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

Roebuek & Co. Pass Under the Yoke.
And now the stage had been reached
at which my ten mutInous clients
could be. and must be. disciplined.
AS first step. resigned the chair
manshlp Of the state committee and
ordered the election Of Woodruff to
the vacancy. | should soon have sub
stituted Woodruff for myself. In any
event had never wanted the place.
and had taken II only because 10 re-
fuse II would have been TO throw away
the golden opportunity Dunklrk 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 wished the
people OF my state 20 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 I could trust through and
through; and. save Woodruff. who was
there for the placer
When my resignation was an.
nounced. the independent and the op.
position press congratulated me ON my
high principle In refusing 10 have any
Official connection with the machine
responsible for such infamIes. when
woodruffs election was announced II
came rs complete surprise. Such
Of the newspapers as dared. and they
we're few. denounced Il as lnfamy's
crown Of infamy.-as had known Il
would be. lie made not n murmur.
but knew what must be In his mind.
said nothing until six weeks or two
months had passed: then 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 H."
"No. indeed. Senator" he protested,
nothing like that Honestly. I have
not had a bitter thought against you
I'm depressed simply because. Just AZ
I had n chance TO get on my feet
again. they wont let me-"
"Dut.- / rejolncd. 4 did resign and
nut you IN my place because didn't
zant 90 take the IRE and thought you
could
And 10 can" said he. Il haven't
any reputation 10 lose. I'm no worse
N than ! was before. Let 'om do
heir damnedcst"
Your first campaign will probably
be a failure" I went on. and. the day
after election. thercil be a shout Tor
your head"
lie shrugged bis shoulders. I'm
enlisted for the war" said he. You're
my general. go where you order"
hope tho feelings that surged up
In me showed In my face. a.
stretched out my hand. Thank you.
Doc" said I. ~And-thcre's another
-Ide TO n. II Isn't all black.
II Isn't black at all" he replied
lioutly.
explained: rive wanted you "a
have the place from the outset. Bu,
I shouldn't dare Fivc Il TO you except
Il time like this. when our party has
orc - May unpopular thinEs that
ac murc won't count. and there's 80
much 20 Nc said against us. 20 muci
worse things than they can possibl,
make out your election 10 be. that I'll
soon be almost neglected"
They're beginning 90 drop me al
ready and 30 back TO marrying thos'
poor devils of ours In the Legislature.
said Woodruff.
"a few weeks more" went on
"and you'll be safe aud you are Il
stay chairman. no matter what hap
pens When they have leisure to AZ
tack you. thercll BE- nothing 10 At
tack. The pcople will have dismissed
the matter from their minds Thcy
don't care 10 watch the thrcshinE o.
old stray
saw that had lifted n weight
from him. though be said nothing.
So much for my FIRST move towart
the Christening % nay ollenta furthcl
and even more effective In the sans
direction ! cut down our campaign
fund for the legislative ticket 10 onc
NTH what u usually was: and. with
out even woodruf-a knowing II.
heavily subsidized the opposition ma
chine. Wherever Il could be don'
with safety arranged for the tradInl
on Of our legislative ticket for ou
candidate for governor The iceia
laturc IL hopclcsaly lost. told Wood
run: we must concentrate on tn
goycrnorship. We must save what W