“You mean your independent following? Yes”—Sayler nodded thoughtfully—“you have done wonders. I’ve admired the way you’ve built up a personal following of nearly a hundred thousand votes. If we didn’t happen to own both machines—and therefore are indifferent which wins—your following would give you the balance of power. As matters stand, what is a hundred thousand, when we have nearly half a million?”
Helm was silent.
“You see the situation as it is,” continued Sayler. “That’s why I come to you. What our side needs is another leader such as I’ve tried to be—one who shows the plutocratic fools their true interest—not to kill but to pet and fatten the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
Helm was thinking. Sayler felt encouraged. He went on:
“You can make yourself as rich as you please. Or, you can remain poor, if you like. You can—in fact, you must—keep your independent following—and increase it. It is the power you can use to keep your plutocratic clients in order.”
Sayler observed the thoughtful face of the young governor narrowly. Then he went on:
“There’s plenty of time to consider this proposition of mine. I guess it will be attractive or not to you according as you decide that you can or cannot control your plutocratic clients to reasonably, humanly decent conduct. I think you can. That’s why I make you the offer.”
“You had another matter about which you wished to speak to me?” said Helm.
“A good guess. Yes—I want to talk T. and M.”
“To-morrow,” said Helm. “Not to-day.”