The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-02

Late in that second spring Bur
bank made a tour of the country, to
give the people the pleasure of see
ing their great man, to give himself
the pleasure Of their admiration, and
to help on the congressional cam
paign, the result of which would be
the preliminary popular verdict upon
his administration. The thinness of
the crowds, the feebleness of the en-
thusiasm, the newspaper sneers and
filings at that oratory once hailed as
a model of dignity and eloquence-
even he could not accept the smooth
explanations OF his fiatterers And
IN November came the party's mem
orabie overwhelming misunderstanding
our majority IN the senate from 20 to
6, and substituting for our major
ity of SO in the house an opposition
majority of 81.
| talked with him early in January
and was amazed that, while he aDpre-
ciated the public anger against the
party, he still believed himself per-
sonally popular. There is 1ull in
prosperity" said he, "and the people
are peevish" Soon, however, by a
sort Of endosmosis to which the
densest vanity is somewhat subject.
the truth began to seep through and
to penetrate into him.
He became friendlier to me, So
Iicitous toward spring-but he chung
none the less tightly to Goodrich. The
full awakening came In his third sum-
mer when the press and the politi-
clans of the party began openly to
discuss the next years nomination
and to speak of him as if he were
out OF the running. He was spending
the hot months on the Jersey coast,
the flatterers still swarming about
him, and still assiduous, but their
batteries falling upon ever deafer ears
as his mind rivetted upon the hair
suspended sword. In early Septem-
Der he invited me TO visit him-my
first invitation of that kind in two
years and a half We had three in
terviews before he could nerve him
self to brush aside the barriers be-
tween him and me.
'T am about to get together my
friends with view to next year."
said he through an uneasy smile.
What do you think of the prospects ?"
What do your friends say"
asked.
"Oh, of course, l am assured of a
denomination" He paused, and his
look at me made the confident af-
/ firmation q dubious question
"Yes?" said l.
"And-don't you think my record
has made me strong?" he went on
nervously
"Strong-with whom?" said l.
He was silent Finally he laid his
hand on my knee-we were taking
the air on the ocean drive Harvey -
he said. Il can count on your"
I shook my head. Il shall take no
part in the next campaign" I said.
81 shall resign the craftsmanship"
''But have selected you as my
chairman l have insisted on you
I can't trust any one else. I need
others, l use others, but trust only
you"
1 shook my head, 'T shall resign
| repeated. What's the matter
won't Goodrich take the placer"
He looked away. 81 have not So
riously thought Of any one but you,
he said reproachfully.
I happened to know that the place
he had declined it, protesting that
q western man, must not be dis
turbed when the west was vital to the
party's success. My resolution Is
fixed" said l.
A long silence, then: "Sayler, have
you heard anything of an attempt tc
defeat me for the nomination.?
Goodrich has decided to nominate
Gov. Ridgeway of Illinois. said l.
He blanched and had to moister
his dry, wrinkled lips several times
before he could speak. "A report Of
that nature reached me last Thurs
day." he went on. For some time
have been perplexed by the Ridgeway
talk in many of our organs. have
must say-his explanations are moi
not wholly satisfactory.
Il have come TO the conclusion thai
you were right about Goodrich. Say
Ter. I am glad that I took your ad
vice and never trusted him. I thinl
you and together Will be too strons
for him"
You are going to seek a renomina
hon?" I asked.
He looked st me in genuine aston
ishment- 1T is impossible that the
] party should refuse me-" he said.
I was silent.
Be frank with me. Sayler," he ex
claimed at last. BE frank. Be my
friend. your own old self"
AS frank and as friendly as yot
have been?" said I, rather to REMIND