Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-06-22

coaceit be should give as his reason
why ] should help him the very reason
why | was not sorry he was to be
beaten. For, although he was not
dangerous, still he was a rival public
figure TO Burbank in our state, and
well, accidents sometimes happen, un-
less they're guarded against.
What shall / dor" / asked him.
stop them from passing any more
black bills. Why they've got half
dozen rer1y, some OF them worse even
than the two they passed over Bur
banks veto, week ago"
For instanee?"
He cited three Power Trust bills.
But why don't you stop those
three?' said l. They're under the
special patronage of Dominick. You
have influence with him."
"Dominick," he groaned Are you
sure?" And when | nodded emphati.
cally. he went on: 'TIl do what l
can, but" He threw up his hands.
He was off for the West that night.
When he returned, his face wore the
look of doom. He had always posed
for the benefit of the galleries. espe-
cially the women in the galleries. But
now he became sloven in dress, often
issued forth unshaven, and sat
sprawled at his desk in the Senate.
his chin ON his shirt bosom, looking
vague and starting when any one
spoke to him.
Following my advice on the day
when l sent him away happy, Burbank
left the capital and the state Just be-
fore the five worst bills left the COM
mittees. He was called To the bedside
of his wife who, so all the newspapers
announced, was at the point of death
at Colorado Springs.
While he was there nursing her as
she lowered between life and death, "
the bills were damned through the
senate and the assembly.
He telegraphed the lieutenant gov
ernor not to sign them, as he was re-
turning and wished to deal with them
himself He reached the capital on g
Thursday morning, sent the bills back
with ringing" veto message, and
took the late afternoon train for Col.
orado Springs. II was as good pc
litical 'grand-stand play" as ever
thrilled people
The legislature passed the bills over
his veto and adjourned that night
Press and people, without regard to
party lines, were loud in their execra-
lions of the abandoned and shame
less wretches" who had betrayed the
state and had covered themselves with
eternal infamy." I quote from an edi-
torial in the newspaper that was re-
garded as my personal organ. But
there was only praise for Burbank !;
his enemies, and those who had doubt
ed his independence and had suspect
ed him of willingness to do anything
to further his personal ambitions, adj
mitted that he had shown fearless
courage, infexible honesty, and the
highest ideals OF private sacrifice to
public duty" And they eagerly ex-
aggerated him, to make his white con-
trast more wildly with the black of
the satanic spawn" In the legisla-
luic. MS ldHie spIedu, caIlleu ldT anu
wide by the sentimentality in that sup
posed struggle between heart and con-
science, between love for the wife of
his bosom and duty to the people.
Carlotta, who like most women took
no interest in politics because it lacks
'heart-interest," came to me with eyes
swimming and cheeks aglow. She had
just been reading about Burbank's
heroism.
isn't he splendidl" she cried. Il
always told you he'd be President.
And you didn't believe me-"
BE patient with me- my dear" said
I. 81 am not a woman with seven
league boots Of intuition. I'm only a
heavy-footed man"