Boss, greedy for money, he sells this power to the highest bidder.
Men are nominated for office, because the Boss has picked them
out, as a poultryman might select a fat goose. Usually he selects
a man who will obey orders. But another kind of Boss does not
especially care for money. He likes the power which his position
gives him, he likes to be able to move men about as if they were
toy-soldiers.

Such apparently was Senator Platt, the Republican Boss of New
York. People had so neglected their duty of managing their own
affairs in politics, that he had seized the reins, and could say
who should be nominated. In the same way Croker was the ruler of
the Democratic party in New York, and could say who should be
nominated in his party.

Now, in such a situation, what was an honest man to do? The best
men in the Republican party believed that Roosevelt was the only
one who could be elected, that the people believed so firmly in
his honor and courage that they would vote for him. Senator Platt
did not want him, did not like him, but he came to see that they
could win with him, and with no one else. So Roosevelt was
nominated, and elected, by a narrow lead of 18,000 votes. So far,
the people could rule with Roosevelt as their servant. But the
Governor can do little alone; he must have the support of the
Legislature and the other State officers. The Boss hoped to rule
through them, to say who should be appointed to office, to decide
which bill should pass and which be defeated.

There were people who would have had Governor Roosevelt declare
war on Platt; refuse to have anything to do with him; refuse even