In chapter 1 Willie visits the local drugstore in his hometown of Mason City. Now in Mason City he is a home-town hero, and recognized by everyone and their brother. Naturally he draws a big crowd with him wherever he goes, and when he goes to the local drugstore he draws a big crowd. Being the great politician that he is, he knows his main job is to please the public. In the store he looks at the owner and states, "get these people some cokes!” Willie doesn't expect to pay, and the owner says on the house and furiously starts dishing out cokes. Willie is rich and powerful enough to pay for all these cokes, but he uses his political position to make sure he doesn't have to. He is taking advantage of the owner. The "free" dishing out of the stores cokes to the public shows Willie's tendency to appeal grand to the public, even at the expense of the less fortunate.
