The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-06-13

gave Woodruff enthusiastic praise for
rescuing so much from what had
looked like utter ruin.
My clients had been uneasy ever
since the furious. popular outburst
which had followed their breaking
away from my direction and restraint.
When they saw an opposition legisla-
ture, they readily believed what they
read In the newspapers about the I'm
pending reign OF radicalism." Sill.
man. the opposition leader. had ac-
cepted John Markham's offer OF $780,
900 for Croffut's seat In the senate;
but directed him to send Veehoft,
one OF the widest and cleverest OF
the opposition radicals. He dared not
dlsobey me. Veehoft went, and
Markham never saw again the $4,000
he had paid Silliman as retainer"
veerhoft In the United States SEN
ate gave my clients the chills; but I
was preparing the fever for them also
| had Silliman introduce bills in both
houses OF the legislature that reached
for the privileges Of the big corpora
lions and initiated proceedings to ex-
pose their corruption. i had Wood.
run suggest 20 Governor Walbrook
that. in view OF the popular clamor.
he ought 10 recommend measures for
equalizing taxation and readjusting
the prices for franchises. As my
clients were bonded and capitalized ot
the basis Of no expense either for
taxes or for franchises. the governors
suggestion. eagerly adopted by Sill
mans horde" foreshadowed ruin. II
the measures should be passed, all the
dividends and interest they were pay
ing on water" would go into the pub
lie treasury.
My clients came TO me. slngly and
in pairs. TO groyel and TO implore An
interesting study these arrogant gen
tlenen made as they cringed. utterly
Indifferent TO the appearance OF self.
respect. In their agony for their I'm.
perilcd millions. A mother would
shrink from abasing herself 10 save
lfIF lllt vi ItN Nullu N lHtrt illtu
abascd themselves In the hope OF saw.
ing their dollars. How they fawned
and fatteredl They begged my par.
don for having disregarded my ad-
vice: they assured me that. n I
would only exert that same genius Of
mine which had conceived the com.
blne. I could devise some way OF saw.
Ing them from this tidal wave OF pop
ular clamor-for they hadn't a suspI.
clon Of my part In making that tidal
wave.
Reluctantly consented to see
what can do"
Tho Instant change In the aimos-
pherc OF the capital. the instant out.
cry from the organs OF both parties
that the people had voted for reform.
not for conhscatory revolution" com.
pleted my demonstration. Ny clients
7calized who was master OF the ma.
chimes. The threatening storm rapid.
~ scattered: the people. believing that
the Silllman programme OF upheaval
vas not 10 be carried out. were glad
enough 90 see the old conservative
order rcstored-our people always rea
son that Il Ia better 10 rot slowly by
corruption than 20 be frightened 20
death BY revolution.
Hereafter. We must trust 10 your
Judgment In these political matters.
Harvey" said Rocbuck. THE mana.
Ger must ne permitted 20 manage
] smiled NJ the ingenuousness %
this speech. II did not runie me. Roe
buck was one Of those men who say
their prayers In patroniEing tone.
Yes. was master. but II Il only
now. In the retrospect OF years. that I
have any sense Of triumph; for I had
won the supremacy with small effort.
comrarativeiy-with the small effort
required OF him who sees the condi.
tons OF a situation clearly. and. in
stead OF trying 10 combat or 20 change
them. intelligcntiy uses thom 20 his
ends. Nor do now rerard my achieve
ment as marvellous. Everything was
In my favor: against mo. there was
noihing-no organization. no plan. no
knowledge Of my aim. wonder how
much OF their supcrnal glory would be
left 90 the worlds mon Of action.
from ita Alcxandcrs and Napoleons
down 10 iis successful bandits and
ward bosses. II mankind wore In the
habit of looking nj what the winner
had opposed 60 him-Aiexando faced
only By nOcks Of sheepllke Asiatic
slaves; Napoleon routing the badly
trained. wrcichedly differed soldiers
% decadcnt monarchics: and the ban.
oft or ward.boas overcoming peaceful
and unprc Jared and unorFaniEcd cltl.
kens. Who would erect statues or
write eulogics to n man for moving a
field Of cornstaiks with a scythe'
Mankind IL never more amusing than
IN its hcro.worship.
No. should simply have been stu
pid had I failed.
But-cvcn had been disposed 10
rein In and congratulate myself at the
quartcrslrctch. could not have done
a. A man has. pcrhaps. some choice
AZ 10 his mount before he enters the
race for success. But once In the sad.
die and on. he must let the rcIns go;
his control IN confined TO whip and
spur
CHAPTER XIV.
1