The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-06-18
CHAPTER XVI.
A Victory for the People.

the convention and. going at once 10
our state headquarters in the Great
Northern. shut myself in with Doc
Woodruff My doorkceper. the mem.
Der OF the legislature from Fredonia.
vonturod 20 interrupt with the an
nouncement that messenger had
come from Senator Goodrich.
LET him In" said /.
As the door man disappeared Doc
glanced at his watch. then said with
smile: You've been here seven
minutes and n half-Iust time for a
lookout downstairs TO telephone to the
Auditorium and for the messenger TO
drive from there here Goodrich is on
the anxious scat. all right"
The messenger was Goodrichs
handy.mAn. Judge Dufour. ! myself
have always frowned on these public
exhibitions Of the intimacy 81 judges
In practical politics; but Goodrich had
many small vanities-he liked HE
judges TO hold his coat and his GOV.
ernors 10 carry his satchel One
would say that such petty weaknesses
would be the undolng OF man. For.
tunately. we are not az weak as our
weaknesses but as strong as our
strength: nnf while the universal
weaknesses are shared BY the strong.
their strength a. peculiar aud rare.
After Dufour had introduced himself
and We had exchanged commonplaccp
he said; Senator. there's a little con.
ference OF some ofthe leaders at head.
quarters. and II Isn't complete without
you. So. Senator Goodrich has sent
me over 20 escort you"
Thank you--vcry courteous Of you
and OF him. said without hesitation.
tor knew what vas coming az soon
- bis name had been brought In and
my course was laid out But cant
leave Just now. Please ask him n
he won't come over-any time within
tho next four hours" This biandly
and without a sign that ! was con.
scious Of Dufours stupefaction-for
his vanity made him believe that the
god the great Dufour knolt 10 must
be the god Of gods.
There II no moro important branch
OF the art OF successful dealing with
men than the etiquette Of who shall
call upon whom. Many a man has In
his very hour Of triumph ruined his
cause with a hlunder thereby going
10 see some one whom he should have
compelled 10 come 10 him. or by com.
pclling some one 10 come 10 him when
he should have made tho concession
of going had two reasons for thus
humilIating Goodrich neither Of them
the reasons he doubtless attributed
10 me. the desire 70 feed my vanity.
My first reason was his temperament:
knew his having 10 come 10 me
would mako him bow before me In
spirit. M he was n tyrant. and tyrants
are always cringoTs My second rca
son was that I thought myself near
enough 10 control of the convention
10 be- able 10 win control by creating
the atmosphere Of impending success.
There II always lot of fellows who
walt 10 see who IL likely TO win. ~
that they may be on the aide OF the
man In the plum tree: often there are
enough OF these 10 gain the victory
Tor him who can lure them over at
just the right moment.
AZ soon as Dufour had taken his
huge body away said 10 Woodruff:
90 out with your men and gather in
the once downstairs a. many mem.
bcrs OF the doubtful delegations as
you can. Keep them where they'll be
bound 10 see Goodrich come In and
so out"
lie rushed away. and waited
working with the leaders OF three far
western states. A. the end OF two
hours won them by the spectacle Of
the arriving Goodrich. lie came In,
serene. smiling. giving me the joyous
ly shining eyes and joyously arm
hand.clasp OF the politicians greeting.
not an outward sign that he would
like 10 see me tortured TO death by
some slow process then aud there
Hypocritical prcliminarIos were not
merely unnecessary but even highly
ridiculous: yet. NO great was his an,
ger and confusion that he began
with the prospects OF an old.tlmc
convention. with oldtlmo enthusiasm
and that generous rivalry which Ia the
sign OF party health"
Il hope not, senator" said 7, pleas
anily. Here we think the fight II
overland wan"
lie lifted his eyebrows: but saw
his maxillary muscles twitchIng. I'VE
don't figure Il out just that way a,
headquarters" he replied olllly. "But
there's no doubt about II. your man
has developed strength In the
west"
And south" said !. With deliberatf