“Denton, no one wants you to vote by order. We elected you alderman to do what was best for the ward and city, as it seems to you. You are responsible for your votes to us, and no other man can be. I don’t care who orders you or advises you; in the end, you must vote yourself, and you yourself will be held to account by us.”
“Yes. But if I don’t vote as you wants, you’ll sour the boys on me.”
“I shall tell them what I think. You can do the same. It’s a fair game between us.”
“No, it ain’t. You’re rich and you can talk more.”
“You know my money has nothing to do with it. You know I don’t try to deceive the men in talking to them. If they trust what I tell them, it’s because it’s reasonable, and because I haven’t tricked them before.”
“Well, are you goin’ to drive me out?”
“I hope not. I think you’ve made a good alderman, Denton, and you’ll find I’ve said so.”
“But now?”
“If you vote for that franchise, I shall certainly tell the ward that I think you’ve done wrong. Then the ward will do as they please.”
“As you please, you mean.”