n these troublesome
questions are brought to his notice, but doesn't see that he can do
anything. Nor can the people, unless some strong and influential leaders
rally them, and, like great generals, lead them to the battle. As I said
a little while ago, there are ten or twenty men in this city who, if
they could be made to feel their high responsibility--who, if they could
be induced to look away for a brief period from their great enterprises
and concentrate thought and effort upon these questions of social
evil, abuse of justice and violations of law--would in a single month
inaugurate reforms and set agencies to work that would soon produce
marvelous changes. They need not touch the rottenness of this half-dead
carcass with knife or poultice. Only let them cut off the sources
of pollution and disease, and the purified air will do the work of
restoration where moral vitality remains, or hasten the end in those who
are debased beyond hope."

"What could these men do? Where would their work begin?" asked Mr.
Dinneford.

"Their own intelligence would soon discover the way to do this work if
their hearts were in it. Men who can organize and successfully conduct
great financial and industrial enterprises, who know how to control
the wealth and power of the country and lead the people almost at will,
would hardly be at fault in the adjustment of a matter like this.
What would be the money influence of 'whisky rings' and gambling
associations, set against the social and money influence of these
men? Nothing, sir, nothing! Do you think we should long have over six
thousand bars and nearly four hundred lottery-policy shops in our city
if the men to whom I refer were to take the matter in hand?"

"Are there so many policy-shops?" asked Mr. Dinneford, in surprise.

"There may be more. You will find them by scores in every locality
where poor and ignorant people are crowded together, sucking out
their substance, and in the neighborhood of all the market-houses and
manufactories, gathering in spoil. The harm they are doing is beyond
computation. The men who control this unlawful business are rich and
closely organized. They gather in their dishonest gains at the rate of
hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, and know how and where
to use this money for the protection of their agents in the work of
defrauding the people, and the people are helpless because our men
of wealth and influence have no time to give to public jus