Here was a man. occupying one of the most important Federal positions within the gift of political pull, who was worrying for fear he would not get home in time to partake of Christmas cheer.
As I regarded him standing there, holding in his hand a telegram from Commissioner Hermann instructing him to interview me relative to my specific charges against the Marysville Land Office, with his monstrous paunch protruding in a mute appeal for the good things of life, and overshadowing all demands of official duty, I could not help wondering if it ever occurred to him that perhaps some of the old miners up in the mountains were worrying about their homes, and I could not see how he could relish his Christmas turkey when the feast was haunted by any such apparition.
I could not help thinking about the kind of a show the miners would have in the adjudication of their rights as against the wholesale wrongs of the rich timber thieves, especially with such a man sitting in judgment upon the issues involved; and as I remembered some of the sorrowful tales that had been related to me by men who had passed the best years of their lives in developing their claims, inspired by the hope of some day striking it rich, only to be rudely awakened by the coming of the looters, it made my blood boil to think that they were at the mercy of one whose belly outweighed every consideration of justice.
Inspector Burke visited Marysville and remained one day. taking his departure with such vivid promptness that he was enabled after all to make close connections on his Christmas turkey. Whether he went near the Land Office or not, is a mooted question, but in any event he submitted a report, based upon conclusions after a few hours of observation, and passed judgment upon findings that had taken me several days to reach. My experience with matters relating to Page 430
