The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-05-24
THE PLUM TREE.
ContInuea from Thlrd Page.

pushed on. "His lieutenants and heel.
ers hate him because he doesn't d.
vide squarely. The only factor In his
power is the rank and file OF the
voters OF our party. They, I'm con-
vinced are pretty well aware Of his
hypocrisy-but It doesn't matter
much what they think. They vote like
sheep and accept whatever leaders
and candidates our machine gives
them. They are almost stone blind
In their partiEanship and they can al.
ways be fooled up TO the necessary
point. And we can fool them our
selves, II we go about Il right, just
as we'll as Dunkirk does II for hire"
But Dunkirk is their man isn't
he?" he suggested.
ANY man is their man whom you
choose TO give them, replied |. And
don't you give them Dunkirk? He
takes the money from the big bust
ness interests. and with IL hires the
men to sit In the legislature and
finances the machine throughout the
state. II takes big money TO run a
political machine, His power be-
longs 10 you people. TO dozen Of you,
and you can take II away from him;
his popularity belongs TO the party.
and Il would cheer just as loudly for
any other man who wore the party
Uniform"
II see" he said rehectiyely; the
machine rules the party. and money
rules the machine and we supply the
money and don't get the benefit It's
as ~ my wife or one OF my employees
run my property"
Much like that answered Now.
why shouldn't you finance the ma.
chine directly and do away with Dun.
kirk who takes as his own wages
about half what you give him? lie
takes II and W; stes n In stock specu.
'ationq-gamblinf with your hard
earned wealth. gambling II away
cheerfully. because he feels that you
people viii always give him more. y
What do you propose?' he asked;
and | could see that his acute busl
ness mind was ready 10 pounce upon
my scheme and search II hopefully Il
mercilessly.
"A secret absolutely secret. combine
OF dozen OF the big corporations OF
my state-thoso that make the bull
OF the political business-the com
bine 20 me under the management oI
some man whom they trust and Whose
interests are business. not political.
He would have enormous power.
said Roebuck.
knew that he would point FIRST and
straight al that phase OF my scheme
no matter how sub,ly I might dis
guise t. SO had pushed Il into hi
face and had all but pointed at II my
self 50 that might explain Il away
Power" said l. How do you maxi
that outi Any member OF the com
bIne that IL dissatisfied can Withdraw
At any time and 20 back 20 the OLE
way Of doing business. Besides. IN
manager won't dare appear In II al all
he'll have 20 hide himself from IN
people and from the politicians BE-
hind some popular ngurchead. There
another advantage that mustn't b
overlooked. Duakirk and these othe
demagosues who bleed you are infiAfn
ina public sentiment more and NOR
against big eorporations-that tibet
way Of hghtins you into yielding q
their demands Under the new plal
their demogogery would cease. Don
you think It's high time for the lead
ers Of commerce and Industry 20 con
bine intelligently against demagogery
Don't you think they have cringed b.
fore II and have financed and fostei
ed Il too iongG'
This argument which I had n
served for the last. had all the offec
anticipated. lie sat rubbing hi
broad. bald forehead. twisting hi
white vhiskers and muttering 10 hin
self Presently he asked: "whe
are you and Lo,tie Ramsay going :
DO married."
In the fall sAid I. In abou
three months"
We'll we'll talk u over again
after you are married and settled.
you had the substantial Interests I
give you tho steadiness and balias
think you'd be the man for you
scheme Yes. somcthius-some sue
thing ~ you suKsest-must be don
10 stop the poisoning OF public opii
Ion against the oountry's best an
strongest men. The political dspar
ment OF the business interests ougt
10 be thoroughly organised as the Oh
or departments are. Como 10 N
again after you're married
say that his mind was nred. tins
he would be unable 10 trust mo unit
was OF his claas. OF the snstocrae
OF corpuient corporate persons.
went away. much dovncss,: but ~
weeks aftervard he teiegraphod q
me. and when came he At ono
brought up the subject OF the cor
bine.
60 ahead with H." he said. =,
been thinking Il over and taking
over. We shall need only nine othc'
besides myself and you. You repr
sent the Ramsay interest"
m. .a,fr,.a ~. ,~fth an. -.