Among them was this same Stener--a minute cog in the silent machinery of their affairs.
In scarcely any other city save this, where the inhabitants were of a deadly average in so far as being commonplace was concerned, could such a man as Stener have been elected city treasurer.

The rank and file did not, except in rare instances, make up their political program.

An inside ring had this matter in charge.

Certain positions were allotted to such and such men or to such and such factions of the party for such and such services rendered--but who does not know politics?
In due course of time, therefore, George W.Stener had become persona grata to Edward Strobik, a quondam councilman who afterward became ward leader and still later president of council, and who, in private life was a stone-dealer and owner of a brickyard.

Strobik was a benchman of Henry A.Mollenhauer, the hardest and coldest of all three of the political leaders.