PROLOGUE
Mason
I SHOULDN’T BE HERE. I KNOW I SHOULDN'T BE HERE. I BROUGHT THIS DEAL up to Alec, but I never actually expected him to agree. I promised him I would control myself around Wilson, and I plan to keep that promise. But there’s not a single person in this world that I hate more than Elijah Wilson. He’s more worthless than a piece of shit and all I want is for him to be buried six feet under. Of course, the fucker is too damn protected. Especially by my own fucking police department.
Alec claps his hand down on my shoulder just outside the door of the warehouse, and it’s actually a real comfort. I know he only agreed to me being here because we’ve been friends for so long. I grew up with him, Wyatt, and Christian. The four of us were always close, but lost contact for a while when Alec and I both left for the Military, and Christian and Sara got married and pregnant. We never stopped being friends, but we grew up. When Alec and Wyatt started Dark Matter Security over fifteen years ago, Alec came to me with a job offer. I had already graduated from the police academy and joined Boston PD, and I had no desire to leave. I agreed to turn
a blind eye to what their company really did, but only because I knew they were doing the world a favor.
“You good?” I nod my head and swallow down the lump stuck in my throat. I don’t know if goodis the word I would use, but I refuse to show any weakness right now. I’m not giving Alec any reason to make me stay outside.
“Let’s do this.” The doors to the warehouse open and we walk inside in the formation Alec requested before we got here and I stay quiet through the entire exchange. Everything goes down exactly how he had hoped. Wilson agrees to back off Alec's sister and her friend. And like he wanted, Alec keeps it all short and sweet. We start to walk out, but of course Wilson has to open his fucking mouth and destroy it all.
“But just remember Matterson, if you cross me, family isn’t off limits.” The way he looks at me has my entire body turning to stone and ice running in my veins. “Just ask your friend there.”
The moment those words leave his mouth, my vision becomes clouded with red and it’s as if I no longer have control of my own actions.
In a blur, I reach for and grab the knife Collins has tucked into his side. Before anyone, even myself, can fully comprehend what's happening, the knife is piercing Wilson's chest and plunging right into his heart. But it's not enough. The visions of everything I had, everything he stole from me, flashes in my mind as I stab into his heart and chest over and over and over again. A feral scream flying from my mouth as I relive all of the pain and heartache the man beneath me covered with blood has caused. I'm vaguely aware of the yelling and gunfire going off around me, but I don't care. I don't care if I get shot, if I die. As long as I don't go out of this world before Elijah Wilson does, then I don’t fucking care. His death is the last thing I need before I can let go of this world. I have no idea how much time passes as I continuously plunge the knife into Wilson. Strong arms eventually wrap around my waist and I'm pulled away, but I keep screaming. Words of anger and agony come from me as whoever grabbed me pulls me out of the warehouse. It isn't
until the cool air hits my face that all of the energy seems to drain from me.
My entire body goes slack and when they let go of me, I fall to the ground to my knees. My blood soaked hands feel as if they weigh a hundred pounds each. When I look up, Alec is watching me with a look I haven't seen in a long time. There's no anger, or even pity. He just cares.
"I killed him." He dips his chin once and I suddenly feel the true weight of what I just did. The consequences that could fall on not only me, but on Alec and his team. But as much as I probably should, I can't seem to bring myself to fully regret it. My bloody hands are like a beacon of a reminder of what I just did. They’re brighter than I would have expected them to be, and they’re holding my gaze hostage and everything seems to crash down around me.
"I fucked up." Even as I say the words, all I seem to feel at this moment is relief. It'sfinallyover.
"He deserved it."
JORDAN-
MY HEART THUMPS loudly in my chest and I silently beg my breathing to stay quiet. No one is here, but I can’t help the fear embedded inside of me simply from the thought of doing this. This is my only chance. With the black out from the storm, none of the camera’s are working. And if I hurry, then by the time he gets home, I should hopefully be long gone.
I don't waste time as I rush to the back of our closet and dig behind the chair rack we have for all of our extra shoes we don't wear regularly. I pull out the faded brown leather bag. The one I've had for so long and was instructed to throw out years ago. When I look inside and see the money I've been slowly building up over the past year, I let out a relieved breath. I knew it would be there, but I couldn't help the fear that he found it at some point and emptied it. Thankfully, that didn't happen.
I shoulder the messenger bag before walking out of the closet and grabbing the duffle bag I loaded with some clothes and other essentials before hurrying out of the bedroom that I desperately hate. I hate this room and this house more than anything. It's the only home I've had since I was a kid and I should probably feel some sort of attachment to it. But I don't. From the moment we moved in here, I've felt trapped. Trapped in this house, in my relationship, in this life.
I quickly shake those thoughts from my mind as I make my way down the stairs and out of the house. I lock the door behind me, hoping that if I leave things looking as normal as possible then it'll buy me a little more time.
I walk down the street with haste, ignoring the heavy rainfall and thankful for the darkness to help me stay incognito, at least for a little longer. I just need to get far enough away, then I’ll be able to take a moment and catch my breath. When I reach the end of the block, I pull my phone from my pocket and set it on the ground. I slam my foot onto it and the loud crack blends in with the continuous claps of thunder going off. When I pick it up, I throw it into the garbage can on the corner before quickly taking off down the street toward the bus stop around the block. I can't stop myself from looking around frantically for any familiar face that may notice me. I’m seemingly the only person crazy enough to be outside right now, but that doesn’t stop my paranoia. Anything could go wrong. I’ve been planning this for so long, waiting for my perfect opportunity. It feels as if it would be just my luck for something to happen that puts a complete halt to all of it. I need to make it, because I know if he catches me now, I will never get another chance.
My breathing is still heavy and panting as the bus pulls up. I ignore the stinging pain in my side, knowing that I can’t do anything about it right now. I use the pain as a reminder and motivation to get the hell out of here and succeed in my escape.
I don’t even pay attention to the destination of the bus when I get on and drop the coins in the machine. I rush to the very back and practically shove myself into the corner. The bus goes for over
an hour, at some point moving into an area that still has lights and power, before it arrives at the last stop ahead of the bus depot. The rain has slowed to a small trickle as I climb down the steps and breathe a sigh of relief when I realize I’m only a few blocks away from the train station. I hold my bags tight to me while I hurry down the street. It’s a bit more crowded in this area, so I do my best to blend in as I walk to the window of the train station. I know I need to pick a destination, but I also know I can’t go straight there. I inconspicuously pull out a few large bills from my bag and force myself to calm down. I take a moment to get my breathing under control in order to keep extra attention away from me. With every passing second, the pain in my side seems to be getting worse. I need to check on it, to rub some more ointment on it. But now is not the time.
I purchase my ticket, thankful that I only have fifteen minutes before boarding begins. I look up at the clock on the wall and my anxiety quickly begins to pick up once more when I realize that he’s getting off work now and he’ll be home within the next twenty minutes. The moment he realizes I’m gone, he’s going to start looking for me. As much as I would like to think he will just give up and let me go, I know better than that. Which is why, if I want my freedom, I can’t stop running. Ever.
One Year Later…
CHAPTER ONE Mason
I SHOULDN’T FUCKING BE HERE. THERE’S NO LOGICAL REASON FOR ME TO BE here besides the fact that I have no damn self control. I used to. I used to have so much control over everything I did that I never did a damn thing I shouldn’t. It’s the reason why my department back in Boston loved me so much. I was a good little soldier who always did what he was told. Even when I asked questions or wasn’t happy about it, I still listened and did exactly as they asked.
I wish I could say I don’t know when it all changed for me, but I do know. The day I killed Elijah Wilson is the day the delicate string of my barely held together life snapped for good. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I couldn’t pretend like I was okay. I couldn’t act like there wasn’t a damn war going on in my head. You’d think that after I got rid of the one person I hated most in the world, then the thoughts would finally calm. But it’s almost as if the complete opposite happened. Every day of my life is plagued with memories. With the sounds and feel of the knife plunging into the bastard over and over again. They’re paired with the visions of the agonizing pain he caused me all in the name of intimidation. It’s a fucked up life I live now. And that’s the exact reason why I should not be here right
now. I should not be sitting in this booth with my focus completely zeroed in on someone I have no business even thinking about, let alone desiring.
It’s not like I plan to do anything about it. That would be fucked up in its own right. No one deserves to have their life completely ripped to shreds by someone who can’t get their own shit together. There may be the occasional time that I allow the fantasy to play out in my head. I may envision what it would be like to actually express my interest and see if it might be returned. But I’ll never actually play into the fantasy. I’ll never allow myself. But I will allow me this. These fleeting moments of observation as he works the crowd of the diner, smiling and laughing without a care in the world. I allow myself the knowledge of his long slender neck and the way he throws his head back with laughter. The light brown curls on his head fit his heart shaped face so perfectly. I allow myself these moments to admire his toned but slender body as he lifts the heavy trays above his head and makes his way through the crowds of people. It all seems so natural and easy for him. Like it’s something he’s been doing his entire life.
“Can I get you anything else?” I try to act as if I haven’t been watching him this entire time and take a moment to let the sound of his sweet voice seep into my brain before I shake my head.
“Nah. I gotta get going.” I pull my wallet out of my pocket and lay a couple of twenties on the table like I always do. He eyes the bills and rolls his eyes in a playful manner.
“You know, if you’re going to always insist on tipping me so much, then I should at least know your name.” There’s a slight hilt of laughter in his voice, but I can tell by the expression on his face that he’s not kidding. I do always tip him a lot. I can’t help it. There’s a need inside of me, one I should probably ignore but can’t seem to, that just wants to take care of him. I want to make sure he’s okay at all times and isn’t struggling. I open my mouth to tell him my name, but hesitate. It’s been months since I began coming here and have been watching him like this pretty much the entire time. I haven’t shared a single piece of personal information about myself, and I haven’t asked him for any. If it weren’t for the name
tag he wears everyday, I don’t know if I would even know his name. I stand from the table, partially hoping that he’s going to just let it go. But the expectant look on his face tells me he’s not going to.
“My name is Mason.” A bright smile splits his face and my knees practically buckle just from the beauty of it.
“Have a great day, Mason.” I give him a sharp nod before making my way out of the diner. My breathing is heavy and sharp and the feeling I get occasionally of the walls falling in on me is strong. The sound of my name on his lips is too fucking sweet too handle. I glance back in through the window and I inhale sharply when I see his bright golden eyes staring back at me. I need to stay away. I need to stop coming here.
I let out a low chuckle before turning to walk toward my car, because I’m not stupid. I have no fucking self control, which means I’ll be right back here tomorrow.
I WALK INTO THE STATION, the smell of stale coffee and body odor heavy in the air. It’s a pretty nice building, especially compared to my precinct back in Boston. That one had been around for so long, the building was practically falling apart and I don’t think they even kept it up to code. This one is new within the last ten years. But it’s obvious that it’s well-used and is constantly filled with tired cops and detectives, and a bunch of criminals.
I take the elevator up to the second floor and I’m not at all surprised when I step off and find Wade already at his desk. He looks at me with a shit eating grin and I don’t bother trying to hide my eyeroll as I place my bag down on the floor by my desk and sit down.
“It’s like you’re not even trying.” The smugness is heavy in his voice and if I didn’t like the guy so much, he’d probably get on my nerves.
“It’s not like I’m late.”
“No, but you’re not early.” I roll my eyes again. It’s an ongoing joke with him. Ever since we were partnered up, I always showed up on time but he still managed to beat me here every time. He even usually beats me to crime scenes if we meet there. I don’t actually care, and I know he doesn’t either. It’s not like I’m rolling in hours later than I’m supposed to and barely even doing my job. I come in and work my ass off, and he knows it.
I still find myself getting frustrated when I think about how quickly I was promoted to detective when I moved here. I passed the detectives exam years ago, but I was being held back in Boston. And the only thing that was holding me back was Wilson and all that bullshit. As soon as I moved here, there wasn’t even a hesitation for them to make me a detective. Wade and I were partnered up about six months ago, and so far it’s going pretty well. He’s younger than me by almost ten years, but he’s damn good at what he does. He’s an attractive guy. Light features and a jaw so sharp it could cut glass. He’s only an inch or so shorter than I am and his build is slightly slimmer, but there’s still no hiding his muscular form. He’s the kind of guy that I would usually drown my sorrows with and use to forget about everything in my life. He’s openly shown his interest before, but he’s never actually attempted to go there. Not that I ever would. I may be reckless and have an underlying death wish, but I will never hook up with a colleague and especially not my partner.
“How about instead of worrying about my time-management skills, you update me on something useful?” The look on his face quickly turns serious, and he sits up straighter in his chair.
“We got a tip on the electronics store robbery. A guy noticed his neighbor getting all new shit in his house. TV’s, laptops, the whole shebang. I sent some uniforms over to check on it, and the guy confessed pretty easily. He’s in holding now.” I nod in satisfaction. I thought we hit a dead end with the electronics store robbery, but I guess not. It was a pretty boring case compared to some that get put in our laps, but I don’t like to leave things unresolved. We were with the case from the beginning, and I hate letting cases go cold unless there’s absolutely nowhere else to look.
“Great. Anything new?” He shakes his head and a small wave of disappointment hits me. I like new cases. I need new cases. I need to stay busy. It’s one of the reasons why even after I moved here to join DMS, I still ended up joining the police department. I didn’t want any opportunity to be idle.
“If you’re really bored, we can always sift through the cold case files and find something to drum up.” His offer is tempting, but the last thing I want to do is get sucked into a cold case then have a new one pop-up.
“Nah. I’m sure something will come up.”
He nods his head, a small smirk playing on his handsome face. “Something usually does.”
CHAPTER TWO Mason
I GLANCE AT MY WATCH AS ALEC CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THE TEAM. HE’S NOT going over anything of major importance. It’s mainly just updates on our most recent jobs and a few other things. I note the time and signal to Wyatt that I need to head out. He nods his head and I quietly slip out the door. There have been a few times that I’ve questioned if I even need to keep working for Alec and DMS, but the truth is that I don’t want to leave. There’s a part of me that feels like I owe them. I spent years in pain while all of the other officers in my department pretended to not notice how miserable I was. They protected the man that ripped my life out from under me. They didn’t give a shit what happened as long as they got their cut of it all. Alec didn’t let it slide. They didn’t let Wilson get away with everything he did to people, and they didn’t hesitate to have my back when I finally gave the bastard what he deserved. I may feel spread thin most of the time, but I can’t get myself to leave DMS. I finally feel like I have a team who has my back, and I’m not willing to let that go. At least not yet.
I glance at my watch one more time as I climb in my car. If I don’t hit any traffic going into town, then I have to stop and grab a
coffee and feel my need for the day. One thing I noticed is that he seems to work practically everyday. Maybe not excessively long shifts, but I’ve yet to go there and have him not be working. It’s one of the reasons why I always make sure to leave such large tips. I can’t imagine there is any other reason why he works so much other than needing money, so I try to help at least in that way.
I manage to make it into town with plenty of time to spare. I pull up in front of the diner, my pulse skyrocketing the moment I see him through the window. As always, he has that smile on his face. It’s an interesting smile. Genuine, but cautious. Like he’s afraid he’s doing it wrong or something. He’s an absolutely beautiful man, and the mystery of him draws me to him even more. I shake my thoughts away as I walk up to the door and into the diner.
I walk straight to the counter and as soon as he sees me, he rushes over with a bright smile stretching across his face.
“Hey! I was starting to think I wouldn’t be seeing you today.” I try not to read too much into what he’s saying. A sick part of me likes that he may have been disappointed at the thought of not seeing me. But the rational part of me knows that I can’t read too much into it. I shouldn’t.
“I’m running late today. I’m just grabbing a coffee.” He nods and immediately grabs a paper cup and lid and fills it with the fresh pot of coffee behind the counter.
“On the house.” Even with his words, I still reach for my wallet and set a twenty down in front of him. He opens his mouth to say something, probably to fight me on it, but I cut him off.
“Thanks. Have a good one.” He lets out a resigned sigh and chuckles softly.
“Thank you. Have a good day, Mason.” The moment my name leaves his mouth, my entire body lights up. I both hate and love it at the same time. It sounds too damn good, and I need to not allow myself to enjoy it as much as I do.
Without saying anything else, I rush out of the diner and back to my car. I hate this feeling. This sense of loss control. The last time I felt so out of control, was the worst day of my entire life. The memories of that day play in my mind like a movie. The sounds, the
heat that was burning my skin. The desperation as I tried to dig and dig with no luck. It’s a memory that I know will never go away, and a heady warning to keep my distance now.
I BARELY STEP off the elevator before Wade is grabbing my arm and pulling me back onto it. He quickly fills me in on the call we just received and the quick version of what went down. The moment we arrive, I know it’s going to be exactly what we expected. I hate these types of calls. A woman, clothes ripped and bruises marring her beautiful face, is huddled in the fetal position at the bottom of the porch with tears streaming heavily down her face. Her blonde hair looks as if at one point it was pulled into a neat bun, though now it’s completely askew and falling all around her face.
“What happened?” Wade asks one of the uniform officers that approaches us as soon as we step out of the car.
“As far as we can tell, it was self-defense. Husband barely had any marks on him, but took a kitchen knife to the gut. He didn’t make it. Coroner is on his way.” I nod, the bile rising in my throat just thinking about what’s going to have to happen. It’s not fair. This woman has probably been suffering from abuse for years, probably taking it without even so much as talking back. Then the day she finally decides to fight and take her own life back, she’s going to have to be hauled off to jail. It’s sick.
“What’s her name?” I ask.
“Vivian Little.” I nod before turning my attention back to the porch.
I let Wade continue getting the detailed information while I walk toward the woman with cautious steps. I keep my distance, not wanting to spook her more than she already is. I kneel down, at least five feet of space still between us.
“Vivian?” Her body jolts slightly, but she doesn’t move from her fetal position. Slowly she lifts her head to look at me and I’m careful to keep my hands where she can see them. She deserves to know
she’s safe, and the last thing I want to do is make her question that. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through.” Her eyes widen and I hold her gaze, determined to let her see how much I mean those words. “I know this is the absolute worst time, but I really want to help you as much as possible.”
“Am- Am I going to jail?” My heart climbs up my throat at her question and I want to lie to her and tell her no, but I’m not going to do that to her. She’s been through enough. She needs at least one person she knows she can trust.
“I don’t know. But one thing I can promise you, is that I’m going to fight for you.” She stares at me for a second, but eventually nods her head. “In order to do that, and to protect you, I need to know everything.” She finally sits up a little straight and moves so her face isn't completely blocked by her knees and arms. She takes me through the whole thing. She married her college sweetheart, moved away from all of her family in order to support his career. Fell out of touch with any friends she had. It’s a story I’ve heard so many times in the past. Some have had similar endings, and some have been much worse.
In the end, it’s determined that we do have to take her in for processing, but it’s not hard for me to promise that I’ll protect her and get her out of it. The look she gives me, the one filled with so much trust and vulnerability has my knees buckling as one of the uniformed officers closes the back door to the squad car with her in it. Before the car is even put into gear, I pull out my phone and call the one person I know that will be able to help her even more than I can.
“Hello?”
“Hey Anya, it’s Grant. I need your help.”
CHAPTER THREE
Jordan
I LET OUT A LONG SIGH AS I TWIST THE BOLT INTO THE LOCKED POSITION AND flip the sign over. It’s been a long day. I’ve been here since we opened at six this morning, and it’s now eight at night. I’m just thankful we’re not a twenty-four hour diner. Rick has talked about becoming one, but hasn’t taken the plunge yet. Probably because Kay, Mary, and myself have all protested it, very loudly. I know the longer we’re open, the more opportunity I would have for hours, but just thinking about those long hours is exhausting. I shake those thoughts from my head, because the reality is that even if he does move to twenty-four hours, I probably won’t be here for it. I’ve been here for a little over eight months, and I know I can’t get too comfortable. The only reason I settled for this long was because I was almost out of money and had to rebuild my supply. Between the cost of traveling under the radar and the inflation of simple things like food, my money depleted quickly. My original plan was to only stay for a couple of months, but I like it here. I’ve never been to the east coast before, and I love it way more than I thought I would. I’m almost completely on the other side of the country,
which allows me a little bit of comfort. But I can’t let myself forget the truth. I can never stop running. Not if I want to stay free.
I unclip my name tag from my shirt, and as always, I try my hardest not to look too closely at the name printed on it. Occasionally I like to allow myself the fantasy that this is really my life. That I live in this beautiful state in this adorable city, and I’m going to be able to live here for as long as I want. But the moment I look at the name I wear every single day, I’m reminded that none of it is true. That my entire existence is a ticking clock.
Joe
I had to pick a name that I knew I could remember. That wouldn’t be difficult for me to answer to. Hell, I’ve been going by it for so long that it's a habit now. But I miss my real name. I miss who I used to be years ago before I made the biggest mistake of my life.
I slide my name tag into my pocket and get to work finishing up my closing duties. It’s not late, but the sun is beginning to set, so by the time I get home I know it’s going to be dark outside. I hate walking home in the dark. When I can’t see my surroundings clearly, the paranoia starts to kick in. I get jumpy and fear that he’s going to pop out and drag me back.
I know he’s looking for me. He’s not the kind of man to just give up. Not when he feels like he’s been betrayed, and I betrayed him in the biggest way. Ilefthim.
In his mind, he gave me everything he had. He gave me a fairytale life complete with a beautiful house in a great neighborhood. He bought me nice things and took me to nice restaurants. But it was all for show. To anyone on the outside looking in, he was the perfect man. The perfect boyfriend. He loved me more than life itself and worked as hard as he did so that he could provide me with the life I deserved. But if they would have looked closer, they would have seen it. They would have seen the bruising around my wrists that I had to cover with extra long sleeves. They would have seen the way I winced everytime he moved suddenly. They would have noticed the way I always had to stand up straight to keep my clothes from rubbing against the open
wounds and bruises he would leave on my back and stomach. But no one ever did. No one ever bothered to look close enough, because they couldn’t even fathom the idea that he would be capable of anything like that. To everybody we ever met, he was a great man. He was a hard-working detective who loved to throw parties and spend time with his friends.
I shake my head roughly, not wanting to think about him right now. I don’t want to think about him ever, but sometimes it’s necessary. In order for me to stay alert, I have to remind myself of everything I’ve been through. The phantom pains hit me as a reminder and I quickly blink away the tears that always threaten to form. I may not fully be free, but I made it out. I made it out of his grasp. I just need to keep moving in order to prevent him from catching up to me.
I WALK into the gym at ten minutes to five and go straight to the locker room. I’m already dressed in my joggers and a t-shirt, but I always bring my work clothes with me so I can shower and change after class before going straight to the diner. When I first moved here, I found out that Mike, the owner of this gym, offers free selfdefense classes. He does them three days a week, and offers early morning and evening sessions. I usually come in the morning, but sometimes if my shift allows it, I come in the evening as well. I was never allowed to take any sort of self-defense in the past, for obvious reasons. So the moment I heard about these classes, I jumped on the opportunity. The knowledge may not be able to save me from him, but it at least allows me to sleep somewhat peacefully at night.
I join the rest of the group that are here for the class and begin my stretching routine. There aren’t usually that many of us that come in the morning, but I kind of like it that way. It makes it a little easier to follow along and ensure that I’m really grasping what’s being taught.
“Good morning, everyone.” Mike gives us all his usual warm smile and we all greet him in response. The first time I met Mike, I couldn’t help but be a little apprehensive of him. The guy is big, huge. He’s at least a good six inches taller than my five-foot-ten height. His arms are probably close to the size of watermelons and he’s taken his shirt off so I know he has a ridiculous set of abs. But even with how large and intimidating he is, it was easy to see that he’s more like a gentle giant. He’s kind and truly seems to care about each of us that shows up for these classes.
“Today, we’re going to go over what to do if you’re attacked from behind.” Just hearing those words has my breathing picking up and fear starting to overtake my emotions again. The chances that someone might attack me from behind have always been there. But I’ve had no choice but to watch my back constantly over the past year.
“Joe? Are you okay?” I blink quickly and realize that Mike is standing directly in front of me and is bent down to match my height, concern etched in his features.
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.” I straighten up and do my best to clear any concern off my face. I don’t know if it works, but after a couple of moments, Mike seems to accept it and goes back to addressing us as a group.
The next hour is a blur of different maneuvers and techniques. He’s sure to take the time to give each of us one on one attention to make sure we’re truly grasping all of it. By the time the alarm goes off, I’m a sweaty mess but I feel incredible. I always feel great after class. I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that being able to defend myself feels like I’m taking my life into my own hands. I’m not delusional enough to think that I can take him if he ever does find me, but maybe this knowledge will at least give me a fighting chance.
“Hey, Joe?” Mike calls me before I have a chance to get to the locker room. He approaches me with a soft smile, one that I’ve seen him give quite a few times. It makes his rough edges softer and more approachable.
“Yeah?” I lift my water bottle to my lips and swallow down a large amount before wiping at the sweat on my forehead.
“I wanted to check in with you. You really did seem a little freaked out earlier.” I should have known that’s what this was going to be about. I give him as genuine of a smile as I can fake and shake my head a little.
“I’m fine. I guess the thought of being attacked from behind is a little nerve wracking.”
He lets out a low and quick chuckle. “Yeah, it’s not exactly a pleasant thought, is it?”
I shake my head, but I don’t move because I can tell he has more he wants to say. “You’ve been doing an amazing job. You catch on really quick.”
“Thank you.” He gives me that bright smile again, and I can’t help but notice just how attractive he really is. I don’t have any interest in Mike, but having a little eye-candy never hurt anyone.
“If you’re ever looking for a new job, I could really use some help here.” I let out a bark of laughter at his offer because it has to be a joke.
“And what exactly would I be qualified to do?” His face is serious, which after a moment has my laughter dying out.
“I’ve been wanting to open up some more classes, but I have too much to do around here during business hours. I would love to have someone to teach a few more classes throughout the day.” I blink at him a few times as his words sink in.
“I’m barely learning myself, how could I possibly teach?”
“You’ve caught on quicker than anyone I’ve ever taught. Besides, you’ve been coming here for almost eight months. You’ve repeated my lessons multiple times. You’ve got it down.” I swell of pride fills my chest at his praise, but I quickly shake away any thoughts of actually taking him up on his offer. I can't do it for multiple reasons.
“Thank you, but I like my job.”
He nods in acceptance. “Understandable. But if you ever change your mind, just let me know.” I confirm with him that I will, even though I know I’ll never actually be able to change my mind.
I hurry to the locker room, and go through the motions of showering and getting ready for work before leaving the gym and heading down the street to the diner. The closer I get, the more my excitement begins to skyrocket. I don’t know if he’ll be in today, but there aren’t many days that he’s not. Ever since the first time I served him a little over six months ago, he’s become like a drug to me. Just seeing him brightens my mood and gives me something to look forward to everyday. I know it can’t last, but it’s the one thing I give myself in order to keep going. I didn’t even know his name until recently. When I finally gave in to my inner turmoil and asked him for it. The moment he told it to me, I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. Mason.
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1. The direct primary: is it a success? Earlier methods of nomination. Evils of the caucus and convention. Why the direct primary was established. The different types of primary Effect of the primary on the party system Has it curbed the power of the bosses? Cost of the primary system Percentage of votes polled at primaries Has the primary secured better candidates? Can it be improved? Probable effects of the pre-primary informal convention If not the primary, what then? References: C E M , Primary Elections, pp 117-132; 133-176; F W D , Nominations for Elective Office in the United States, pp 95-126; R S B , The Direct Primary in New Jersey, passim; F A C , Organized Democracy, pp. 228-242; A. N. H , State Government in the United States, pp. 182-204; C. G. H and B H , Principles and Problems of Government, pp. 137-150; C. L. J , Readings on Parties and Elections, pp. 53-79; P. O. R , Political Parties and Practical Politics, pp. 140-164; A. B. H , Popular Government, pp. 45-97.
2. How can the ballot be improved? References: E. C. E , History of the Australian Ballot in the United States, pp. 17-47; R. S. C , Short Ballot Principles, passim; F. A. C , Organized Democracy, pp. 262-272; C. A. B , American Government and Politics, pp. 474-487; P. S. R , Readings on American Federal Government, pp. 364-383; C. G. H and B H , Principles and Problems of Government, pp 151-166; A B H , Popular Government, pp 242-269; Cyclopedia of American Government, Vol I, pp 100104
3 Proportional representation in theory and in practice. References: J R C , Proportional Representation, pp 99-131; W W W and L R , Introduction to the Problem of Government, pp 263-275 (also Appendix iii); Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, 1917-1918, Bulletins, No 28 (Proportional Representation); American Proportional Representation League, Pamphlets, especially Nos. 6 and 8. (The headquarters of the League are at Haverford, Pa., and material relating to proportional representation can be had on application.)
Short Studies
1. The gradual extension of the suffrage in the United States. F. A. C , Organized Democracy, pp 130-150
2 Who have the right to vote in European countries? F A O , The Governments of Europe (see index)
3 Qualifications for voting in the different states. World Almanac, 1918
4 How American elections are conducted. A N H , State Government in the United States, pp 205-239
5. How voters are enrolled. F. A. C , Organized Democracy, pp. 220227.
6. The preferential ballot. Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, 19171918, Bulletins, No. 27 (Preferential Voting). (See also National Municipal Review,
Vol. I, pp. 386-400, July, 1912.)
7. The short ballot. R. S. C , Short Ballot Principles, especially pp. 21-30; P S R , Readings on American State Government, pp 372-383
8 Compulsory voting. Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, 1917-1918, Bulletins, No 24 (Compulsory Voting)
9 Corrupt practices at elections. C L J , Readings on Parties and Elections, pp 202-302
10 Are elections as fairly conducted in the United States as in other countries? C S and D O F , How the World Votes (see index).
Questions
1. Is the right to vote a natural right or merely a privilege conferred by the state?
2. Who have the right to vote at elections in your state? Who are excluded? In order to vote, how long must one reside in your state? Your county? Your precinct?
3. Who enrolls voters in your community? When and where do they enroll voters? What evidence must you supply in order to be enrolled?
4 Make a diagram of a polling place showing its interior arrangement, the booths in which voters mark their ballots, the location of the ballot box, etc
5 What are the different forms of primary and which form do you think is the best (a) for state nominations; (b) for local nominations?
6 What effects would the use of the short ballot have upon (a) the efficiency of government; (b) popular interest at elections; (c) the quality of the officials chosen?
7. Explain the difference between preferential voting, proportional representation, limited voting, and cumulative voting.
8. Explain the difference between corrupt and illegal practices at elections. Make a list of each.
9. What are some of the reasons why so many voters stay away from the polls on election day? Are the following excuses valid: “I do not approve of either political party”; “My vote doesn’t count for anything”; “I am too busy”; “I am not interested in politics”; “It is a rainy day and I might catch cold”; “I have an engagement to play golf”; “The polling place is too far away”; “I do not think any of the candidates worth voting for”?
10 What are some of the practical objections to making voting compulsory?
Topics for Debate
1 There should be an educational test for voting
2. The failure to vote, in the absence of a valid excuse, should be punished by some appropriate penalty.
3. There should be a limit on the amount of money that may be legally spent by candidates in election campaigns.
GOOD ADMINISTRATION
By Elihu Vedder
From a mural decoration in the Library of Congress. Good Administration, with benign countenance, sits upon her throne, a perfect arch above her head. As the strength of an arch depends upon all its parts equally, so the maintenance of a strong and efficient administration depends upon the co-operation of all elements among the people. In her right hand Good Administration holds evenly the scales of justice; her left hand rests upon a quartered shield to indicate the fair balance of all parties and classes. On her lap is the book of the law. At her feet, on either side, is an urn. Into one of these urns a maiden is winnowing wheat drawn from the waving fields in the background. The people also, in choosing their public officials, should winnow well. Into the other urn an eager youth, with books of knowledge under his left arm, is casting his ballot.
Mr. Vedder has also executed for the Library of Congress a companion figure portraying Corrupt Administration. She holds the scales, unevenly balanced, in her left hand. A seeker of special favors is placing a bag of gold in the scales; he has seized the book of the law and upset the ballot urn.
GOOD ADMINISTRATION. By Elihu Vedder
From a Copley Print, copyright by Curtis & Cameron, Boston. Reproduced by permission.
CHAPTER VIII
POLITICAL PARTIES AND PRACTICAL POLITICS
The purpose of this chapter is to describe how political parties are organized, what they do, and how they do it.
Parties are natural groups
Why Political Parties are Formed. Whenever people are in control of their government, political parties are certain to be formed. No popular government has long continued anywhere in the world without political parties. The reason for this is that whenever any group of people find that they have the same opinions or the same interests they desire to act together. If people are interested in music they organize an orchestra or a choral society and arrange concerts. If men are interested in trade, they organize themselves into a board of trade to promote their mutual interests. Workmen associate themselves together in labor unions; boys who are interested in athletics organize clubs; men who have been in the military and naval service associate themselves together in the American Legion, and so it goes People who have the same opinions, desires, ideas, and interests tend to group themselves together, which is a perfectly natural thing for them to do.
Now large numbers of men and women have identical political opinions (or think they have) and this community of interest draws them together into groups. Such groups we call political parties. The Republican party is made up of men and women who believe in certain political principles which are set forth in the party platform; the Democratic party is made up of those who hold a different set of opinions. Whenever a large body of people wish the government to
do something which is not already being done they soon find that the best way to achieve their end is to organize.[50]
Their first aim is to win elections.
The Aims of Political Parties.—Every political party has two aims. The first is to get control of the government; the second is to carry out its own policy by means of this control. To do this they must nominate candidates for office, raise funds for carrying on a campaign, and work to elect their men. It is only by electing their own candidates for office that they can accomplish the ends for which they are organized. An army does not exist merely to teach men drill or discipline. Its chief aim is to win victories. Drill and discipline are merely a means to this end. So with a political party. Its organization, leaders, campaign work, and all other activities have one purpose in mind, namely, to win victories at the polls. Then, when the party has elected its candidates and obtained control of the government it can carry its program into effect. Occasionally a party secures its chief aim without gaining control of the government, as the Prohibition party did in 1920.
But the aim of a political party is not altogether selfish.
Definition of a Political Party.—Having seen why political parties are formed and what they aim to do we are now in a position to frame a definition. A political party is a group of men and women who think alike on public questions and have joined themselves together in order to gain control of the government so that they can carry their opinions into practice. The aim of a party is not always selfish, however, as this definition might imply. Most members of a political party believe that in endeavoring to get control of the government they are promoting the public interest. Their aim is to bring into operation certain policies which they believe will benefit the whole people. The Democratic party urged a revision of tariff ten years ago because its members believed that lower duties on imports would help the United States as a whole and not because the Democrats, as distinct from the Republicans, would derive the whole advantage. The Republicans, for their part, have favored high duties on imports because they believe that American industry ought to be protected against foreign competition. Both parties seek to promote the general interest, but in different ways.
Party Divisions Tend to Become Permanent.
Habit is an important factor in party strength
—Parties are originally formed to promote a particular policy, but when they have gained control of the government and have put their program into practice they do not go out of existence. They continue, and people remain members of the party, largely from force of habit. Each party takes up new ideas, gains some new members and loses some old ones. The mill keeps on turning although new forms of grist are brought to be ground and new workmen guide the wheels. Men and women who reach voting age join one or another of the parties, sometimes because they are influenced by its principles, more often because their parents have belonged to that party. Thus it happens that over long periods of time a party may remain strong among the people in one section of the country and weak in another. The reason is not that the party’s policy at the moment happens to be popular in one area and unpopular in the other. Habit influences people in politics as in everything else. When a man has voted several times with one political party he is not likely to desert it even though the party’s program changes. Not only that but his sons and daughters will probably join the same political party. Pennsylvania has gone Republican at every national election for more than sixty years although a wholly new set of voters has grown up; Texas on the other hand has never failed to support the Democratic ticket for just as long a period. The whole of the “Solid South”, in fact, goes Democratic with unfailing regularity, and has done so ever since the Reconstruction. A political party thus retains a strong hold upon large bodies of voters, old and new, even though it may change its policies from time to time.
The active work of parties
The Functions of Political Parties.—Could we get along without parties? Perhaps we could, but American government would have to be carried on very differently if parties did not exist. If you watch an election campaign, you will notice that several things happen in the course of it. First, there is a great deal of public discussion about candidates. Then, some time before the election, candidates are nominated. Platforms are drawn up stating the things which each candidate favors. The candidates, together with other speakers, go out and make
addresses; pamphlets are distributed broadcast giving reasons why people should vote for one candidate or the other; meetings and rallies are held in halls and on the street corners; the newspapers print the arguments on the respective sides; the people are worked up to a white heat of enthusiasm; and finally, on the day of election, the issue is decided.
Now how would all this be done if there were no political parties? Candidates cannot be nominated without organized effort; platforms do not make themselves; the people cannot be stirred to an active interest on one side or the other except by a vigorous campaign; without parties, indeed, an election would be a very dull and uninteresting affair.
3. They bring the various branches of government into harmony. Parties perform three important functions:
The conclusion is, therefore, that political parties have various definite functions to perform, and these may be summarized under three heads. First, they nominate candidates and tell the people about them. This information is given in their platforms, of which more will be said a little later. Second, they rouse public interest by their rallies, their pamphlets, circulars, articles in newspapers, and posters, as well as by personal canvassing. This rousing of the voter is very important, because most men and women are chiefly concerned with their own business and personal affairs. Even after all these methods of getting them interested have been used it will be found that two or three voters out of every ten have failed to go to the polls on election day. What would happen if there were no rallies, circulars, canvassers, and all the rest? In that case most of the voters would probably manifest no interest at all, and the election would be decided by a small portion of the people. Third, the parties provide a chain which holds the various officers of the government to a joint responsibility. We elect a great many public officers to perform different functions. Members of the legislature are elected to make laws; governors and other state officers to administer these laws; and judges to help enforce them. To get the best results all three groups of public officials must work in harmony. But if each were elected
1 They nominate candidates and frame platforms. They rouse interest among the voters
independently and without any reference to the others, there would be little chance of their working together. When they do work together it is because they have been elected to carry out a common policy. This is the chain which holds them together—allegiance to the same political party. If every public official followed his own ideas, we should have one set of men making the laws and another set of men throwing obstacles in the way of their enforcement.[51]
If there were no political parties, something else would have to be organized to take their place. The things which the party does must be done somehow We cannot have democratic government unless candidates are nominated, platforms framed, public interest aroused, and officials encouraged to work together in a common cause. Political parties do not always perform these functions well, but what sort of organization would be likely to manage them any better?
When and How did Political Parties Begin?
The political “factions” of early days
—It is difficult to say how or when political parties originated. Someone once remarked that even at the time of the Flood there were two political parties, namely, the Deluvians and the Antedeluvians. John Adams declared that “parties began with human nature”. In a sense he was right. Anyone who has read Roman history will remember the long and bitter struggle between the patricians and the plebeians. The Guelphs and Ghibellines of the Middle Ages were political parties although their rivalry often assumed the form of open warfare. The Cavaliers and Roundheads of Cromwell’s time armed themselves and fought for the control of the government with muskets and sabres, not with ballots. They were parties, dynastic parties. But the violent conflict of parties eventually gave way to orderly contests at the polls, and men found that they could belong to different political parties without thereby becoming personal enemies of one another. So Whigs and Tories arose in England before the American Revolution, and corresponding groups were to be found in the thirteen American colonies.
The first American parties
But the real history of political parties in the United States did not begin until after the adoption of the constitution, when Hamilton and Jefferson became leaders of opposing elements among the people. Hamilton and his
followers, the Federalists, desired to strengthen the central government; Jefferson and his supporters, calling themselves Democratic-Republicans, desired to keep the central government weak and to place the balance of power in the hands of the states. In the end Jefferson’s party obtained the upper hand, but by having things too much its own way finally lost its solidarity and split into several factions. Party politics gave way for a time to personal politics, the voters ranging themselves behind leaders rather than principles; but presently the various factions consolidated into two parties known as Whigs and Democrats. The Whig party eventually went to pieces and in its place arose the Republican organization which elected Lincoln in 1860. Since that date the Democrats and Republicans have continued to be the two leading parties.
What the Leading Political Parties Stand
The distinction between principles, policies, and issues
for.—The general ideas upon which the members of a political party agree are incorporated into its platform and are commonly known as the party’s principles. For example, a party may pledge itself to the principle of promoting foreign trade, or conserving the natural resources of the country, or keeping aloof from the affairs of Europe. The methods by which these principles are to be carried into effect constitute the party’s policy. The principle of promoting foreign trade, to take an example, may be carried into effect by lending money or credit to exporters, as was done after the World War. But the different parties do not usually agree upon either principles or policy, and this divergence gives rise to party issues or points of conflict between the parties.
It is not easy to set forth in concise form the principal issues. During the campaign of 1916 the attitude of the United States towards the great European conflict was the pivot of attention; in 1920 the question whether America should or should not enter the League of Nations crowded most of the other issues into the background. The main planks in party platform change from one election to another.[52] During the past twenty years the platforms of both parties have dealt with a wide variety of matters; but the disagreement between the two parties has not always been cleancut and in some cases it has left the voter little to choose between
them. On some matters the two leading platforms are openly opposed; on others they are very much alike, and on some others, again, they are so ambiguous that it is difficult to tell just where they differ. As a practical matter it is not always wise to take an absolutely definite stand in the party platform, for conditions may change and by so doing place the party in the position of having pledged something which ought not, in view of the changed conditions, to be carried out.
The Minor Parties.—Americans, on the whole, have accepted the two-party system. The great majority of voters are either Republicans or Democrats. Nevertheless the platforms of these two parties never suit all the people and the result is that minor parties, or “third” parties as they are sometimes called, come into existence from time to time. During the past hundred years a dozen or more of these minor parties have been formed but with two or three exceptions they have soon melted away.[53] These exceptions are the Prohibition party, which was organized in 1872 for the purpose of securing the complete suppression of the liquor traffic in the United States. The adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment gave this party the chief thing that it had been contending for, but it has not yet gone out of existence. The Socialist party is the other example of a “third party” which has continued to be active for a considerable period.
Why “third parties” rarely survive.
In the United States minor parties do not usually live long. Very few of them survive a dozen years. There are reasons for this. In the first place the Democrats and Republicans are constantly adapting their platforms to the needs of the country. When any movement among the people becomes strong enough, one of the leading parties takes it up. If large numbers of voters, for example, should desire the abolition of divorces, one of the political parties would soon put an “anti-divorce plank” in its platform, and would thereby prevent any new party from making much headway on that particular issue. In the second place the American voters, taking them as a whole, have become accustomed to the two-party system. Very few of them are willing to forsake the old party organizations without strong reasons for doing so. When they do, temporarily, as a great many Republicans did in 1912 and a great many Democrats in 1920, they usually drift back
again before very long. A new party, moreover, is difficult to organize and expensive to maintain. It has no chance to win the election and most people do not care to belong to an organization which never wins. So the easiest way to get new things adopted in public policy is to persuade one of the leading parties to champion them.
The Socialist platform Is “independence” a virtue?
The Socialist Party.—Among the “third parties” which exist at the present day the Socialist party is the strongest. It has a program widely different from that of either the Republicans or the Democrats. The Socialist party is organized to promote the public ownership of railroads, telegraphs, telephones, mines, forests, factories, and all other such economic instrumentalities. In addition to its economic program the Socialist party advocates the adoption of various political changes such as the abolition of the United States Senate, the election of all judges for short terms, and the abolition of the Supreme Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional. In point of strength at the polls the Socialist party stands far below either of the two leading parties. It is much weaker in the United States than in the various countries of Europe.
The Voter’s Relation to Parties.—So long as political parties are essential in representative government, and so long as they perform useful functions, it is the duty of every citizen to affiliate with some political party if he can honestly do so. There are times, of course, when the voter of independent views cannot honestly support any of the existing parties. On this point every voter must make his or her own individual decision. There is no inherent virtue in being an “independent”; for if every voter persisted in assuming that attitude, there would be no political parties at all, and democracy would in the long run suffer rather than gain as a result. Most voters, as a matter of fact, belong to one of the leading parties and support the candidates of this party at every election. They are commonly called the regular members of the party But membership in a political party does not mean that one is under obligation to support that party under all circumstances. It is possible to belong to a political party and yet retain a reasonable degree of independence. A political party gains, indeed, by having in its ranks a sprinkling of men and women
who know their own minds on political questions and will not tamely follow wherever the party chiefs may lead.
The need of party leadership and discipline.
Let us remember, however, that a political party, like an army, requires discipline and leadership for its success. If every soldier insisted on following his own inclinations rather than the advice or orders of his officers, he would never be on the winning side in any battles. So, if every voter declines to be led by anyone’s counsel but his own, there will be no unity of party effort and no real triumph of one set of principles over another To secure any substantial improvement in government, large groups of men and women must pull together. This means that they must have a platform, an organization, and capable leaders, which is equivalent to saying that they must act as a political party.
Parties are What the People Make Them.
The choice of a political party is one of the means by which the citizen in a democracy exercises his sovereign power. A political party is merely what its members make it. No chain is stronger than the links which compose it; and no political party ever represents a higher grade of intelligence or patriotism than its members provide. If a political party becomes selfish or corrupt, the remedy lies in the hands of the people. Honest men and women will then desert that party; it will fail to win elections, and ultimately go to pieces. On the other hand if a political party is honest in its principles, wise in its policy, patriotic in its ideals, and progressive in its sympathies, it will draw recruits from among the thousands of men and women who reach voting age each year. It will grow in strength. The voter can best display his zeal as a citizen by joining a party and helping to make it a power for good.
The citizen’s duty Organization helps to win victories.
The Need for Party Organization.— Organization is the watchword of every political party. Without organization there is no chance to win elections and put the party’s policies into operation. Very little is ever achieved in this world without coöperation. However competent an individual may be, there are limits to what he can do. It is not the brilliant player that wins the game, but the well-trained team. Napoleon Bonaparte once said that organization and discipline counted for seventy-five
per cent of victory These things are quite as important in politics as in war.
Organization, in party politics, involves three things, leadership, coöperation, and money. No party is well-organized unless it possesses all three. For this reason every strong political party uses care in selecting its leaders, builds up a system of party conventions and party committees, and raises campaign funds to pay the necessary expenses of its work.
Local Party Organization.—Let us see how this organization is effected. Beginning at the bottom each party has its local committees. These committees are generally chosen by the voters of the party at the primary elections, and they have charge of the party interests in the town or township, county or district, as the case may be. In the large cities there is a committee for each ward and a general committee covering the whole city. These local committees arrange for political meetings in their own neighborhood and help to bring out the voters on election day. They work in harmony with the state committee.
State Party Organization.—Next come the state organizations. The party organization in the states consists of a state central committee and a state convention. The members of the state committee are sometimes elected by the voters in the various congressional or state senatorial districts; sometimes they are named by the county conventions, and occasionally they are chosen by the state convention. The committee’s functions are to issue the call for conventions (or in some states for primaries), to raise and spend the campaign funds in state elections, to arrange the plans for the state campaign, and to supervise so far as practicable the work of the local committees. The state convention is made up of a large body of delegates who are directly elected by the party voters or chosen by the district or county conventions. It meets a short time prior to each state election and one of its chief duties is to prepare the party’s platform.[54] Each political party holds its own convention.
National Party Organization.—In the early years of the Republic, candidates for the
The state committee.
The state convention.
The national convention.
presidency were nominated by congressional caucuses, that is, by meetings of the party’s representatives in Congress. But this method was discarded about 1824 and in due course national party conventions were called to make these nominations. At present these national conventions meet every four years, during the summer preceding the presidential election. Republicans, Democrats, Prohibitionists, and Socialists all hold their own conventions. In the case of the two leading parties the conventions are made up of delegates from every state and territory, these delegates being directly chosen at primaries or named by the state conventions. The national conventions choose the candidates for the presidency and the vice presidency. They also frame the party platforms, this work being done through committees.
The national committee.
The chief permanent organ of each party is a national committee made up of one member from each state, who is either chosen by the voters at the primary election or selected by the delegates from the state to the national convention. The national committee chooses its own chairman, who has general charge of the party’s interests in the campaign; but in making its choice the national committee usually defers to the wishes of the party’s presidential candidate.
How the National Party Convention does its Work.—The national party conventions usually meet in some large city, such as Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore, or San Francisco.
The convention hall
An enormous auditorium is needed for the gathering because a national convention consists of nearly a thousand delegates and an equal number of alternates. Among bodies which have to do with government the national party convention is the largest in the world. The delegates are seated by alphabetical order of the states, Alabama first and Wyoming last, each state having its delegates grouped together. Large placards or banners show where each state is placed. The delegates are arranged in the front part of the hall, the alternates in the rear. Whenever a delegate leaves the auditorium an alternate goes forward to sit in his place. The galleries are filled with spectators and there is a huge bustle going on all the time. It is hard for the speakers to make themselves heard, as only a
What a national convention is like.
thunder-voiced orator can make his words rise above the din which goes on continually. At times, when a popular candidate appears, there is a general pandemonium. A band starts around the aisles, playing as it goes. Delegates fall in behind the band, cheering and shouting. For half an hour, perhaps longer, this racket continues. Then the noise subsides and the convention gets back to its work— until the next commotion begins.
The balloting.
After various names have been proposed, the convention begins to ballot. If no candidate receives a sufficient majority, another ballot is taken. In the Republican convention the successful candidate must get a majority of all the delegates; in the Democratic convention the requirement is two thirds. When there are several candidates in the running, many ballotings are sometimes required. Day after day the voting goes on, if necessary, until somebody wins.[55] The weaker candidates drop out; the stronger ones keep gaining, until finally the fight narrows down to two or three and the victor emerges. Then the tired delegates rush through the remaining business and start for home.
Reasons for the existence of machines
The Party Machine.—The active workers in these conventions and committees make up what is called the “machine”. It is called a machine because all its parts work smoothly together in the effort to obtain the desired result, which is to win the election. There are party organizations in other countries, but party “machines” exist only in the United States. Various reasons account for this. One is the frequency of elections, which creates a class of professional politicians. There are more elections in the United States than in any other country. Another reason is the organizing power of the American people, and the zeal with which they throw themselves into an election campaign. The practice of giving the appointive offices to leaders of the victorious party also has something to do with it. Many men give their time and energy to electioneering because they expect to get favors in return.
The function of the “machine” is to serve the party, and through the party to serve the people. But the “machine” often goes beyond this purpose. Its leaders, finding themselves in control of great power, are tempted to use it for
How they lead to abuses.
their own personal profit and advantage. They become arbitrary, dictating what shall go into the party platform and who shall be nominated. The party leader who does this becomes a party “boss”, and when groups of bosses control the party they are commonly known as “rings”.
Why bosses are dangerous. What is a “boss”?
Rings and Bosses.—The “boss” in politics is just like any other kind of boss. His will is law, so far as all his underlings are concerned. The difference between a party leader and a party boss is that the leader is chosen by the free action of the party and exercises his functions openly, while the boss usurps the control of his party and utilizes it for his own ends without assuming any open responsibility. The leader leads and the boss drives. Party leaders are necessary to good party organization, but the party “boss” is a menace to the best interests of the party and to the cause of honest government. Great power must sometimes be placed in the hands of one man; but care should be taken that every man who wields great power in a democracy is made responsible for the use of this authority. Power, when checked by responsibility, is not dangerous. A party “boss” is dangerous because he has the power and abuses it. He controls a great “machine” without being accountable to anybody even when he directs it against the public interest. He gives favors to his friends and the public pays the bills.
How “rings” are formed
Rings are groups of bosses and are more dangerous because they are stronger. Four or five unscrupulous men working together are stronger than one working alone. So when bosses unite, they are often able to nominate whomsoever they please and to secure the election of incompetent or supine men. Rings and bosses operate largely in city and state government because the opportunity to gain control there is much greater than in national affairs. The smaller the election district, the more chance the boss has for making himself the master of it. The people as a whole cannot spend much time over politics; the boss is always at work, from one end of the year to the other. He makes friends with everybody who can help him. He is always ready to do favors. Then, when election day comes, he expects his friends to stand by him.[56]
Party expenditures
How Parties are Financed.—The work which political parties do, such as holding conventions, framing platforms, and conducting a campaign requires a great deal of money. Expenses that are necessary and quite legitimate have to be met. No organization can hold together on an empty pocketbook. So money has to be obtained, and the only way of raising it is by voluntary contributions, for the political parties have no right to tax anyone. Where does the money come from? It comes largely from members of the party who respond to the call for subscriptions sent out by their leaders. People who are well-to-do often give considerable sums although party leaders feel that it is not good policy to accept very large contributions from any one man because this may give rise to a suspicion that the subscriber hopes to get some political favor in return. The party leaders prefer to obtain the essential funds from a great multitude of small donors who prove their loyalty to the party in this way. A national campaign costs each of the chief parties a large sum, several million dollars nowadays.[57] State and local campaigns cost a great deal less. The money is spent for the publication and mailing of campaign literature, for the traveling expenses of speakers, for hire of meeting-places, and for a great many other things which go to make up an election campaign.[58] The speakers and the party workers usually give their services freely, but the party must furnish the money to defray their expenses.
The Reform of Party Organization.—It will be seen, therefore, that although political parties are necessary and useful organizations in a democracy, they often develop serious abuses when left free from official control. For this reason the organization and work of the political parties should be regulated by provisions of law. Such provisions have already done much to eliminate boss rule and to improve the party system. Some people feel that political parties ought to be abolished altogether but that suggestion is impractical. The abolition of parties would not make government any more democratic, or more honest, or more efficient. The work which the parties now perform must be performed by some organizations of voters, somehow, and if parties were abolished something similar under a different name would have to be created to do this work.
Parties must not be abolished but improved
What we need is not the abolition of parties but the improvement of party organization and party methods. Realizing that parties can be useful we should give them scope for usefulness but restrict their opportunities for evil. This is what the laws are now doing. They aim to make party leaders responsible, to make party nominations fair, and to make party finance honest.
General References
P. O R , Political Parties and Practical Politics, pp. 3-12; A. L L , Public Opinion and Popular Government, pp. 57-85; J A. W , Political Parties and Party Problems in the United States, pp. 465-470;
M. O , Democracy and the Organization of Political Parties, pp. 225281;
W B M , Government of the United States, pp 312-356; M S , Problems of Today, pp 1-53; W W W and L R , Introduction to the Problem of Government, pp 127-150
Group Problems
1. The political doctrines of leading American statesmen: Hamilton, John Adams, Jefferson, Jackson, Calhoun, Clay, and Webster. References: Cyclopedia of American Government, passim; C. E. M , American Political Theories (see index).
2. Minor political parties their rise and fall. References: J A. W , Political Parties and Party Problems, pp. 133-148; P. O R , Political Parties and Practical Politics, pp. 40-68; F. E. H , Third Party Movements Since the Civil War, pp 221-260; E B S , History of the Presidency, passim
3. The organization of political parties in a typical state of the Union. J M , Party Organization and Machinery, pp 96-132; J B , American Commonwealth, Vol II, pp 76-81; W B M , Government of the United States, pp 483-487
4. The national party conventions. C A B , American Government and Politics, pp. 166-172; P. S. R , Readings on American Federal Government, pp. 826-845; P. O R , Political Parties, pp. 145-167; J. A. W , Political Parties, pp. 165-214; F. W. D , Nominations for Elective Office, pp. 74-92; C. L. J , Readings on Parties and Elections, pp. 80-105; T. H. M K , National Conventions and Platforms, passim; E. B. S , History of the Presidency, passim.
5. The platforms of the various parties in 1920: an analysis and comparison. World Almanac (1921). Also the Campaign Text Books issued by the party organizations
Short Studies
1 Campaign methods. P O R , Political Parties, pp 255-267
2. Party loyalty and political independence. J. A. W , Political Parties, pp. 295-303.
3. The Progressive Party: its history and platform. S. J. D -C , The Progressive Movement, passim.
4. Tammany Hall. G M , History of Tammany Hall, pp. 267-298; Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. XXVI, pp. 235-237.
5. The boss as a personality. M. O , Democracy and Political Parties, pp. 250-263.
6. The Tweed Ring. J. F. R , History of the United States, Vol. VI, pp. 392411.
7 How the machine works. T R , Autobiography, pp 61101; 144-184; 185-222
8 The nationalizing influence of parties. H J F , Rise and Growth of American Politics, pp 150-161
9 Municipal political parties. M R M , in Proceedings, National Municipal League, VI, pp 226ff
10 The reform of party organization. F A C , Organized Democracy, pp. 228-261.
Questions
1. Can you improve the definition of a political party given in this chapter?
2. Among the various functions of political parties which do you consider the most important, and why?
3. Why do political parties refrain at times from making their platform pledges more definite? What new proposal would you like to see inserted in a party platform?
4 Account for the fact that constitutional questions played a more important part in American politics prior to 1860 than since that date
5 Give brief sketches of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, and Whig parties and their work before the Civil War
6 Explain why the “mortality rate” among “third parties” has been so high Account for the fact that some of these parties have survived a considerable period of time while others have not.
7. Make an outline showing the type of party organization used in your own state.
