remember that in this
country we elect a man to do what we want--not to do what he wants
himself."

"Yes," said Peter. "But who is to say what the majority wants?"

"Aren't we--the party leaders--who are meeting daily the ward leaders,
and the big men in the different districts, better able to know what the
people want than the man who sits in the governor's room, with a
doorkeeper to prevent the people from seeing him?"

"You may not choose to do what the people want."

"Of course. I've helped push things that I knew were unpopular. But this
is very unusual, because it's risky. Remember, we can only do things
when our party is in power, so it is our interest to do what will please
the people, if we are to command majorities and remain in office.
Individually we have got to do what the majority of our party wants
done, or we are thrown out, and new men take our places. And it's just
the same way with the parties."

"Well," said Peter, "I understand the condition better, and can see what
I could not fathom before, why the city delegates want Catlin. But my
own ward has come out strong for Porter. We've come to the conclusion
that his views on the license question are those which are best for us,
and besides, he's said that he will stand by us in some food and
tenement legislation we want."

"I know about that change, and want to say, Mr. Stirling, that few men
of your years and experience, were ever able to do as much so quickly.
But there are other sides, even to these questions, which you may not
have yet considered. Any proposed restriction on the license will not
merely scare a lot of saloon-keepers, who will only understand that it
sounds unfriendly, but it will alienate every brewer and distiller, for
their interest is to see saloons multiplied. Then food and tenement
legislation always stirs up bad feeling in the dealers and owners. If
the opposite party would play fair, we could afford to laugh at it, but
you see the party out of power can oppose about anything, knowing that a
minority is never held responsible, and so by winning over the
malcontents which every piece of legislation is sure to make, before
long it goes to the polls with a majority, though it has really been
opposing the best interests of the whole state. We can't sit still, and
do nothing, yet everything we do will alienate some interest."

"It's as bad as the doctrine of fore-ordination," laughed another of the
party:

"You can't i