Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-07-27

call career. But. il you are 20.
Ing to SET out and leave me al the
mercy Of those fellows, certainly
shant stay whore they can fool the
people into turning on me-
4 shall stay on said 1, and
after me. there win be woodrun--un.
less, OF course. there's some sort OF
cataclysm."
"a man must take chances ne an
swered. "I'll take that chance"
We called Woodruff into consulta.
ton. Although he was not a lawyer.
he had talent for taking a situation
by the head and tail and stretching
II out and holding il so that every
crease and wrinkle in it could be
seen. And this made him valuable
at any conference.
In January we had our big batteries
loaded, aimed and primed We un-
masked It, and Ferguson fred had
expected the other side TO act stupid
~. but had not hoped for such stu
pidity as they exhibited fairbanks
year OF bathing In presidential flatter-
les and OF fawning on and cringing
to the mvlti-millionaires and their
agents hedging him around, had so
wrought upon him that he had wholly
| lost his point OF view. And he let
his attorney general poohpooh the
proceedngs--this in the face of the
great popular excitement and en-
thusiasm II was not until Roe
bucks lawyers got far enough into
the case against him to see his dan
ger that the administration stopped
flying In the teeth of the cyclone of
public sentiment and began to pretend
enthusiasm, while secretly plotting the
mistrial OF Ferguson's case. And not
until the United States attorney gen
eral--a vain Goodrich creature whose
| talents were crippled by his con-
tempt for "the rabble' and demo
goguery"--not until he had 1t forced
upon him that Ferguson could not
/, be counter-minded, did they begin to
treat with me for peace. e.~-, -~~a
shall not retail the negotiations,
The upshot was that | LET the admin
istration drop the criminal cases
against Roebuck in return for the
restoration OF my power In the ma.
tional committee OF the party to the
smallest elected postmaster in the
| farthest state. The civil action was
pressed by Ferguson with all his skill
as a lawyer and popularity-seeking
politician; and he won trlumphantly
In the supreme court--the lower fed
eral court with It's Power trust Judge
had added to his triumph by decid-
ing against him.
| Roebuck was, therefore under the
necessity of going through the Gus
tomary forms of outward obedience
to the supreme courts order to him
to dissolve. He had to get at huge
| expense, and to carry out at huger
a plan of reorganization. Though he
was glad enou h to escape thus light
ly, he dssenbled his content and
grumbled 80 loudly that Burbank's
fears were rous-i and arrangements
were made TO placate him The scheme
adopted was, ] believe, suggested by
Vice President Howard, as shrewd
and cynical a rascal as ever lived In
the mire without getting smutch or
splash upon his fine linen Of re-
speciality.
| For several years there had been
a strong popular demand for revi-
sion OF the tariff The party had
promised to yield, but had put or re.
deeming its promise. Now, there
arose a necessity for revising the tar.
iff in the interest OF "the interests.
Some OF the schedules were too low !,
others protected articles which the In.
Iterests wanted as free raw materials
"A few could be abolished without or
Tending any large interests and with
the effect OF furnishing some small
ones that had beca niggard in contrib.
uting n the "carr Align fund which
maintains the standing army of DO
litical workers and augments II when.
ever battle Is on. Accordingly, a
revision of the tariff was in progress
To soothe Roeblck. they gave him a
tariff schedule that would enable him
to collect each year more than the
total OF the extraordinary expenses
to which ] had put him. Roebuck
forgave" me; and / really forgaye
Burbank
| But ! washed my hands of his ad-
ministration. Not only did ] actual
ly stand aloof but also disassociated
myself from 1t in the public mind.
When the crash should come, as come
IL must with such men at the helm,
wished to be in a position success
fully to take full charge for the work
OF repair.