It must be transmitted in secret, and by people who possessed full authority.

An agreement to secure certain franchises or certain needed legislation in return for certain personal or party favors was not an agreement which could be made between a board of directors and a group of district leaders.

If a large number of people were familiar with the details of such negotiations, something more than a hint thereof would be sure to leak out; and unquestionably the fact that a traffic of this kind was part of the political game had much to do with the ability of the municipal or state "Boss" to obtain and to keep his power.

The profits not only enabled him to increase party funds and to line his own pockets, but it also furnished him with a useful and abundant source of patronage.

He could get positions for the political henchmen of his district leaders, not only with the local and state governments, but with the corporations.