Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/96

 take out a petition to-morrow for the appointment of an official fly-catcher and get enough signatures to it to make it appear formidable. If the man you approach believes in the idea, he signs it at once. If he's indifferent, he signs it on the feeling that he's doing you a favor. If he thinks it a fool idea and you argue long enough, he'll sign just to get rid of you. Of course, petitioning Congress is a different matter. Most voters live long distances from Washington. But in local affairs a petition is usually worthless. The City Hall knows just how simple a matter it is to get people to sign and values the thing accordingly."

Praska was crushed. After a moment he rose from his chair.

"I've been thinking," Mr. Banning said casually, "about two men back in my home town. One of them, if he wanted some repairs made, would write a letter to the town carpenter and always end up by saying that he wanted the work started at once. Usually the carpenter got around to it in two or three weeks. We had another man who'd go down to see the carpenter personally and impress upon him the need for haste. Usually the carpenter got around to the job in two or three days. Queer that it should work out that way. Don't you think so?"

But George was not interested in the story of