like Peter, but Pete is dreadful!"

"To prove that I am unfit to be governor."

"Are you serious?" asked Miss Biddle.

"Yes. From their point of view, the dropping of the 'r' ought to
convince voters that I am nothing but a tough and heeler."

"But it won't!" declared Leonore, speaking from vast experience.

"I don't think it will. Though if they keep at it, and really convince
the voters who can be convinced by such arguments, that I am what they
call me, they'll elect me."

"How?" asked Mrs. D'Alloi.

"Because intelligent people are not led astray but outraged by such
arguments, and ignorant people, who can be made to believe all that is
said of me, by such means, will think I am just the man for whom they
want to vote."

"How is it possible that the papers can treat you so?" said Watts. "The
editors know you?"

"Oh, yes. I have met nearly every man connected with the New York
press."

"They must know better?"

"Yes. But for partisan purposes they must say what they do."

"Then they are deliberately lying to deceive the people?" asked Miss
Biddle.

"It's rather a puzzling matter in ethics," said Peter. "I don't think
that the newspaper fraternity have any lower standard of morals, than
men in other professions. In the main they stand for everything that is
admirable, so long as it's non-partisan, and some of the men who to-day
are now writing me down, have aided me in the past more than I can say,
and are at this moment my personal friends."

"How dishonest!"

"I cannot quite call it that. When the greatest and most honorable
statesmen of Europe and America will lie and cheat each other to their
utmost extent, under cover of the term 'diplomacy,' and get rewarded and
praised by their respective countries for their knavery, provided it is
successful, I think 'dishonest' is a strong word for a merely partisan
press. Certain it is, that the partisan press would end to-morrow, but
for the narrowness and meanness of readers."

"Which they cause," said Ogden.

"Just as much," said Peter, "as the saloon makes a drunkard, food causes
hunger, and books make readers."

"But, at least, you must acknowledge they've got you, when they say you
are the saloon-keepers' friend," laughed Watts.

"Yes. I am that--but only for votes, you understand."

"Mr. Stirling, why do you like saloons?" asked Miss Biddle.

"I don't like saloons. My wish is to see the day come, when such a gross
form of physical enjoymen