Dodd bolted the door behind him.

He felt entirely safe, for he understood that the rightful tenants of that room were locked into the parlor below.  He climbed upon a chair in the closet and put his ear to the grating of the ventilator.

He heard only one man’s voice.  He recognized its crisp tones—­it was the Honorable Archer Converse.

“I repeat, gentlemen, that this interest of yours would amaze me if I had not been prepared by reports from our agents who have been so well captained by Mr. Walker Farr.  Remember that this is simply a conference, prior to organization.  Every man of you is a chief in it.  Let us be calm, discreet, sensible, and silent.

“I’m not going over the details of the unrest in this state.  The fact that so many of you are present here from all sections is sufficient commentary on that unrest.  We understand perfectly well that a certain clique of self-seekers has arrogated to itself supreme control of the party.  A party must be controlled, I admit.  If that control were in the hands of honest and patriotic men we would not be here today.

“I’m not going to bother you with details of what has been going on in departments in our State House.  The employees are the tools of the ring and they have misused their power.  I’m afraid of what may be uncovered there when the house-cleaning begins.  But the honor of our party demands such a house-cleaning.”

Richard Dodd’s hands trembled as he clung to the ventilator bars.

“However, we are faced by something in the way of an issue that’s bigger than graft.”

Now his earnestness impressed more than ever the listener at the grating.

“Gentlemen, to a certain extent graft is bound to be fostered and protected by any party; but when a party is used to protect and aggrandize those who monopolize the people’s franchise rights it’s time for the honest men in that party to be men instead of partisans.  Don’t you allow those monopolists to hold you in line by whining about party loyalty.  And don’t let them whip you into line by their threats, either.  I refuse, for one, as much as I love my party, to have its tag tied into my ear if that tag isn’t clean!”

The assemblage applauded that sentiment.

“I’m going to call names, gentlemen.  Colonel Symonds Dodd has this state by its throat.  With Colonel Dodd stand all the financial interests—­the railroads, the corporations, even the savings-banks.  He is intrenched behind that law which limits the indebtedness of our cities and towns.  Municipalities cannot own their own plants under present conditions.  Those men are even using the people’s own money against them!  They scare depositors by threats of financial havoc if present conditions and the big interest are bothered by any legislation.

“I must warn you, gentlemen, that it’s a long and difficult road ahead of us.  But we must start.  I have not intended to discourage you by stating the obstacles to be overcome.