ted for a certain
time, while our tenure can be ended at any moment. Why am I a power in
my ward? Because I am supposed to represent a given number of votes,
which are influenced by my opinions. It would be perfectly immaterial to
my importance how I influenced those votes, so long as I could control
them. But because I can influence them, the other leaders don't dare to
antagonize me, and so I can have my way up to a certain point. And
because I can control the ward I have made it a great power in city
politics."

"How did you do that?"

"By keeping down the factional feeling. You see there are always more
men struggling for power or office, than can have it, and so there
cannot but be bad blood between the contestants. For instance, when I
first became interested in politics, Moriarty and Blunkers were quite as
anxious to down each other as to down the Republicans. Now they are
sworn friends, made so in this case, by mere personal liking for me.
Some have been quieted in this way. Others by being held in check. Still
others by different means. Each man has to be studied and understood,
and the particular course taken which seems best in his particular case.
But I succeeded even with some who were pretty bitter antagonists at
first, and from being one of the most uncertain wards in the city, the
sixth has been known at headquarters for the last five years as 'old
reliability' from the big majority it always polls. So at headquarters I
am looked up to and consulted. Now do you understand why and what a boss
is?"

"Yes, Peter. Except why bosses are bad."

"Don't you see that it depends on what kind of men they are, and what
kind of voters are back of them. A good man, with honest votes back of
him, is a good boss, and _vice versa_."

"Then I know you are a good boss. It's a great pity that all the bosses
can't be good?"

"I have not found them so bad. They are quite as honest, unselfish, and
reasonable as the average of mankind. Now and then there is a bad man,
as there is likely to be anywhere. But in my whole political career, I
have never known a man who could control a thousand votes for five
years, who was not a better man, all in all, than the voters whom he
influenced. More one cannot expect. The people are not quick, but they
find out a knave or a demagogue if you give them time."

"It's the old saying; 'you can fool all of the people, some of the time,
and some of the people all of the time, but you can