what is for the best interests of
the people. I think the people who elected me understand that I am free
to act in that way. And, frankly, that is the way I intend to act. There
may be some mistakes in some of these bills. It would be strange if
there wasn't. But I believe they are for the good of all the people or,
of course, I would not urge them."

Maxwell shook his head doubtfully.

"This reform business has gone too far. My friends here know that. Judge
Livingston can tell you how the people out his way feel."

"Yes, sir," said Livingston in a dry, machine-made manner; "Senator, the
people in our district are growing restive over the reform business.
They want to be let alone. We have too many laws now, laws that
interfere with our personal liberty." (The judge grew eloquent.) "Laws
that attempt to dictate to us what we shall eat and drink and where to
go, and I for one say for my district that these continual efforts to
legislate on personal matters will not only disrupt the party, but lead
to a counter revolution that will surprise the so-called reform bosses
of the state."

Paul looked at the judge steadily. If he could have looked at him with
an X-ray eye he would have seen a small sample whisky bottle in the
judge's coat pocket, one of the adjuncts of "personal liberty" the judge
was defending. Not seeing that, Paul did size up the man for about what
he was and answered him accordingly.

"As to legislation that affects personal liberty, these bills you say
you have come to see me about deprive no man of any liberty he has a
right to possess. But I am ready to confess they do deprive some persons
of the liberty to steal the people's land and water power. They do aim
to take away the liberty of certain food makers to poison the people,
and of certain other food sellers to give the people short weight. Some
of these acts are also designed to take from certain persons the liberty
to demoralise youth, as for example the measure a number of us hope to
get through the legislature regulating bill boards and indecent posters.
For years a little company of men has insulted all the people with these
public monstrosities. I am frank to say I have no scruples in depriving
them of the liberty to do so any more. And as to dictating to the people
what they should eat and drink, don't you think the saloon and the
patent medicine men and the adulterated food makers and the dirty food
sellers have been dictating to the peo