"Well, then, if I can’t count on your influence for the election, may I count on it for the nomination?" "Who stole those letters?" said Hallett. "I can count on you people in the matter of the nomination?" "Yes." "A man named Rollins." Late that afternoon it was found that Rollins had made an overcharge for postage-stamps in the course of his secretarial work. He was arrested and "railroaded" to jail. §4. It was somewhat later when the Republicans nominated Leighton and then, to the amazement of the public, the Democrats and Progressives each opposed him with candidates so weak that every politician understood this as a surrender to Leighton in order to defeat the candidate of the Municipal Reform League. In advance of their occurrence, however, all these things were gossiped about by the leaders of every faction and so confidently expected that plans were shaped in accordance with them. Somehow, they sent word ahead to the Reform headquarters even on the day of the happening that set them in motion, and Venable and Nelson, together with the other executives of the M. R. L. bestirred themselves. "Where’s Yeates?" asked Nelson, as he came into Luke’s room, where Venable and Luke were busy. "That young fellow’s never around when he’s wanted." "He sent in word he had some other engagements," said Venable. "Had to play golf with Hallett’s son, I guess, if it wasn’t L. Bergen Rivington," Nelson sneered. "There’s too much society in that boy for any political usefulness." Luke looked up from the notes he was preparing for his formal letter accepting the nomination that the League was next day to offer him: "Is Yeates a friend of those people?" he asked. "I knew he knew some of them, but is he a friend?" "Only socially," he said. "Yeates was born to it, but politically he is all right. He has high ideals and a really fine enthusiasm." "Hum," said Luke. "What do you think of this paragraph, Nelson?" He read from his notes: "During the past few years, those persons in a position to observe the inner workings of our politics, both in national and municipal affairs, have been alarmed to see the steady encroachment made upon them by High Finance. There is no longer any room left for doubt. The purpose of this invading power is clear: its purpose is conquest. Unless the free voters act, and act quickly, the true government of the United States in general, and of New York in particular, will not rest in the President or Congress, in Mayors and Boards of Aldermen, in the Constitution, the charter, or the courts: it will rest in a combination of Big Business interests that will control the men elected as representatives of the people." Nelson slapped his thigh.