Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-08-07
The "Machine Bugaboo" in Politics.

and other official patronage. There
are those who talk and write as if the
whole political sentiment of the coun-
try were controlled by "rings" and
"machine" management. We would
like to know who is controlled or in
fuenced by such combinations or con.
trivances. Is it the man who makes
such a hullabaloo about them? On
the contrary, is there not prejudice
against the officeholder as an interest
ed party, that destroys confidence and
weakens the effect of everything he
may say or do? Is there an oficehold-
er who does not feel this to be fact?
When he goes among the people, he
is handicapped with the fact of his
being an Office holder, and has to ex.
ercise the greatest caution lest he be
accused of attempting to dictate nomi-
nations and run politics according to
some programme supposed to have been
prepared by somebody who "runs the
machine This is the disadvantage
under which he labors from the start.
But are not estates" made aud can
didates talked up in advan ce of the
caucus and the convention? Of course
they are, but no more by ofice-holders
than by other citizens; and they do
this talking and naming of candidates
as American citizens, and not as Office
holders. They take an active part in
political affairs, as every citizen may,
and the fact of this activity and of the
intelligence and patriotism which it
Implies is what at first makes them
prominent, secures them the public
confidence and gives them official pos
ition. Must they as Office holders,
trusted by their fellow citizens, cease
all manifestation of interest in politica
affairs, and neglect the means waich
made them public favortes? Ought
the people, as soon as they express
their confidence in a man by electing
him to official position, to turn their
backs upon him, treat him with suspi-
con and distrust, and insist upon his
foregoing the exercise of his rights as a
free American citizen? Ought they
to condemn him for the very activity
which FIRST commended him to their
attention and confidence?
Who are the r,en who talk about
"ring" and "machine' management
as if the voters of America were so
many cattle to obey the whoa" "haw"
and "gee" of their drivers? Who is
it that pronounces every Office holder
mercenary william, seeking to plumber
the people, and the people so many
geese, ready to be plucked, or so many
sheep, only too willing to be shorn by
a set of political machine" managers?
They are almost without exception
disappointed aspirants for Office, dema-
gognes who have been condemned by
the popular voice, or speculative
schemers who have failed to get the
cooperation of Office holders in carry.
ing out their plans Of selfaggrandize-
ment and robbery. They are self:con-
ceitcd and envious seekers after places
and power, that they may use it for
their own glori6cation and emolumept
or designing scamps who want to get
their own tools into Office for mercen-
airy and dishones purposes. Their
own motives and meanness arc correct
ly indicated by what they ascribe to
others. By their own judgement let
them be judged. ~ -5ro2a aE
tits impossible for the people to do
anything of public character without
organization. Those Of the same way
of thinking and wishing to accomplish
the same end naturally unite and that
constitutes party. To accomplish
such organization, somebody must take
an active and leading part, and for tn e
purpose of carrying out the will of
those united in the organization, some.
body must be trusted as their repre-
sentatives. These are made the off.
GERS of the organization, and are sup
posed to be the most competent and
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