It wasn't 'people'. It was the Democrat political machine that had total power. Be it 1950s Mississippi or 2013 Detroit, cross it, and you will have big problems. Pay them off, and they will tollerate you -- at least until they want some more.
The Democrat party has always been consistant. If you have money, they want it!
I suppose the Democratic Political Machine was, using the term loosely, composed of people.