Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-21
THE PLUM TREE.
BY DAVID GRAHAM PHILLIPS
Copyright 1905. By tn. soSbs-Menin Company.

| called" said Burbank. 1T am sure you
when does he resign the ch.irmansh,p
Of the national eommitteef' asked. He
! agreed to plead bad health and resign with
In two weeks after the convention"
Don't you think. Harvey" said he, that.
to soothe his vanity. It might be well for us
FOR you-to let him stay on there-nomi-
nsliy. Of courss7 know you care nothing
Instead Of being angered by this attempt
to coxen me. by this exhibition Of treachery,
how hopeless to try to forward ono 80 blind
to his own interests. so easily frightened
into surrender to his worst enemiesi But
| spoke very quietly to him. THE reason you
want me to be chairman-for 1t Is you that
want and need 1t, not 1.-The reason must
De chairman Is because the machine
throughout the country must know that
Goodrich IL out and that your friends are
| complished?'
He did not dare try to reply.
l went on: IF he stays at the head Of the
| national committee Scarborough will be
| elected"
You are prejudiced. Harvey
;ntsr,n 14nt o say that again soyernor
must M give place to me- or Scarborough will
You don't mean that you would turn
! voice after long pause.
| While l was in ST. Louis. working to
make you President. said I, you were
plotting ting behind my back, plotting against
You were at St. Louis aiding in the
nomination of the strongest candidate" he
| retorted, his bitterness distinct, though
| guarded
"strongest-yes. But strongest with
| whom"
With the people he replied.
not going to decide this election The party
| lines are to be so closely drawn that money
Will have the deciding vote. The men who
| organize and direct industry and enterprise
they are going to decide 1t. And, in spite
| Of Goodrich's traitorous efforts, the opposi-
ton has put up the man who can't get a
penny from them
In fact, l had Just discovered that Scar
| borough had instructed Pierson, whom he
had made chairman of his campaign, not
to take any money from any corporation
even if 1t was offered. But l thought 1t
wiser to keep this from Burbank.
He sat folding sheet of paper again and
again. l let him reason it out. Finally he
! said: Il your point, Harvey. But /
practically promised Goodrich-prac tically
asked him to remain"
| l waited.
For the sake of the cause" he went on
when he saw he was to get no help from
me, ANY and all personal sacrifices must
| be made. If you insist on having Good
| rich's head, 1 will break my promise,
and
Pardon me again. l interrupted. My
! mood would not tolerate twaddle about
| 'the cause and promises from Burbank
burbank, whose cause as he had just
shown afresh, was himself alone. and who
promised everything to everybody and kept
| only the most advantageous promises after
| he had made absolutely sure how his ad-
vantage lay. Its all a matter of indiffer
ence to me. If you wish to retain Goodrich,
| do He must not be dismissed as per-
| sonal favor to me. The favor is to you.
| do not permit any man to thimblerig his
debit TO me int NV
| Burbank seemed deeply moved. He came
up to me and took my hand. ut is not like
my friend Sayler to use the word indiffer-
ence in connection with me- he said. And
then l realized how completely the nomina-
| ton had turned his head. For his tone was
that Of the great man addressing his hench-
man.
did not keep my amusement out of my
eyes. James," said l, indifference is pre-
cisely the word. I should welcome
chance to withdraw from this campaign. l
place. If yeu think the time has come to
dissolve partnership. say so-and trade
yourself off to Goodrich"
He was angry through and through not
3D. much at mysbluntness as at my having
seen into his plot to help himself at my
expense-for, not even when 1 showed 1t to
est to destroy Goodrich. Moral coward that
he was, the course of Cancellation always
appealed to him. whether 1t was wise or
not. and the course OF courage always
bled his anger. Presently he began to pace
I'D and down the room, his head bent, his
hands clasped behind him. After perhaps
five minutes he paused to say: You insist
on taking the place yourself, Harvey?"
1 stood before him and looked down at
him. your suspicion that l have also
personal reason Is well-founded James"
said l. II wouldn't put myself in posi-
ton where l should have to ask as a favor
what now get as right. If help you to
the presidency. I must be master of the
Inn Of ho ri n IN oc
1t with all It's power and against any one
| here looked him straight in the eye-"who
shall try to build himself up at my expense.
Personally we are friends, and 1t has been
a pleasure to me to help elevate a man l
liked But there is no friendship In affairs.
except where friendship and interest point
the same way. 1t is strange that man OF
your experience should expect friendship
from me at time when you are showing
| that you haven't for me even the friend
ship of enlightened self-interest."
DRY, Harvey" said he, putting an in
| jured, forgfving look and using his chest
tones. "A better friend never lived than
you, and know no other man
| looked Mt me earnestly. What has changed
your? he asked. why are you so bitter
and $3.50 unlike your even-tempered selfY''
l waved his question aside-I had no mind
| to show him my uncovered coffin with it's
tenant who only slept, or to expose to him
| the feelings which the erect and fearless
ngure OF scarborough ndQ set 10 surfing III
me. I'm careful to choose my friends
| from among those who can serve me and
whom / can therefore serve" / said. And
| that is the sentimentalism of the wise. 1
wish us to remain friends-therefore, must
| be able to be as useful to you as you can
| be useful to me-"
Goodrich shall CO." was the upshot OF
his thinking. "I'n telephone him this aft
ernoon. Is my old friend satisfied"
You have done what was best for your
SELF said I, with wholly good-humored
raillery. And We shook hands. and went.
I was glad to be alone where 1 could
give way to my WEAKNESS and disgust; for
/ had lost all the joy of the combat. The
arena of ambition had now become to me
a ring where men are devoured by the
beast-in-man after hideous battles. l
turned from it. heart sick. IF only had
less intelligence. less insight" thought,
$50 that could cheat myself as Burbank
cheats himself. Or, If l had the relentless
ness or the supreme egotism. or whatever
1t is, that enables great men to trample
without a qualm, to destroy without pity,
| to enjoy without remorse."
(To be continued tomorrow.)