At first I thought maybe his sudden
popularity was due to some word sent out from your Chicago office; but
when you told me it wasn't, I began to do a little speculating on my own
account. I can't make up my mind yet whether it is pure popularity, or
whether it's the assisted kind."
"Assisted?" said the vice-president, with a lifting of the heavy
eyebrows.
"Yes. It has been too unanimous. I have a trustworthy man in Blount's
up-town office, and he says the invitations have fluttered in like
autumn leaves; more than Blount could accept if he travelled
continuously. Kittredge's men report that the speech-making has been a
triumphant progress all over the State; bands, receptions, committees,
and banquets wherever Blount goes."
Mr. McVickar grunted. "The speeches have been all that anybody could
ask. I've been reading them."
Kittredge shook his head.
"Gantry says they are, but I say no," he contended. "There is such a
thing as putting too much sugar in the coffee. Blount's overdoing it;
he's putting the whitewash on so thick that any little handful of mud
that happens to be thrown will stick and look bad."
"Of course, we have to take chances on that," was the vice-president's
qualifying clause. "Nevertheless, young Blount's talk has undoubtedly
had its effect upon public sentiment. We must be careful not to let the
opposition newspapers get hold of anything that would tend to nullify
it.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236