First Lensman · Chapter
Chapter XX explained
Samms and Kinnison return from the fleet and Samms gives a Telenews interview accusing the Morgan-Towne-Isaacson machine of building and controlling the Black fleet, intending to take over North America and destroy the Lensmen.
What happens
Samms and Kinnison return from the fleet and Samms gives a Telenews interview accusing the Morgan-Towne-Isaacson machine of building and controlling the Black fleet, intending to take over North America and destroy the Lensmen. The White Book is published, and the Cosmocrats and Nationalists engage in political warfare. On Election Day, the Patrol ensures a fair vote by challenging fraud and intimidating goons, leading to a nearly pure election. The chapter ends with the Cosmocrats gathering at the Hotel van der Voort.
Themes in this chapter
Truth and Deception
Samms uses the Telenews and the White Book to expose the truth about the Black fleet and the Morgan machine, while Morgan and his allies spread lies and delay legal action.
Corruption and Crime
The Morgan-Towne-Isaacson machine is accused of building a secret fleet, planning enslavement, and using legal delays to avoid trial; the Patrol counters election fraud.
Power and Responsibility
The Patrol uses its power to ensure a fair election and protect Civilization, while the Nationalist machine abuses power for domination.
Characters to notice
- Virgil Samms
First Lensman; gives a Telenews interview accusing the Morgan machine of building the Black fleet and planning domination.
- Jack Kinnison
Arrives at the Cosmocrat headquarters with Dimples Maynard.
- Roderick Kinnison
Present at the Cosmocrat headquarters all day; referred to as 'rock-headed' by Morgan.
- Senator Morgan
Leader of the Nationalist machine; accused by Samms of building the Black fleet; holds a conference with a Kalonian.
- Big Jim Towne
Named as part of the Morgan-Towne-Isaacson machine in Samms's accusation.
- Isaacson
Named as part of the Morgan-Towne-Isaacson machine in Samms's accusation.
Key passages
“That they intended by armed force to take over the Continent of North America and through it the whole earth and all the other planets adherent to Civilization. That they intended to hunt down and kill every Lensman, and to subvert the Galactic Council to their own ends.”
Samms accuses the Morgan machine of planning to conquer North America and then the entire Earth and other planets, kill all Lensmen, and overthrow the Galactic Council.
Samms's public accusation in the Telenews interview.
“We want, and are determined to get, legal action; to make each of those we have accused defend himself in court and under oath. Morgan and his crew, however, are working desperately to avoid any action at all, because they know that we can and will prove every allegation we have made.”
Samms states that the Patrol wants trials for the accused, but Morgan's group is avoiding court because they know the evidence against them is solid.
Samms explains the legal strategy behind the White Book.
“Thus nothing happened; thus the invisible but nevertheless terrific tension did not erupt into open battle; and thus, for the first time in North America's long history, a presidential election was ninety nine and ninety nine one-hundredths percent pure!”
The Patrol's presence prevented violence and fraud, resulting in an almost perfectly clean election.
Description of the Election Day outcome.