Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-08-12
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY EVE q, AUG. II, 1851
1.-The Power of Public Plumber

"The Power of Public Plumber. =
This is the title Of an able article
III the July number of the .No,tl,
line, ic.m Rrriew flom the pen OF
james Parton.
He considers the methods and ex-
lenses of public political meetings,
the conduct of political campaigns,
the corruption and bribery in
elections, and comes to the conclusion
that "our voters. like those of Rome, u
In the days of Vespasian and Titus,
when they devised and built the
Coliseum, are coming to sit passive,
waiting 10 see which party will pro-
vide the most magnificent and
sumptuous shows. Our expendl-
lures for political purposes are
spread over SO vast a territory that
we cannot reckon up the sum total.
II we could it would startle the
world"
He then describes the phase which
has produced the boss and bossism.
He asks: What is boss He is
simply man who can get to the
polls on election day masses of voters
who care little or nothing for the
issues of the campaign, and know of
them still less. There are as many
bosses as there are sets, cliques and
nationalities in city, all subject to
the head central boss of a political
party" He speaks of the talent it
requires to be boss, how he must
manage, treat and buy voters, paying
them with promises, money or
patronage. There are times when
the boss dare not say no to his
followers and must be all things to
them until their votes are actually
deposited. He must guard against
the " strikers" and be "solid" on
the cash. He then adds: Money,
money everywhere in politics; money
inprodigal abundance-except where
it could secure and reward good
service to the public; hecatombs for
the wolves; precarious and scanty
bones for the watch-dogs! That is
the spectacle everywhere presented
to u.s."
This is enough to show the scope
and conclusion of Mr.. Parton's in
vestigation. The article is valuable
and instructive throughout, but we
can 60 into the details of it no
further at this time. It simply
confirms the observation and deduc-
lions that there is an excess OF
pontical machinery; 100 many offices;
to many e,ections and too much
power, delegated or exercised by
usurpation. 1t has resulted in a
degree of corruption in politics, an
excessive expenditure of public
funds and an arbitrary abuse of
power incompatible with the self.
government Of the peop.e. II moi
speedily corrected, III every respect,
by the most heroic treatment, it will,
OF absolute necessity, destroy oul
Republican institutions and oblil.
crate every feature OF the Federal
system. 1t is impossible to remain
free aid powerful under the circun.
stances described and admitted OIL
all hands to exist. This is nc
partisan appeal. The downfall o.
our entire system is inevitable i
speedy remedies are not vigorously
applied b. the united voice ane
energy OF all who love liberty ane
desire to maintain the freedom O
the States. 1t is not worth Will,
now to wrangle about which part,
is responsible. The ediice Is on fire
Excessive and abusive use of powe
and money has debauched SO man,
voters, corrupted SO many public
men, and saddled so much letharg,
on the public heart, that there is n,
longer any sufficient restraint agains
that natural disposition of power ant
money to consolidate and centralIz
every thing and every institution
over which they are permitted t.
obtain sway. It is vain folly t
suppose for moment that We are
as people, or that our institution
are. in any manner, exempt from
the same evils which have destroyed
all former free governments.
Rev. TALMAaE, the New Yorl
sensational preacher, speaking o
monopolies, said: God did no
make the Atlantic Ocean for few
great whales to swallow up all til,
small fish; nor did He make thi
continent to furnish few fat mag
mates with blubber. The creates
blessing of this country is the rail
roads, made for us to ride over, bu
We must not lie down, like thu
ssleepers.' and let the railroads rnr