Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-12
CHAPTER XIII,

Roebuck & Go. Pass Under the Yoke.
 And now the stage had been reached at which my ten mutinous clients could be, and must be, disciplined.
 As a first step, resigned the chair manship of the state committee and ordered the election of Woodruff Q to the vacancy. I should soon have sub- stituted Woodruff for myself, in any event. had never wanted the place. and had taken 1t only because to re- fuse 1t would have been to throw away the golden opportunity Dunkirk so un- expectedly thrust at me. Holding that position, or any other officially con- meeting me with my party's machine, made me target; and wished to be completely hidden, for I wished the people of my state to think me merely one Of the party servants, in sympathy with the rank and file rather than with the machine. Yet, in the chairman ship. in the targetship, must have a man whom could trust through and through; and, save Woodruff, who was there for the place?
 When my resignation was an- nounced, the independent and the op- position press congratulated me on my high principle in refusing to have any official connection with the machine responsible for such infamies. When Woodruff's election was announced it came as a complete surprise. Such Of the newspapers as dared, and they were few, denounced 1t as infamy's crown of infamy,-as1 had known it would be. He made not a murmur but l knew what must be in his mind. said nothing until six weeks or two months had passed; then I went straight at him.
 You are feeling bitter against me" said I. You think dropped out when there was danger of heavy firing, and put you up to take it."
 "No. indeed, Senator" he protested. nothing like that. Honestly, I have not had bitter thought against you. I'm depressed simply because, just as I had a chance to get on my feet again, they won't let me"
 But" rejoined, q did resign and, put you in my place because didn't want to take the fire and thought you could"
 And so can," said he. T haven't any reputation to lose. I'm no worse off than I was before. Let 'em do their damnedest"
 Your first campaign will probably be failure" went on, "and. the day after election, there1l be shout for your head."s
 He shrugged his shoulders. I'm enlisted for the war" said he. You're my general. go where you order"
 I hope the feelings that surged up in me showed in my face, as I stretched out my hand. Thank you. Doc" said l. "And-there's another side to it. It isn't all black.
 Tt isn't black at all," he replied stoutly.
 I explained: I've wanted you to have the place from the outset. But shouldn't dare give it to you except at time like this, when our party has done so many unpopular things that one more won't count; and there's so much to be said against us, so much worse things than they can possibly make out your election to be, that it'll soon be almost neglected"
 They're beginning to drop me al. ready and go back to marrying those poor devils of ours in the legislature" said Woodruff.
 "A few weeks more" went on, "and you'll be safe and you are to stay chairman. no matter what hap pes. When they have leisure to at. tack you. thereTl be nothing to at. tack. The people will have dismissed the matter .roa their minds. They don't care to watch the threshing of old straw"
 I saw that had lifted a weight from him. though he said nothing.
 So much for my first move toward the christening of my clients. Further and even more effective in the same direction I cut down our campaign fund for the legislative ticket 10 one fifth what it usually was: and. with out even Woodruff's knowing it. I heavily subsidized the opposition ma chine Wherever 1t could be done win safety arranged for the trading of of our legislative ticket for our candidate for governor. The legis- lature is hopelessly lost" told Wood ruff; we must concentrate on the goyeruorship. We must save what ve