The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-06-06

ed II II be not deiied--I was master OF
the making and execution OF laws.
Why? Not because I was leader OF
the dominant party. Not because l
was a senator OF the United States.
Solely because controlled the
sources OF the money that maintained
the political machinery Of both par
ties. The hand that holds the purse
strings is the hand that .rules--if II
knows how to rule; for rule is power
plus ability.
was not master because | had the
plum tree. had the plum tree be-
cause was master.
The legislature attended to such OF
the demands OF my combine and such
Of the demands or the public as
thought II expedlent TO grant and then
adjourced. Woodruff asked three
months leave. ! did not hear from or
o. him until midsummer. when he sent
me cablegram from London. lie
was In a hospital there. out Of money
and out OF health. cabled him 81 900
and asked him 10 come home as soon
as he could. II was my first personal
experience with that far from uncom-
mon American type. the periodic
drunkard. I had 20 cable him money
three times before he started.
When he came to me at Washing
ton. In December. he looked just as
-. ..fu. rnhuof rrnl rvnfeal aud
dressed In the very extreme OF the
extreme fashion. received him as
II nothing had happened. II was not
until the current Of mutual liking was
again flowing freely between us that
said: doc. may impose on your
friendship TO the extent Of an In.
lruslon into your private afialrsY"
He started. and gave me a quick
look. his color mounting. Yes" he
said after a moment
when heard from you" went on.
4 made some Inquiries. owe you no
apology You had given me a shock
one OF the seyercst Of my lie. But
hey told me that you never let-that
-that-that popularity Of yours In.
ierfere with business"
His head was hanging u always 20
away" he said. Nobody that knows
me ever sees me whon-at that time 50
I laid my hand on his arm. Doc.
Why do you do-that sort Of thlng7"
The scar came up Into his face 20
put agony ipto the reckless despair
Tint looked from his eyes. For an In.
slant I stood on the threshold Of bis
chamber OF rcmorse and vain re.
grut.-and well I knew where ! was.
Why notY' he asked. bitterly.
There's always a--sort OF horror-in.
side me And Il grows until can't
bear Il. And thcn-I drown it--why
shouldn't T."
That's very stupid for n man Of
your brains" said I. There's nothing
nothing IN the world. except death
that cannot be wiped out or set
-ight Play the game. Doc Play Il
with me FOR Eve years Play II for all
there IL IN H. Then-go back. ifyou
want to-
lie thought a ioag time. and I did
not try 10 hurry him. AZ lcngth he
said. In HIS old onhand manner;
Wei. III so you. senator; III not
touch n drop"
And he didn't whenoycr though,
saw signs Of the savage Internal bat
Ito against tho weakness. | gave him
something important and absorbing
to do. and I kept him busy until
knew the temptation had Loaf It's pow
or for tho time.
This IL the proper place TO put u on
the record that be was the most
scrupulousiy honest man ! have ever
known. lie dealt with the shadlcsi
and least scrupuious Of mcn-those
who train their conscienccs 10 be the
eager servants OF their appetites; he
handled hundreds Of thousands Of
dollars. millions FIRST and last. all Of
II money for which he could mover
have boon forced To account lie had
nj one time as much as half million
dollars In checks payable 10 bearer,
I am not conhilng by nature or train
ing. but I am confident that he kept
not a penny for himself beyond his
salary and hla fixed commission.
put his salary AZ the outset. NJ ten
thousand year: afterward. at nf
teen. finally at twenty. Ills cimmls'
sions. perhaps. doubled H.
There are many kinds Of honesty
nowadays There IL corporate hon
csiy." not unlike that proverbial
honor among thieves" which secures
fair or fairly fair division Of the
Epolla Then there II personal hon.
caty." which subdlvidcs Into three
kinds-lcral moral and distinctive.
Legal honesty needs no definition.
Moral honesty dcfies dehnItion-how
untangle its intcrwinlngs OF motives
Of fear. pride. insufficient temptation.
sacrifice OF the smaller chance in the
hope Of a lafgcrf Finally. there Ia In.
stlnctlve honcsty-the rareat, tho
only bedrock. unassailaible kind.
Give me the man who IA honest sim:
ply because II never occurs 10 him.
and never could occur 10 him. TO BE-
anything else. That II Woodruff.
There IL. 10 be- sure. another kind
of instinctiyoiy honest mamie who
dlsrcgards loyalty ~ well NJ self In
tcrcst in his uprightnesa But there
are 10 few OF these In practical life
that they may be dIarcgarded.
Perhaps I should say something
here as 10 tho finances Of my com
binc. though II was managed In the
main prcg'f,ly like all these polii'
icalcommeroIal machines that con.
troll both parties In all the states. ox.
ccpt few In tho south.