"The
Sixth is a sure thirty-five hundred to the bad, and between Stirling's
friends, and the Hummel crowd, and Bohlmann's people, you'll lose
twenty-five thousand in the rest of the city, besides the Democrats
you'll frighten off by the Labor party. You can't put it less than
thirty-five thousand, to say nothing of the hole in the campaign fund."
The beauty about a practical politician is that votes count for more
than his own wishes. Number One said:
"Well, that's ended. You've smashed our slate. What have you got in its
place?"
"Porter?" suggested Peter.
"No," said three voices.
"We can't stand any more of him," said Number One.
"He's an honest, square man," said Peter.
"Can't help that. One dose of a man who's got as little gumption as he,
is all we can stand. He may have education, but I'll be hanged if he has
intellect. Why don't you ask us to choose a college professor, and have
done with it."
"Come, Stirling," said the previous questioner, "the thing's been messed
so that we've got to go into convention with just the right man to rally
the delegates.
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