Prudential considerations restraining corruption are apt to be much more keenly felt by a thoroughly organised machine than in cases where corruption is practised by disorganised groups and individuals each seeking its or his own advantage regardless of any common interest. The “cohesive power of public plunder,” as President Cleveland ponderously phrased it, may thus come to operate as a moderating force. Notoriously corrupt city governments have not infrequently distinguished themselves by maintaining extremely low tax rates, or at least rates which appear to be low. Largely on this basis a quasi-philosophic defence of corrupt municipal rule was made several years ago by Daniel G. Thompson.[38] Arguing that some degree of corruption was inevitable in all political organisations, he held that they should be regarded by the voter in exactly the same light as bidders for a contract. Government should simply be handed over to the organisation making, all things considered, the lowest bid, which in New York city, Mr. Thompson thought, would usually be Tammany Hall. The argument is so thoroughly feudal in its conception of politics that one finds it difficult to believe in the author’s entire sincerity, although this is flatly asseverated throughout the book. Moral objections similar to those employed against the doctrine of the inviolability of a “ten per cent rake-off” thoroughly dispose of any rational claim it may make to attention. Political experience is also against it. Reform movements particularly in municipalities may be laughed at as “spasms,” but these movements, which are usually based largely on charges of corruption, occur so frequently as to discredit the belief that purely prudential considerations on the part of corruptionists will restrain effectively the excesses of their demands. Supine acceptance by the electorate of the “lowest bidder” theory would speedily result in the submission of none but extortionately high bids. In the long run “millions for defence but not one cent for tribute” is a sentiment quite as justifiable economically as ethically.