I have frankly admitted
in=20my speeches that I knew these men, that my knowledge of them and
breaking from them is my chief qualification for waging an effective
war on them if I am elected. They hate me cordially. You know that.
What I do care about is the sworn allegation that now accompanies
these - these fakes. They were not, could not have been taken after
the independent convention that nominated me. If the photographs
were true I would be a fine traitor. But I haven't even seen
McLoughlin or Brown since last spring. The whole thing is a - "
"Lie from start to finish," put in Bennett emphatically. "Yes,
Travis, we all know that. I'd quit right now if I didn't believe
in you. But let us face the facts. Here is this story, sworn to
as Hanford says and apparently acquiesced in by Billy McLoughlin
and Cad. Brown. What do they care anyhow as long as it is against
you? And there, too, are the pictures themselves - at least they
will be in print or suppressed, according as we act. Now, you know
that nothing could hurt the reform ticket worse than to have an
issue like this raised at this time. We were supposed at least to
be on the level, with nothing to explain away. There may be just
enough people to believe that there is some basis for this suspicion
to turn the tide against us.
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