“Then what’s the use of exhorting men to stop robbing each other?” inquired Sayler. “Isn’t my plan the wiser--and the better?--to try to show the strong that they shouldn’t strip the weak--that they should content themselves with all the harvest, and not uproot and so prevent another harvest.”
“I admit you have your usefulness,” replied Helm. “But I insist that my sort of politician is useful also. You are trying to soften the strong, we to strengthen the weak. But”--with eyes suddenly twinkling--“I’ve been expecting you. I knew your plan was about complete.”
“You’ve been very cleverly forcing me into a position where I’d have every interest, big and little, in the state against me--a position where it would be impossible for me to get a second term--or any office. Well--you’ve apparently got me where you want me. So it’s time for you to make me a proposition.”
“Incidentally,” pursued Helm, “you’ve made me punish those of your plutocratic friends who were restless under your rule. They are now all back at your feet, I believe?”
Sayler laughed. “All,” said he. “They’ll not annoy me soon again.”
“I’ve come to offer you _my_ position,” was Sayler’s unexpected and astounding offer. “I am going to marry again, and the lady does not like politics--my kind of politics--the only kind I can play. Also, I’m tired. I’d like to give my place to my colleague in the Senate and first lieutenant, splendid old Doc Woodruff. But he’s a born lieutenant. He simply couldn’t learn to lead. So--I’ve been training you for the job.”
Sayler evidently regarded it as a rare joke that he, a plutocracy boss, had been training the most radical and anti-plutocratic governor in the Middle West--had been training him to become the leader for the plutocracy. Helm, recovering from his surprise, was also amused.
“I’ve been teaching you the folly of your ways. You have had a free hand. You have done what was right. Result--general dissatisfaction, general distrust of _you_, general desire for a change back to us. The people say--‘Yes, those fellows steal almost all the fruits of our labor. But they own the mines and the shops and the railroads, which practically means that they own the land. If we want to earn a living for our families, we’ve got to apply to them for permission to work. The sensible thing for us to do is to make the best terms we can. If we took the property away from the plutocracy we’d not get it, but our clever leaders would, and they’d rob us just as we’re being robbed now.’ Isn’t that the way the people reason?”