human
You spend a good deal of time here, Mr. Hollowell,
gpt
Yes, ma'am, considerable. Things need a good deal of fixing up. Washington is a curious place. It's a sort of exchange for the whole country: you can see everybody here, and it is a good place to arrange matters.
human
With Congress, do you mean?
gpt
No, not Congress particularly. Congressmen are just about like other people. It's all nonsense, this talk about buying Congressmen. You cannot buy them any more than you can buy other people, but you can sort of work together with some of them. We don't want anything of Congress, except to be let alone. If we are doing something to develop the trade in the Southwest, build it up, some member who thinks he is smart will just as likely as not try to put in a block somewhere, or investigate, or something, in order to show his independence, and then he has to be seen, and shown that he is going against the interests of his constituents. It is just as it is everywhere: men have to be shown what their real interest is. No; most Congressmen are poor, and they stay poor. It is a good deal easier to deal with those among them who are rich and have some idea about the prosperity of the country. It is just so in the departments. You've got to watch things, if you expect them to go smooth. You've got to get acquainted with the men. Most men are reasonable when you get well acquainted with them. I tell your husband that people are about as reasonable in Washington as you'll find them anywhere.
human
Washington is certainly very pleasant.
gpt
Yes, that's so; it is pleasant. Where most everybody wants something, they are bound to be accommodating. That's my idea. I reckon you don't find Jerry Hollowell trying to pull a cat by its tail,
human
Well, I must go and hunt up the old man. Glad to have made your acquaintance, Mrs. Henderson. And then, with a sly look,
gpt
If I knew you better, ma'am, I should take the liberty of congratulating you that Henderson has come round so handsomely.
human
Come round?
gpt
Well, I took the liberty of giving him a hint that he wasn't cut-out for a single man. I showed him that,
human
Ah, I see,
gpt
Oh, Henderson knows a good thing when he sees it,