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hould come into power。 （Hyde Park； before it had been annexed to the city； had always been Republican； and since then； although the larger city was normally Democratic； Gilgan could not conveniently change。） Hearing from the political discussion which preceded the election that Gilgan was by far the most powerful politician on the South Side； Hand sent for him。 Personally； Hand had far less sympathy with the polite moralistic efforts of men like Haguenin； Hyssop； and others； who were content to preach morality and strive to win by the efforts of the unco good； than he had with the cold political logic of a man like Cowperwood himself。 If Cowperwood could work through McKenty to such a powerful end； he； Hand； could find some one else who could be made as powerful as McKenty。
〃Mr。 Gilgan；〃 said Hand； when the Irishman came in； medium tall； beefy； with shrewd； twinkling gray eyes and hairy hands； 〃you don't know me〃
〃I know of you well enough；〃 smiled the Irishman； with a soft brogue。 〃You don't need an introduction to talk to me。〃
〃Very good；〃 replied Hand； extending his hand。 〃I know of you； too。 Then we can talk。 It's the political situation here in Chicago I'd like to discuss with you。 I'm not a politician myself； but I take some interest in what's going on。 I want to know what you think will be the probable outcome of the present situation here in the city。〃
Gilgan； having no reason for laying his private political convictions bare to any one whose motive he did not know； merely replied： 〃Oh； I think the Republicans may have a pretty good show。 They have all but one or two of the papers with them； I see。 I don't know much outside of what I read and hear people talk。〃
Mr。 Hand knew that Gilgan was sparring； and was glad to find his man canny and calculating。
〃I haven't asked you to come here just to be talking over politics in general； as you may imagine； Mr。 Gilgan。 I want to put a particular problem before you。 Do you happen to know either Mr。 McKenty or Mr。 Cowperwood？〃
〃I never met either of them to talk to；〃 replied Gilgan。 〃I know Mr。 McKenty by sight； and I've seen Mr。 Cowperwood once。〃 He said no more。
〃Well；〃 said Mr。 Hand； 〃suppose a group of influential men here in Chicago were to get together and guarantee sufficient funds for a city…wide campaign； now； if you had the complete support of the newspapers and the Republican organization in the bargain； could you organize the opposition here so that the Democratic party could be beaten this fall？ I'm not talking about the mayor merely and the principal city officers； but the council； toothe aldermen。 I want to fix things so that the McKenty…Cowperwood crowd couldn't get an alderman or a city official to sell out； once they are elected。 I want the Democratic party beaten so thoroughly that there won't be any question in anybody's mind as to the fact that it has been done。 There will be plenty of money forthcoming if you can prove to me； or； rather； to the group of men I am thinking of； that the thing can be done。〃
Mr。 Gilgan blinked his eyes solemnly。 He rubbed his knees； put his thumbs in the armholes of his vest； took out a cigar； lit it； and gazed poetically at the ceiling。 He was thinking very； very hard。 Mr。 Cowperwood and Mr。 McKenty； as he knew； were very powerful men。 He had always managed to down the McKenty opposition in his ward； and several others adjacent to it； and in the Eighteenth Senatorial District； which he represented。 But to be called upon to defeat him in Chicago； that was different。 Still； the thought of a large amount of cash to be distributed through him； and the chance of wresting the city leadership from McKenty by the aid of the so…called moral forces of the city； was very inspiring。 Mr。 Gilgan was a good politician。 He loved to scheme and plot and make dealsas much for the fun of it as anything else。 Just now he drew a solemn face； which； however； concealed a very light heart。
〃I have heard；〃 went on Hand； 〃that you have built up a strong organization in your ward and district。〃
〃I've managed to hold me own；〃 suggested Gilgan； archly。 〃But this winning all over Chicago；〃 he went on； after a moment； 〃now； that's a pretty large order。 There are thirty…one wards in Chicago this election； and all but eight of them are nominally Democratic。 I know most of the men that are in them now； and some of them are pretty shrewd men； too。 This man Dowling in council is nobody's fool； let me tell you that。 Then there's Duvanicki and Ungerich and Tiernan and Kerriganall good men。〃 He mentioned four of the most powerful and crooked aldermen in the city。 〃You see； Mr。 Hand； the way things are now the Democrats have the offices； and the small jobs to give out。 That gives them plenty of political workers to begin with。 Then they have the privilege of collecting money from those in office to help elect themselves。 That's another great privilege。〃 He smiled。 〃Then this man Cowperwood employs all of ten thousand men at present； and any ward boss that's favorable to him can send a man out of work to him and he'll find a place for him。 That's a gre…a…eat help in building up a party following。 Then there's the money a man like Cowperwood and others can contribute at election time。 Say what you will； Mr。 Hand； but it's the two； and five； and ten dollar bills paid out at the last moment over the saloon bars and at the polling…places that do the work。 Give me enough money〃and at this noble thought Mr。 Gilgan straightened up and slapped one fist lightly in the other； adjusting at the same time his half…burned cigar so that it should not burn his hand〃and I can carry every ward in Chicago； bar none。 If I have money enough；〃 he repeated； emphasizing the last two words。 He put his cigar back in his mouth； blinked his eyes defiantly； and leaned back in his chair。
〃Very good；〃 commented Hand； simply； 〃but how much money？〃
〃Ah； that's another question；〃 replied Gilgan； straightening up once more。 〃Some wards require more than others。 Counting out the eight that are normally Republican as safe； you would have to carry eighteen others to have a majority in council。 I don't see how anything under ten to fifteen thousand dollars to a ward would be safe to go on。 I should say three hundred thousand dollars would be safer； and that wouldn't be any too much by any means。〃
Mr。 Gilgan restored his cigar and puffed heavily the while he leaned back and lifted his eyes once more。
〃And how would that money be distributed exactly？〃 inquired Mr。 Hand。
〃Oh； well； it's never wise to look into such matters too closely；〃 commented Mr。 Gilgan； comfortably。 〃There's such a thing as cutting your cloth too close in politics。 There are ward captains； leaders； block captains； workers。 They all have to have money to do with to work up sentimentand you can't be too inquiring as to just how they do it。 It's spent in saloons； and buying coal for mother； and getting Johnnie a new suit here and there。 Then there are torch…light processions and club…rooms and jobs to look after。 Sure； there's plenty of places for it。 Some men may have to be brought into these wards to livekept in boarding…houses for a week or ten days。〃 He waved a hand deprecatingly。
Mr。 Hand； who had never busied himself with the minutiae of politics； opened his eyes slightly。 This colonizing idea was a little liberal； he thought。
〃Who distributes this money？〃 he asked； finally。
〃Nominally； the Republican County Committee； if it's in charge； actually； the man or men who are leading the fight。 In the case of the Democratic party it's John J。 McKenty； and don't you forget it。 In my district it's me。 and no one else。〃
Mr。 Hand； slow； solid； almost obtuse at times； meditated under lowering brows。 He had always been associated with a more or less silk…stocking crew who were unused to the rough usage of back…room saloon politics； yet every one suspected vaguely； of course； at times that ballot…boxes were stuffed and ward lodging…houses colonized。 Every one （at least every one of any worldly intelligence） knew that political capital was collected from office…seekers； office…holders； beneficiaries of all sorts and conditions under the reigning city administration。 Mr。 Hand had himself contributed to the Republican party for favors received or about to be。 As a man who had been compelled to handle large affairs in a large way he was not inclined to quarrel with this。 Three hundred thousand dollars was a large sum； and he was not inclined to subscribe it alone； but fancied that at his recommendation and with his advice it could be raised。 Was Gilgan the man to fight Cowperwood？ He looked him over and decidedother things being equalthat he was。 And forthwith the bargain was struck。 Gilgan； as a Republican central committeemanchairman； possiblywas to visit every ward； connect up with every available Republican force； pick strong； suitable anti…Cowperwood candidates； and try to elect them； while he； Hand； organized the money element and collected the necessary cash。 Gilgan was to be given money personally。 He was to have the undivided if secret support of all the high Republican elements in the city。 His business was to win at almost any cos