think are always discussin' the question: "Why Reform
Administrations Never Succeed Themselves!" The reason is plain
to anybody who has learned the a, b, c of politics.

I can't tell just how many of these movements I've seen started in
New York during my forty years in politics, but I can tell you how
many have lasted more than a few years-none. There have been
reform committees of fifty, of sixty, of seventy, of one hundred
and all sorts of numbers that started Out to do up the regular
political Organizations. They were mornin' glories-looked lovely in
the mornin' and withered up in a short time, while the regular
machines went on flourishin' forever, like fine old oaks. Say, that's
the first poetry I ever worked off. Ain't it great?

Just look back a few years. You remember the People's Municipal
League that nominated Frank Scott for mayor in 1890? Do you
remember the reformers that got up that league? Have you ever
heard of them since? I haven't. Scott himself survived because he
had always been a first-rate politician. but you'd have to look in the
newspaper almanacs of 1891 to find out who made up the People's
Municipal League. Oh, yes! I remember one name: Ollie Teall;
dear, pretty Ollie and his big dog. They're about all that's left of the
League.

Now take the reform movement of 1894. A lot of good politicians
joined in that-the Republicans, the State Democrats, the
Stecklerites and the O'Brienites, and they gave us a lickin', but the
real reform part of the affair, the Committee of Seventy that
started the thing goin', what's become of those reformers? What's
become of Charles Stewart Smith? Where's Bangs? Do you ever