The extent of the author’s obligations to the very rich but scattered literature of the subject will appear partly from the references in text and footnotes. For many criticisms and suggestions of value on portions of the work falling within their fields of interest, cordial acknowledgment is made to Dr. Albert C. Muhse of the Bureau of Corporations, Washington; Mr. Burton Alva Konkle of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Professor John L. Lowes, Washington University, St. Louis; Mr. Perry Belmont, Washington; Mr. Frank Parker Stockbridge, of the _Times-Star_, Cincinnati; and finally to Professor Frederick Charles Hicks, the writer’s friend and colleague in the faculty of the University of Cincinnati. Credit must also be given for many novel points of view developed in class room discussion by students of Swarthmore College and the University of Cincinnati. The members of the graduate seminar in political science at the latter institution have been particularly helpful in this way. To one of them, Mr. Nathan Tovio Isaacs, of Cincinnati, the author is indebted for a most painstaking reading of the whole MS., on the basis of which many valuable criticisms of major as well as minor importance were made. To the members of the City Clubs of Philadelphia and Cincinnati, the writer also returns most cordial thanks for the various pleasant occasions which they afforded him of presenting his views in papers read before these bodies. While there was some smoke and at times a little heat in the resulting discussions, there were also many flashes of inspiration emanating from the political experience and the high unselfish ideals of the membership of the clubs. In appropriating valuable suggestions from so many sources and with such scant recognition, the writer trusts that his treatment of political corruption may nevertheless escape the charge of literary corruption. UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, Cincinnati, Ohio, April 1, 1910. CONTENTS I. APOLOGIES FOR POLITICAL CORRUPTION PAGE Introduction:—Corruption not defensible on the ground of the strength and prevalence of temptation 3 Four main lines of apology 4 That corruption makes business good 4 Protection of vice 5 Corrupt concessions to legitimate business 10 That corruption may be more than compensated for by the high efficiency otherwise of those who engage in it 14 That corruption saves us from mob rule 17