Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-19


 thrall to the brute, have had to use the code of the jungle. In climbing have had to stoop. at times to crawl But, now that have reached the top l shall stand erect l shall show that the sordidness of the struggle has not unfitted me to use the victory. True, there are the many and heavy polit. ical debts I've had to contract in get ting Burbank the presidency; and as we must have a second term to round out our work, we shall be compelled to make some further compromises We must still deal with men on the terms which human nature exacts but in the main we can and we will do what is just and right, what helps to realize the dreams of the men and women who founded our country the men and women like my father and mother.
 And my mothers grave, beside my fathers and among the graves of my sisters and my grandparents. rose be, fore me And I recalled the pledge l had made there in the boyish begin. nings of my manhood and my career My chance and Burbank s." said I, "comes just in time. We are now at the age where reputation is fixed and our children are growing up and will soon begin to judge us and be judged from us."
 Years of patient sowing, thought I, and at last the harvest! And what a harvest 1t will be! For under the teachings of experience I have sown not starlight and moonlight, but seeds.
 The next morning I could not rise; 1t was six weeks before I was able to leave my bed. During that say, age illness l met each and every one of the reckless drafts I had been drawing against my reserve vitality Four times the doctors gave me up; once even Frances lost hope. When I was getting we'll she confessed to me how she had warned God that he need never expect to hear from her again if her prayer for me were not answered-and saw she rather sus- pected that her threat was not unas- sociated with my recovery.
 Eight weeks out of touch with af- fairs, and they the crucial eight weeks of all my years of thought and action! At last the harvest, indeed; and I was reaping what I had sown.
 In the second week of January I re- volted against the doctors and nurses and had my political secretary. Wheelock, telephone for Woodruff the legislature had elected him to the senate three days before. When he had sat with me long enough to realize that I could bear bad news, he said: Goodrich and Burbank have formed combination against you"
 How do you know?" said I, show. ing no surprise, and feeling none.
 "Because"-he laughed-T was in it. At least, they thought so until they had let me be safely elected. AS nearly as I can make out. they be- gan the plot about ten days after you fell sick. At first they had. 1t on the slate to do me up, too. But the day after Christmas-Burbank sent for me"
 Wait a minute" interrupted. And II began to think. It was on Christmas day that Burbank telephoned for the first time in nearly three weeks, in- curing about my condition. remem- fbered their telling me how minute his questionings were. And I had thought his sollcitude was proof of his friendship! Instead, he had been iinquiring to make sure about the re- ports in the papers that I was cer- tain to recover, in order that he might shift the factors in his plot ac- :cordingly. When did you say Bur bank sent for you?" asked.
 "on Christmas day" Woodruff re- piled.
 laughed; he looked at me inquir- 'ingly. Nothing" said I. Only an old joke-as old as human nature. Go on"
 Christmas day." he continued: T didn't get to him until next morning. I can't figure out just why they in- 'vited me into their combine" But I could figure 1t out. easily. If I had died, my power would have dis ,integrated and Woodruff would have been no use to them. When they were sure l was going to live, they had to have him because he might be able to assassinate me. certainly could so cripple me that would as they reasoned-be helpless under their assaults. But 1t wasn't neces- sary to tell Woodruff this. thought. !. Well" said I, and what hap pened?"
 Burbank gave me a dose of his great and gracious way'-you ought to see the side he puts on nowi- and turned me over to Goodrich. He had been mighty careful not to give himself away any further than that. Then Goodrich talked to me for three solid hours. showing me it was my duty to the party as well as to myself to join him and Burbank in eliminat- ing the one dlsturber of harmony that meant you"
 . "And did they fell vott fhev.d da