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

CHAPTER TX.


To the Seats Of the Mighty.
We. our party carried the state. rs
usual. Our legislative majority was
increased by II. TO 81 on Joint ballot.
II was certain that Dunklrk'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 a doubt. He had
come to look on II 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 "Dominlck.Croffut"
faction. And soon no was at me TO
declare for him.
evaded as hong as | could-whlch
aid not decrease his nervousness.
When he put II 20 me polnt-blauk. !
said: Il cant do II, senator. VIII
not mix In quarrels within the party"
But they are saying you are
against me-" he pleaded.
"And your people are saying ! am
for you" retorted
But surely you are not against mo
and for Schoolcrait? What has he
done for your"
And what have you done for met"
I replled--a mere Interrogation, with
out any feeling in It. Tell me. ] try
to pay my debts"
HIS eyes shifted. Nothing. saylor.
nothing" he said. Il didn't mean TO
lnsinuate that you owed me anything
sim. thousht-you wouldn't have
been state chairman. except"
As he halted. said: Except that
you needed me And you will recall
that took Il only on condition that
I should be free"
Then you are opposed 10 me-" he
said. Nobody can be on the fence In
this fight"
Il DO not think you can DO elected"
replied.
As he sat silent. the puffs under his
eyes swelled Into bags and the pallor
Of his skin changed 20 the gray which
makes the face look as n a hare or n
cloud lay upon q. pltled him 20 pro
foundly that. had yonturcd 70 speak.
should have uttered impulslve gen.
crosities that would have cost me
dear. How rarely are our impulses Of
generosity anything but impulses 20
folly. injustice and wrong
I'VE shall see was an he said. and
he rose and shambled away.
They told me he made a pliltfui
sight. whsodllng and whining among
the Legislators. hut he degraded him
self 10 some purpose lie succeeded
In rallying round him enough men,
bcrs 10 deadlock the party caucus for
a month-mombers from the purely
rural districts. whore the sentiment OF
loyalty Is strongest. where his piety
and unsclfsh devotion TO the party
were believed In. and his significance
AZ statesman" LEI this deadlock
continue-ii tor Dunklrk. ~ for
Schoolcraft-untll / folt that the par.
" throughout the state was heartily
sick Of the struggle. Then Woodruff
bought. az ti2 600 apiece. two Dunkirk
men 10 vote 20 transfer the contest 20
the ioor Of a Joint session OF the two
houses
After four days OF baliotlng there.
seven Domlnlck Cronui men voted for
me-my FIRST appearance "a candi.
date On the seventy seventh balio;
schoolcraft Withdrew. and all the
Domihick. crofiut men voted for me.
On the seyenty.nlnth ballot got. In
addition. two opposition votes Wood
run had bought for me AZ $500
apiece. Tho ballot was: Dunkirk. 81.
Grassmerc (who was receiving The or
positions complimentary voto). 90.
Saylcr. ~. vas a senator OF the
United States.
There was a Wild acone. Threats.
Insults. blows even. we're exchanged.
And down at the Capital City hotel
Dunklrk crawlcd upon a. table and Dc.
nounoed mo as an Infamous migrate. n
traitor. a serpent no had warmed In
his bosom. but the people Of the state
accepted Il az natural and satisfactory