The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-03-29
CHAPTER TX.
To the Seats Of the Mighty.

usual Our legislative majority was
increased by IL, to 81 on joint ballot.
1t was certain that Dunkirk's success
sor would be of the same political
faith; but would he be Dunkirk? At
first that venerable custodian of the
plum tree hadn't doubt. He had
come to look on it as his personal
property But, after he had talked to
legislators-elect from various parts of
the state, he became uneasy. He
found that the party's members were
dangerously evenly divided between
himself and the 'Dominick-Crofut"
faction And soon he was at me to
declare for him.
l evaded as long as l could-which
did not decrease his nervousness.
When he put it to me point-blank, l
said: Il can't do it, senator. l will
not mix in quarrels within the party"
But they are saying you are
against me-" he pleaded.
And your people are saying L am
for YOU l retorted.
But surely you are not against me
and for Schoolcraft? What has he
done for you?"
And what have you done for me?"
l replied-a mere interrogation, with
out any feeling in 1t. Tell me. l try
to pay my debts.
His eyes shifted. Nothing. Sayler,
nothing" he said. Il didn't mean to
insinuate that you owed me anything.
Still, l thought-you wouldn't have
beer state chairman, except
AS he halted. I said: Except that
you needed me. And you will recall
that l took it only on condition that
l should be free
Then you are opposed to me-" he
said Nobody can be on the fence in
this fight"
4 do not think you can be elected"
/ replied.
AS he sat silent, the puffs under his
eyes swelled into bags and the pallor
OF his skin changed to the gray which
makes the face look as If haze or q
cloud lay upon it. pitied him SO pro-
foyndly that, had / ventured to speak.
I should have uttered impulsive gen
.erosities that would have cost me
dear How rarely are our impulses Of
generosity anything but impulses to
folly. injustice and wrong
We shall see." was all he said, and
he rose and shambled away.
They told me he made pititful
sight. wheedling and whining among
the legislators. But he degraded him
self to some purpose. He succeeded
In rallying round him enough NOM
bers to deadlock the party caucus for
Ivv
rural districts, where the sentiment OF
loyalty is strongest. where his piety
and unselfish devotion to the party
were believed in. and his significance
as statesman" / let this dead lock
continued for Dunkirk, Al for
Schoolcraft-until felt that the par.
ty throughout the state was heartily
sick of the struggle. Then Woodruff
bought, at $4,000 apiece. two Dunkirk
men to vote to transfer the contest to
the floor of a joint session of the two
houses.
After four days of balloting there,
seven Dominick-Croffut men voted for
first appearance as candi-
date. On the seventy-seventh ballot
withdrew, and all the
HcH SOtco tOI me.
On the seventy-ninth ballot / got, in
addition, two opposition votes Wood
ruff had bought for me at $500
apiece. The ballot was: Dunkirk, Al:
Grassmere fwho was receiving the op-
positions complimentary votel, IS;
Sayler, -. l was a senator Of the
United States.
There was a wild scene. Threats,
insults, blows even, were exchanged
And down at the Capital City hotel
0unkirk crawled upon a table and de-
,ounced me as an Infamous migrate. a
raitor. a serpent he had warmed In |
IFS bosom. But the people of the state |
it as natural and satisfactory |
hat the vigorous and fearless young |
chairman OF the party's state commit |
ee" should be agreed on as a com |
,romise. An hour after that last bal |
OF, he hadn't a friend left except |
ONE CALLING sympafhizers from whom /
lie hid himself Thoseswho had been |
is frmest supporters were paying /
curt to the new custodian of the plum |
rec