“Twenty thousand dollars!” repeated the reputable old gentleman, with wide eyes. “Will it call for so much as that?”
“If you're goin' to put in money, put in enough to win. There's no sense puttin' in just enough to lose. Th' other fellows will come into th' district with money enough to burn a wet dog. We've got to break even with 'em, or they'll have us faded from th' jump.”
“But what can you do with so much?” asked the reputable old gentleman dismally. “It seems a fortune! What would you do with it?”
“Mass meetin's, bands, beer, torches, fireworks, halls; but most of all, buy votes.”
“Buy votes!” exclaimed the reputable old gentleman, his cheek paling.
“Buy 'em by th' bunch, like a market girl sells radishes!” Then, seeing the reputable old gentleman's horror: “How do you s'ppose you're goin' to get votes? You don't think that these dock-wallopers an' river pirates are stuck on you personally, do you?”
“But their interest as citizens! I should think they'd look at that!”
“Their first interest as citizens,” observed Big Kennedy, with a cynical smile, “is a five-dollar bill.”
“But do you think it right to purchase votes?” asked the reputable old gentleman, with a gasp.
“Is it right to shoot a man? No. Is it right to shoot a man if he's shootin' at you? Yes. Well, these mugs are goin' to buy votes, an' keep at it early an' late. Which is why I say it's dead right to buy votes to save yourself. Besides, you're th' best man; it's th' country's welfare we're protectin', d'ye see!”