rural sections.

Harlan was left alone with the General.

"There go the kind that the demagogues always catch, Mr. Thornton. The
demagogues understand human nature. They prey on the radicals who will
follow the man who promises--sets class against class and eternally
promises! Promises the jealous ascetics to deprive other men of the
indulgences they seem to enjoy--promises to correct things for the great
majority which dimly understands that things are out of joint in their
little affairs, and as dimly hope that laws and rulers can correct those
things and make the income cover the grocery bills. Spinney had them by
the ears, that he did! But the knave was shrewd enough to understand
that the machine would probably whip him in convention. They used my
name to scare him into selling out--threatened to stampede the
convention for me. That's why I'm so angry."

"Let me ask you something, General. It was Spinney, was it, Spinney and
the kind I've seen training with him in this thing, that stirred up the
opposition in this State--the kind of opposition we found at our Fort
Canibas caucus?"

"From all reports, yes. I know some of the agents that have been working
in the State. The men behind have hidden themselves pretty well, and I'm
not exactly certain where their money is coming from. But I suppose the
liquor interests are putting in considerable, as usual."

"The liquor interests! Backing reformers?"

The General smiled.

"Remember that I've had better chances to see the inside than you, young
man. I've watched it operate from the start. In case of doubt you'll
find the liquor interests on both sides. It's an evil that prohibition
opens the door to. The saloons are to be tolerated and protected, or
they are to be persecuted--the programme depends on the men who get
control. If they are to be tolerated, the wholesale liquor men have to
stand in right, so that they may have the privilege of doing business
with the retailers. If the saloons are to be closed, the liquor men want
to stand in right, so that they can do business direct with the
consumer; and then there are the increased sales through the legalized
city and town agencies when the saloons are closed--the liquor men need
that business. The liquor is bound to come in anyway, whichever faction
is in control. So the big rumsellers cater to both sides."

"Isn't there any decency anywhere, in any man, General Waymouth, when he
gets mixed into such things?"