midnight
` Get rich quick ; and selling votes is as good a starter as any . ' There you have the moral sickness of the country in a nutshell . And few professions pay better than that of the politician . The pettiest division leader , who does the Boss 's dirtiest work , and has fewer redeeming virtues than the midnight burglar , makes such a good thing out of it that the prettiest Salvation Army lass could n't convince him of the error of his ways . And he enjoys himself . To hang around saloons , prize-fights , help out shyster lawyers with their tricks , and play the game hard during election times -- that satisfies him until he sees a chance of stepping into a bigger pair of boots of the same make . But , thank God , there are more honest men out of politics than in .