g they
didn't? What of it?

In Philadelphia at this time a certain United States Senator, one Mark
Simpson, together with Edward Malia Butler and Henry A. Mollenhauer,
a rich coal dealer and investor, were supposed to, and did, control
jointly the political destiny of the city. They had representatives,
benchmen, spies, tools--a great company. Among them was this same
Stener--a minute cog in the silent machinery of their affairs.

In scarcely any other city save this, where the inhabitants were of a
deadly average in so far as being commonplace was concerned, could such
a man as Stener have been elected city treasurer. The rank and file
did not, except in rare instances, make up their political program. An
inside ring had this matter in charge. Certain positions were allotted
to such and such men or to such and such factions of the party for such
and such services rendered--but who does not know politics?

In due course of time, therefore, George W. Stener had become persona
grata to Edward Strobik, a quondam councilman who afterward became ward
leader and still later president of council, and who, in private life
was a stone-dealer and owner of a brickyard. Strobik was a benchman
of Henry A. Mollenhauer, the hardest and coldest of all three of the
political leaders. The latter had things to get from council, and
Strobik was his tool. He had Stener elected; and because he was
faithful in voting as he was told the latter was later made an assistant
superintendent of the highways department.

Here he came under the eyes of Edward Malia Butler, and was slightly
useful to him. Then the central political committee, with Butler in
charge, decided that some nice, docile man who would at the same time be
absolutely faithful was needed for city treasurer, and Stener was put on
the ticket. He knew little of finance, but was an excellent bookkeeper;
and, anyhow, was not corporation counsel Regan, another political tool
of this great triumvirate, there to advise him at all times? He was.
It was a very simple matter. Being put on the ticket was equivalent to
being elected, and so, after a few weeks of exceedingly trying
platform experiences, in which he had stammered through platitudinous
declarations that the city needed to be honestly administered, he was
inducted into office; and there you were.

Now it wouldn't have made so much difference what George W. Stener's
executive and financial qualifications for the position were,