tcher as a senatorial possibility."

"That's all right; but if you had to make a choice between Thatcher and
Bassett?"

Dan shrugged his shoulders impatiently.

"You mustn't exaggerate the importance of my influence. I don't carry
United States senatorships around in my pocket."

"You're the most influential man of your age in our state. I'm not so
sure you wouldn't be able to elect any man you supported if the election
were held to-morrow."

"You've mastered the delicate art of flattery, Colonel; when the time
comes, I'll be in the fight. It's not so dead certain that our party's
going to have a senator to elect--there's always that. But all the walls
are covered with handwriting these days that doesn't need interpreting
by me or any other Daniel. Many of the younger men all over this state
in both parties are getting ready to assert themselves. What we
want--what you want, I believe--is to make this state count for
something in national affairs. Just changing parties doesn't help
anything. I'd rather not shift at all than send some fellow to the
Senate just because he can capture a caucus. It's my honest conviction
that any man can get a caucus vote if he will play according to the old
rules. You and I go out over the state bawling to the people that they
are governing this country. We appeal to them for their votes when we
know well enough that between Thatcher and Bassett as Democrats, and
'Big' Jordan and Ridgefield in the Republican camp, the people don't
stand to win. It may tickle you to know that I've had some flattering
invitations lately to join the Republicans--not from the old guard, mind
you, but from some of the young fellows who want to score results for
policies, not politicians. I suppose, after all, Colonel, I'm only a
kind of academic Democrat, with no patience whatever with this eternal
hitching of our ancient mule to the saloons and breweries just to win.
In the next campaign I'm going to preach my academic Democracy all the
way from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River, up and down and back and
forth--and I'm going to do it at my own expense and not be responsible
to any state committee or anybody else. That's about where I stand."

"Good; mighty good, Dan. All the rest of us want is for you to holler
that in your biggest foghorn voice and you'll find the crowd with you."

"But if the crowd isn't with me, it won't make a bit of difference; I
shall bark just the same."

"Now that we've got down