The chattel
mortgage scrolls in the office of the recorder of Fraser County
indicated that his printing-press no longer owed allegiance to the
Honorable Morton Bassett. Thatcher had treated Pettit generously, taking
his unsecured note for the amount advanced to cleanse the "Fraser County
Democrat" of the taint of Bassettism.
As they gathered in the convention hall many of the delegates were
unable to adjust themselves to the fact that Bassett had not only failed
of election as delegate from his own county, but that he was not even
present as a spectator of the convention. The scene was set, the curtain
had risen, but Hamlet came not to the platform before the castle. Many
men sought Harwood and inquired in awed whispers as to Bassett's
whereabouts, but he gave evasive answers. He knew, however, that Bassett
had taken an early morning train for Waupegan, accompanied by Fitch,
their purpose being to discuss in peace and quiet the legal proceeding
begun to gain control of the "Courier." The few tried and trusted
Bassett men who knew exactly Bassett's plans for the convention listened
in silence to the hubbub occasioned by their chief's absence; silence
was a distinguishing trait of Bassett's lieutenants. Among the
uninitiated there were those who fondly believed that Bassett was
killed, not scotched, and they said among themselves that the party and
the state were well rid of him.
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