in American history, because there is an increasing interest in such matters and because they cannot generally be adequately presented in a text-book without unduly limiting the story of political events; third, by the intention of giving materials which will illustrate critical movements or changes in political organization and especially the movements of very recent times - such movements as those for direct primaries, the initiative and the referendum.
I owe my thanks and acknowledgments to a number of publishing houses who have allowed me to use portions of books or articles protected by copyright. The names of the publishers are given in connection with the excerpts in the body of the book and are again given in the table of contents. I therefore content myself here with a general word of appreciation of the courtesy.
I wish, also, to thank Dr. Theodore C. Pease for his efficient assistance in the preparation of the volume.