The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-04-06
CHAPTER TX.
"a the Seats of the MluhtA

We, our party, carried the state. as
usual. Our legislative majority was
increased by II, to 81 on joint ballot.
1t was certain that Dunkirk's success
sor would be of the same political
faith; but would he be Dunkirk? At
first that venerable custodian of the
plum tree hadn't a doubt He had
come to look on it as his personal
property. But, after he had talked to
legislators-elect from various parts of
the state, he became uneasy He
found that the party's members were
dangerously evenly divided between
himself and the "Dominick-Croffut''
faction. And soon he was at me to
declare for him.
1 evaded as long as l could-which
did not decrease his nervousness.
When he put 1t to me point-blank,
said: Il can't do it, senator. I will
not mix in Quarrels within the party"
But they are saying you are
against me-" he pleaded.
And your people are saying l am
for you," I retorted.
But surely you are not against me
and for Schoolcraft? What has he
done for your
And what have you done for me ."
1 replied-a mere Interrogation, with
out any feeling in it. Tell me. try
to pay my debts"
His eyes shifted. Nothing, Sayler,
nothing" he said 81 didn't mean to
| insinuate that you owed me anything.
Still, I thought-you wouldn't have
been state chairman except"
| AS he halted, l said: Except that
you needed me. And you will recall
that l took it only on condition that
should be free"
Then you are opposed to me-" he
said. Nobody can be on the fence in
this fight"
81 do not think you can be elected"
l replied.
AS he sat silent, the puffs under his
eyes swelled into bags and the pallor
of his skin changed to the gray which
makes the face look as if a haze or a
cloud lay upon it. I pitied him so pro-
foundry that, had I ventured to speak,
I should have uttered impulsive gen
erosities that would have cost me
dear. How rarely are our impulses OF
generosity anything but impulses to
folly, injustice and wrong!
I'VE shall see," was all he said. and
he rose and sham bled away.
They told me he made pititful
sight, wheedling and whining among
the legislators. But he degraded him
self to some purpose. He succeeded
IN ra1ying round him enough mem
bers to deadlock the party caucus fol
a month-members from the purely
rural districts, where the sentiment Of
loyalty Is strongest, where his piety
and unself1sh devotion to the party
were believed in, and his significance
as statesman" l let this deadlock
continued for Dunkirk, Al fol
choolcraft-until I felt that the par
ty throughout the state was heartily
sick of the struggle. Then Woodruff
bought, at $4,000 apiece, two Dunkirl
men to vote to transfer the contest tc
the floor of joint session of the tive
houses.
After four days of balloting there
seven Dominick-Croffut men voted fol
me-my first appearance as a candi
date. On the seventy-seventh ballot
Schoolcraft withdrew, and all the
Dominick- Croffut men voted for me
On the seventy-ninth ballot l got, IL
addition, two opposition votes Wood
ruff had bought for me at $500
apiece. The ballot was: Dunkirk, Al;
Grassmere (who was receiving the op
positions complimentary vote), &c.
Sayler, 49, l was a senator of the
United States.