Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-12
CHAPTER XII. Burbank Fires the Popular Heart.


 ruption," the newspapers of other states called it. One of the first of the ''black bills" to go through was a dis guised street railway grab, out of which Senator Croffut got handsome ''counsel fec of fifty-odd thousand dollars. But as the rout went on, ever more audaciously and recklessly, he became uneasy. In mid-February he was urging me to go West and try to do something to 'curb those internal grabbers." j." refused to interfere. He went himself, and Woodruff reported to me that he was running round the state house and the hotels like crazy man; for when he got into the thick of it, he realized that it was much worse than it seemed from Washing ton. In few days he was back and at me again.
 Its very strange" said he suspic- lously. The boys say they're getting nothing out of it. They declare they're simply obeying orders.'
 Whose orders?" asked.
 T don't know" he answered, his eyes sharply upon me. But do know that, unless something is done. I'll not be returned to the Senate. We'll lose the legislature, sure, next fall"
 Tt does look that way" I said with touch of melancholy. That street railway grab was the beginning of our rake's progress. We've been going it, hell bent, ever since"
 He tossed his handsome head and was about to launch into an angry de- fense of himself. But my manner checked him. He began to plead. You can stop it, Sayler. Everybody out there says you can. And, if I am reelected, I've got a good chance for the presidential nomination. Should I get it and be elected, we could form combination that would interest you, I think"
 It was beautiful irony that in his conceit he should give as his reason why should help him the very reason why was not sorry he was to be beaten. For, although he was not dangerous, still he was a rival public figure to Burbank in our state, and,- well, accidents sometimes happen, un- less they're guarded against.
 What shall do?" asked him.
 "Stop them from passing any more black bills. Why, they've got half a dozen ready, some of them worse even than the two they passed over Bur banks veto. a week ago."
 For instance?"
 He cited three Power Trust bills.
 But why don't you stop those three?" said I. They're under the special patronage of Dominick. You have influence with him."
 "Dominick." he groaned. Are you sure?" And when I nodded emphati. cally, he went on: 'T'll do what can, but" He threw up his hands.
 He was of for the West that night When he returned, his face wore the look of doom. He had always posed for the benefit of the galleries. espe' cially the women in the galleries. But now he became sloven in dress, often issued forth unshaven, and sat sprawled at his desk in the Senate his chin on his shirt bosom. looking vague and starting when any one spoke to him.
 Following my advice on the day when sent him away happy, Burbank left the capital and the state just be- fore the five worst bills left the com. mittees. He was called to the bedside of his wife who, so all the newspapers announced. was at the point of death st Colorado Springs.
 While he was there nursing her as she lowered between life and death" the bills were janmed through the senate and the assembly.
 He telegraphed the lieuteGan: gov. ernor not to sign them. as he was re turning and wished to deal with them himself. He reached the capital on a Thursday morning. sent the bills back with a ringing" veto message. and took the late afternoon train for Col. orado Springs. It was as good a DO litical "grand-stand play" as ever thrilled a people.
 The legislature passed the bills over his veto and adjourned that night.
 Press and people. without regard to party lines. were loud in their execra- tions of the abandoned and shame. less wretches" who had betrayed the state and had covered themselves with eternal infamy." quote from an eii torial in the newspaper that was re. garded as my personal organ. But there was only praise for Burbank: his enemies. and those who had doubt. cd his independence and had suspect. cd him of willingness to do anything 10 further his personal ambitions. ad- mitted that he had shown fearless courage. infiexible honesty. and the highest Ideals of private sacrifice 10 public duty" And they eagerly ex. aggerated him to make his white con trast more vividly with the black of the satanic spawn" in the legisla- lure. His fame spread. carried far and vide by the seatimentality in that sup posed struggle txtween heart and con between love for the wife of ais bosom and duty so the people
 CarlOtfa. who like most women took so interest in politics because t lacks 'hsa-t-Interest.- came 10 me with eyes and cheeks sglow- She had Iust been reading about BurbaaE's lerufsm-
 Isn't he splendid,- she cried T lwavs told you he'd be President.