"The blundering began with Chairman Devoy. It was his duty to recognize any delegate who desired to move a substitute for the committee's report. Devoy failed in his duty and furnished provocation for all that subsequently occurred." Post-Dispatch editorial, March 22, 1897: "Dr. Lutz had no right to a place on the platform until he was chosen temporary chairman by a vote of the convention. He had no more right than any casual visitor to himself take the vote of the convention on himself as temporary chairman. The plain fact is that the whole of these preliminary proceedings were in every particular irregular, unparliamentary and void." Post-Dispatch editorial, March 23, 1897: "The delegates who asserted their right to choose their temporary officers were within their right in doing so, and in fact only did their duty. THE RIGHT IS SACRED." Globe-Democrat, March 23, 1897: "The attitude of Assistant Chief Kiely is regarded as having been strained in the interest of the Harrison crowd and significant of the Police Commissioners' domination in Democratic politics." A WARNING FOR THE FUTURE. Might never makes right. The candidate whose nomination rests not upon ballots but upon the clubs and guns of three hundred policemen, cannot be the rightful nominee of Democracy, which means people's rule, not police rule. When appeal was made from the outrage of the corrupt political machine, the Court of Appeals decided that the matter was beyond its jurisdiction, that no Court has the power to review the action of the Election Commissioners, even though they certify to the nomination of a candidate without a shadow of right to such nomination. Had the Court consented to examine the evidence and gone into the merits of the case, it could not but have decided that the rightful nominee for Mayor was Mr. Meriwether, who had the affidavits of a majority of the delegates showing that they had supported him in the convention. This high-handed attempt of the gold boltocrats to tyrannize over the convention resulted in Democracy's defeat. But despite the stinging rebuke administered by an outraged people, the machine is again endeavoring to fasten itself upon the Democratic party of St. Louis. The same tactics, and even more desperate and lawless ones, will be used by the gold plutocrats throughout our country. The people must be prepared to meet them. What are the best methods of preparation? It is to give some suggestions as to methods, and to increase, the vigilance of the patriotic Democrats and friends of humanity in whose hands it may fall that this little volume has been written. CHAPTER II. HOW TO BEGIN WORK.