help you
make your fight for Coroner.” “In that case I do not feel justified in denying
you the letter.” So he took his pen, and, some demon guiding his hand, he wrote,
greatly to his astonishment: “Who sells his influence should stop it,
An honest man will only swap it.”
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