It's always the case.
The Citizens' Union has lasted a little bit longer than the reform crowd that went before them, but that's because they learned a thing or two from us.

They learned how to put up a pretty good bluff--and bluff Counts a lot in politics.

With only a few thousand members, they had the nerve to run the whole Fusion movement, make the Republicans and other organizations come to their headquarters to select a ticket and dictate what every candidate must do or not do.

I love nerve, and I've had a sort of respect for the Citizens Union lately, but the Union can't last.
Its people haven't been trained to politics, and whenever Tammany calls their bluff they lay right down.

You'll never hear of the Union again after a year or two.
And, by the way, what's become of the good government clubs, the political nurseries of a few years ago?
Do you ever hear of Good Government Club D and P and Q and Z any more?
What's become of the infants who were to grow up and show us how to govern the city?
I know what's become of the nursery that was started in my district.