Page:Upbuilders by Lincoln Steffens.djvu/114

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blunder when, as they put it, “they go up against a new game,” and the New Idea was a new game. Colby made use of Record’s primary law to print his name, as candidate for the senate, after the names of his delegates. Lentz wouldn’t do that. He wanted to elect his delegates, then dictate as of old, all the candidates to be nominated by the convention. Governor Stokes warned Lentz. Colby thought he saw signs of the Governor’s interference against him, and he went to Mr. Stokes to ask that “he keep his hands off.”

“Why,” said the Governor, “all I have done was to tell Lentz that if he didn’t name a man against you, you’d beat him.”

Colby’s crowd worked early and late. As time went on and the excitement grew, men who never had taken part in politics joined in what they agreed was the “greatest game they ever sat in at,” the great game of politics. Everybody was welcome, and everybody was happy. It was a popular election, every man’s election, and they won. Won ? The completeness of their victory at the primaries astonished them. They carried everything. The next morning Major Lentz told Colby the convention was his, Colby’s, and Colby might “run it” to suit himself. Very gracious, indeed, was this defeated boss, but he hoped (and he hopes) to be boss again.