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“Well,” he said, “you don't have to bother about that to be a Democrat. You judge whether you think the people and the things they do are right.”
I said, “I probably think I'm a Democrat. What's the matter?”
“Well,” he said, “they tell me you're not an enrolled Democrat.”
“Oh, no,” I said, “I never enrolled. I wouldn't think of enrolling in any party.”
He said, “Why wouldn't you?”
“Well,” I said, “that sort of ties your hands, you know. Then you have to be for the Democrats even though on some occasion there might be somebody else you would be for.”
He pulled a chair up. “Now,” he said, “I want to explain to you about that. That's the kind of a mistake that a lot of good people are likely to make. They think they got something if they're independent. Commissioner, you ain't go anything by being independent. This is the way this country and this state is governed. We got a representative form of government and anybody can aspire to be elected to the Congress or to the Legislature. Anybody can aspire to that. He can come forward and say he wants to be elected. Does he get any votes? No, Commissioner, he doesn't get any votes unless
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