in
print. And that news was a tocsin for town committeemen who had been
dozing.

Thelismer Thornton, House leader, party boss, knight of the old regime,
and representative of all that the reformers had been inveighing
against, still controlled his district. That fact was impressed upon
all. And the more vociferous the resulting complaints of the opposition,
the more apparent it became that it was no mere skirmish party that had
been sent out against him; he had whipped the generals themselves. His
methods were mentioned discreetly; his results were made known to all
men.

The fact that it was his grandson who had been nominated was not
emphasized as an item of general knowledge. That "Thornton had been
nominated" was. It was the essential point.

It was accepted as a tip by the many who were waiting and wondering just
what this reform movement would accomplish in actual results--and that
means ability to own and distribute plums. It shifted the complexion of
many caucuses, or rather fixed that complexion, without any one being
the wiser; for the managers of districts had been waiting for tips
without saying anything in regard to their uncertainty. That's an
essential in practical politics--being able to wait without letting any
one know of the waiting. It gives a man his chance to cheer with the
winner and declare himself an "original." The convert is never half as
precious in politics as an "original." It is in heaven that the joy over
the sinner who repenteth is comforting and extreme. In politics the
first men on the band-wagon get the hand and what's in it.

And yet, as the tide of caucuses swelled and reports of results flowed
into State headquarters, Chairman Presson and his lieutenants found
themselves unable to mark men with the old certitude of touch. There was
a queer kind of slipperiness everywhere. It was evident that the Canibas
result had stiffened backbones in many quarters, but more new men than
usual were coming forward with nominations in their fists. Many of these
men were not telling any one how they felt on the big questions that
were agitating the State. Some announced themselves with the usual
grandiloquent generalities. It is easy enough to say that one believes
in reform and good citizenship, for one can construe that later to suit
circumstances.

The reformers were making a great deal of noise, mostly threats. They
were passing to candidates specific questions as to their stand on the
l