88 State Legislation 



nally in the interests of the laboring classes, for 

 which an honest and intelligent man could not vote, 

 and yet which were jealously watched by, and re- 

 ceived the hearty support of, not merely demagogues 

 and agitators, but also a large number of per- 

 fectly honest though misguided workingmen. And, 

 finally, certain wealthy corporations attempted, by 

 the most unscrupulous means, to rush through a 

 number of laws in their own interest. The young 

 member of whom we are speaking incurred by his 

 course on these, various measures the bitter hos- 

 tility alike of the politicians, the demagogues, and 

 the members of that most dangerous of all classes, 

 the wealthy criminal class. He had also earned the 

 gratitude of all honest citizens, and he got it as far 

 as words went. The better class of newspapers 

 spoke well of him; cultured and intelligent men 

 generally the well-to-do, prosperous people who 

 belong to the different social and literary clubs, and 

 their followers were loud in his praise. I call to 

 mind one man who lived in his district who ex- 

 pressed great indignation that the politicians should 

 dare to oppose his re-election ; when told that it was 

 to be hoped he would help to ensure the legislator's 

 return to Albany by himself staying at the polls 

 all day, he answered that he was very sorry, but 

 he unfortunately had an engagement to go quail- 

 shooting on election day! Most respectable people, 

 however, would undoubtedly have voted for and 

 re-elected the young member had it not been for the 

 unexpected political movements that took place in 



