The plutocracy, further, controlled all the legislative and
executive machinery. To dislodge it from these fortresses would
mean a campaign of years upon years, conducted by men of the
highest ability, and enlisting a majority of the voters of the
State. Still, possession of the Remsen City government was a
most valuable asset. A hostile government could ``upset
business,'' could ``hamper the profitable investment of
capital,'' in other words could establish justice to a highly
uncomfortable degree. This victory of Dorn's made it clear to
Hastings that at last Dorn was about to unite the labor vote
under his banner--which meant that he was about to conquer the
city government. It was high time to stop him and, if possible,
to give his talents better employment.
However, Hastings, after the familiar human fashion, honestly
thought he was showing generosity, was going out of his way to
``give a likely young fellow a chance.'' When he came out on the
veranda he stretched forth a graciously friendly hand and,
looking shrewdly into Victor's boyishly candid eyes, said:
``Glad to see you, young man. I want to thank you for ending
that strike. I was born a working man, and I've been one all my
life and, when I can't work any more, I want to quit the earth.
So, being a working man, I hate to see working men make fools of
themselves.''
Jane was watching the young man anxiously. She instinctively
knew that this speech must be rousing his passion for plain and
direct speaking.
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