competent political agent was even harder to find than a
competent business manager--and was far more necessary; for,
while a big business might stagger along under poor financial or
organizing management within, it could not live at all without
political favors, immunities, and licenses. A band of
pickpockets might as well try to work a town without having first
``squared'' the police. Not that Mr. Hastings and his friends
THEMSELVES compared themselves to a band of pickpockets. No,
indeed. It was simply legitimate business to blackjack your
competitors, corner a supply, create a monopoly and fix prices
and wages to suit your own notions of what was your due for
taking the ``hazardous risks of business enterprise.''

``Leave everything to me,'' said Kelly briskly. ``I can put the
thing through. Just tell your lawyer to apply late this
afternoon to Judge Lansing for an injunction forbidding the
strikers to assemble anywhere within the county. We don't want
no more of this speechifying. This is a peaceable community, and
it won't stand for no agitators.''

``Hadn't the lawyers better go to Judge Freilig?'' said Hastings.

``He's shown himself to be a man of sound ideas.''

``No--Lansing,'' said Kelly. ``He don't come up for re-election
for five years. Freilig comes up next fall, and we'll have hard
work to pull him through, though House is going to put him on the
ticket, too. Dorn's going to make a hot campaign--concentrate on
judges.''