Yet this power is obtained only
by the wish of a majority, for the day they lose the consent of a
majority of the voters that day their power ends. We are really more
dependent than the representatives, for they are elected for a certain
time, while our tenure can be ended at any moment. Why am I a power in
my ward? Because I am supposed to represent a given number of votes,
which are influenced by my opinions. It would be perfectly immaterial to
my importance how I influenced those votes, so long as I could control
them. But because I can influence them, the other leaders don't dare to
antagonize me, and so I can have my way up to a certain point. And
because I can control the ward I have made it a great power in city
politics."
"How did you do that?"
"By keeping down the factional feeling. You see there are always more
men struggling for power or office, than can have it, and so there
cannot but be bad blood between the contestants. For instance, when I
first became interested in politics, Moriarty and Blunkers were quite as
anxious to down each other as to down the Republicans.
Pages:
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546