It turned out that each regarded himself and wished to be regarded as a man with a mission, having a clear idea how things were not to be done.

There were Civil Service Reform Protectionists and Civil Service Reform Free Traders.
There were a few politicians, who were discovered to be spoilsmen, the unforgivable sin, and quickly dismissed as such.
Coherence was the missing ingredient.

Not a man jack of them was willing to commit or bind himself to anything.

Edward Atkinson pulled one way and William Dorsheimer exactly the opposite way.

David A.Wells sought to get the two together; it was not possible.