The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-10-29

tance that Is a blank In your mind.
You don't realize that no great success
can be made In this world except by
hanging on to some one else's coat
tail. III | should give you a glass to
enable you TO see 1t In that light, you
would behold line OF men each hang
ing on to the skirt OF the man ahead
Of him, like the tail of kite reaching
lear up into the sky. These are the
successes. Those who are drifting
about below figuring by themselves
never get anywhere. Now, l know
Phunnyman, who is our candidate for
governor He is an original and a
genius; never does anything like any
body else. | have influence with him.
for In one small respect he is hanger
on 10 my coattail He told me the
other day he was looking for secre-
tary for tine coming campaign work.
II you like I'll get the position for
you
Shake. old man." said. you've hit
the nall on the head"
The next day my friend informed me
that he had told the candidate for gov.
ernoF all about me, frankly including
my I'll success Phunnyman had
thought a. moment, then said In his
quick way: "Send him to me. / can
make use OF him.
| was engaged by the candidate at n
salary OF $500 month as assistant |
secretary. He had secretary who did |
all the work, occupying much high |
er position. l became sort OF polit |
zeal confidential adviser. Whenever |
anything of Importance would cove ~
he would take me into hiS rr,.ata
room. tell me all about -, ~, 49,
opinion as to the best a, 'l',s
re = ~ >uGtle1ys came to me at
once, It seemed, by intuition. and
never had ito deliberate. Phunnyman
was very secretive man aud never
said. 'You are right" or you IRE
wrong" He made no comment what
ever: but, since he continued to consult
me. concluded he found my advice
valuable
or course my position was a very
pleasant one. A box of cigars was al
ways at my disposal, and decanter
with glasses was kept In a closet for
me PhunByman almost always took
me out TO lunch with him. for 1t was
then that he could best confide all the
various problems that came up before
him. There's no sphere which requires
such constant exercise Of Judgment as
politics. Not day but a number Of
questions came up, and many OF them
had to be settled at once. There's
where my faculty for recognizing the
pith OF question came Ia.
Well. Phunnyman was elected by
the biggest majority any candidate had
received for sixteen years. When II
was all over supposed he would take
all the credit 10 himself. but he didn't
L was at hts house the night OF the
where telegraph apparatus
had been set up. and as soon us sufti
Client returns had come In to insure
his election he grabbed me by the
hand, exclaiming joyfully: "It's all due
TO yop. my boy III 1t hadn't been fol-
your advice I'd have been defeated 10
every county"
Now. that's what | call honor where
honor is due. The governor retained
me In my position, for you must know
that the position brings more prob
lens than a campaign to get 1t. Hi
doubled my salary, and there wasn't
man In the state that had better
position than l. Besides. ! had lots OF
to make money through
/ possessed, and / made
1t every time, though in shis no judg
ment was required. simply bought
when got the tip.
When Phunnyman was sent to the
United States senate he took me with
him. He didn't have much use for my
advice there, for he was obliged to dc
as the party leader directed, so / asked
him to make me a secretary In reality
as well as In name. This he declined
to do, and, having secured compe
tency, left him.
Phunnyman died in the senate. Aft
er his death Crook, who had got me
my position with him, showed me
letter of thanks the governor had SEM
him the day after his election to thai
Office. In 1t he said:
'sThere is right and wrong de
cision on most questions. l judged
from what you told me of his failures
that your friend always decided wrong
80 / took no step In the campaign
without consulting him and doing the
opposite from what he advised me tt
do. 1t is lucky held to the rule, TO,
] often agreed with him"
OSCAR COX.
!