" Blum was at the climax of a grueling campaign and showed its effects; always thin and rather frail, he was now close to exhaustion. This is one of the tragic consequences of the democratic system, that in order to get a chance to do anything a man has to go through an ordeal which all but deprives him of the power to do it. The reactionary leaders, having the backing of great wealth and ninety per cent of the press, can take things easily, while the people’s champion has to drag himself from one meeting to the next, shout himself hoarse, and sit up most of the night attending committee meetings. "

― Upton Sinclair , Wide is the Gate