When the business interests, lead by William C. Whitney, pushed through the first instalment of civil service reform in 1883, <strong>they expected that they would be able to control both political parties equally. Indeed, some of them intended to contribute to both and allow an alternation of the two parties in public office in order to conceal their own influence, inhibit any exhibition of independence by politicians, and allow the electorate to believe that they were exercising their own free choice.</strong> - Carroll Quigley