mayoralty of the Atlantic capital, was, like so many
third parties, not a lasting success. But indepen-
dence asserted itself most powerfully within the old
parties. Swarms of voters cast off party regularity
like an old garment and shifted from one party to an-
other, looking out for the better candidate or the
sounder issue. In municipal elections especially voters
began to care much more than at any time before not
for the party label but for the merit of the man. This
tendency spread into the State elections and even to the
national elections. People voted at the same time for
a Democratic governor and for a Republican President
or vice versa. The voting of a split ticket became quite
common. Party lines became less and less rigid.

The independent voter having become a power in the
land, the Machine had to recognize him, to cater for
him, to become more decent. Tammany Hall has pre-
sented a most eloquent example of it. The caliber of
candidates has greatly improved all over the country.
The municipal government has become purer. The
legislatures too have improved in many a State. The
force of public opinion, used more frequently, became
more potent. The possibility of appealing to it success-
fully, through discussion of issues and of persons, has
been demonstrated over and over again.

More easily aroused, public opinion is still liable to
proceed by spasms, and there is a strong tendency to
make up for personal exertion and continuous vigilance
by some contrivances of governmental machinery, a
tendency to expect salvation from the legislator.

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