head and do what it ought
to do if I should assure Senator Pownal that he and his crowd may help
themselves to the water-powers of this State--if I let the rumsellers
sell and the office-holders filch? It's on those terms, is it, that I'm
to get the help of the men the Republican party has selected as its
executives?"

"That isn't a square way to put it," objected Mr. Presson, with heat. "I
simply say it was all right to open this campaign with prayer, as we did
at the State Convention, but as to carrying it through on the plane of
a revival meeting, that's a different proposition! You've asked for
business talk, General. I've given you straight business. You're asking
something from some one else, just now. In politics it's nothing for
nothing, and d--n-d little for a dollar! You know it just as well as I
do. Now suppose we have some business talk from you!" There was a sneer
in the last sentence.

General Waymouth swung one thin leg over the knee of the other. He
leaned back in his chair. His elbow rested on the chair-arm, his fingers
were set, tips on his chin, and over them he surveyed his listeners with
calmness. He did not raise his voice. It was his mild manner that made
what he said sound so balefully savage. Bluster would have weakened it.

"The legitimate expenses of a campaign are considerable, even when the
party organization, from you, Mr. Presson, down to the humblest town
committeeman, does full duty in time and effort. But if one has to buy
it all, it needs a deep purse. From what you say, it is plain to me that
I am now left to run my own campaign. I tell you very frankly,
gentlemen, my means are limited. I have not made money out of politics.
One course only is left open to me. I notify you that I shall issue a
statement to the people of this State. I shall inform them that I have
been abandoned by the State Committee and the party machine. I shall
state the reasons very plainly. I shall say I am left to defeat because
I refused to betray the people's interests. Then I shall appeal to the
people as a whole--to Republicans and Democrats alike--for support at
the polls. If there are enough honest men to elect me, very well. If the
majority wants to hand the thing over to the looters and tricksters
after the fair warning I give them, they will do so with their eyes
open, and I'll accept the result and leave this State to itself."

Chairman Presson pushed himself slowly up out of his chair, his arms
pr