State Legislation 93 



graces depends upon his success in passing the 

 bill. He feels that he must get it through at all 

 hazards; the bad men find this out, and tell him 

 he must count on their opposition unless he con- 

 sents also to help their measures; he resists at first 

 but sooner or later yields; and from that moment 

 his fate is sealed, so far as his ability to do any 

 work of general good is concerned. 



A still larger number of men are good enough 

 in themselves, but are "owned" by third parties. 

 Usually the latter are politicians who have absolute 

 control of the district machines, or who are, at 

 least, of very great importance in the political af- 

 fairs of their district. A curious fact is that they 

 are not invariably, though usually, of the same 

 party as the member; for in some places, especially 

 in the lower portions of the great cities, politics 

 become purely a business, and in the squabbles for 

 offices of emolument it becomes important for a 

 local leader to have supporters among all the fac- 

 tions. When one of these supporters is sent to a 

 legislative body, he is allowed to act with the rest 

 of his party on what his chief regards as the un- 

 important questions of party or public interest, but 

 he has to come in to heel at once when any matter 

 arises touching the said chief's power, pocket, or 

 influence. 



Other members will be controlled by some wealthy 

 private citizen who is not in politics, but who has 

 business interests likely to be affected by legisla- 

 tion, and who is, therefore, willing to subscribe 



