ation is
ever likely to be. He has no illusions concerning the men it
chooses for high places. He is never disturbed by stories of
political corruption or graft unless they are serious enough to
jeopardize forthcoming elections. Otherwise they are merely
unpleasant incidents that arise in the life of every business
organization.

If he were supreme he would not tolerate political corruption, any
more than he would tolerate murder; but since he is not supreme and
cannot dictate to all men, he accepts their efforts in the interest
of the organization even though their hands may be slightly soiled.
Like the wise general who raises a volunteer army he is not
meticulous in the choice of his privates, providing they are
capable of performing the tasks assigned to them. No seeker after
souls ever believed the end justifies the means more sincerely than
Boies Penrose believes his vote-seekers are justified in stretching
the code a bit for the benefit of the organization--particularly if
it is actually endangered.

Just as he believes in the Republican Party he believes in a high
tariff--the higher the better. Prosperity without protection is
inconceivable. During a Washington career of more than twenty years
he has been constantly caricatured as the tool of the interests--the
man upon whom they could rely to raise the tariff wall an inch
or two for their personal benefit.

He has raised it whenever he has had the opportunity to do so, but
not for the reason assigned. He is no man's tool. The suggestion
that Boies Penrose personally has ever profited financially through
politics is too absurd to be entertained for a moment. Of course,
he expects the interests, whom the party serves with tariff
protection, to save the party at the polls and they usually do so.
But that in the opinion of the senior Senator from Pennsylvania is
the essence of sound politics.

Unbelievable as it may sound in these days, Senator Penrose
actually thinks that most men are dependent for their daily bread
upon the success of a very small group of financiers, magnates, or
whatever you care to call the great leaders of the world of
business.

Years of experience has convinced him that the human race is
composed, for the most part, of hopelessly improvident people and
that a great part of the globe would be depopulated through
starvation and disease if it were not for the foresight, ability,
and thrift of the handful of leaders whom Divine Providen