St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-11-06
Bosses, Rings, Machine Polite
clans, Etc.
y. o. Chronicle.

We are favored with many con,mu-
nications and with much counsel touch
ing the most interesting question that
arises in the organization and direction
of the Democratic party in this State
and city.
These communications express gem
eral approval of the views OF the edlto-
rial of the Chronicle of 36tll, as to its
tone and counsel, wherein We declare
our independence of all the factions
and followers OF candidates and chiefs,
who essay to array under their banner
loyal devotees and adherents, and de-
mand that the Democracy should disre-
gard all such claims, and refuse to be
punched, grouped and "ganged" into
clans following each its annolnted
chief and idol
There Is a professional acceptance OF
our sentiments and counsel but always
with arrieres pensfes that some pref,
erence or advantage should be conceded
to each mans particular favorile. After
that they will all harmonic. Give us
our man for Senator, or for Governor,
or some other office. You may take
all the rest.
Then there is Il class OF honest, we'll
meaning citizens who clamor loudly
against rings, bosses, ward workers and
machine politicians. ln denunciatlon
of all such, we heartily join. But we
prefer some more practical method OF
getting rid of them than by mere
denunciatiOn.
This dangerous class arises from d
condition similar to that which gen
crates mosquitoes and other noXious
insects. lt springs from neglect of the
dlSenfectlng processes necessary to san
itation Of all objects. Those processes
rest upon Edmund Burke's definition of
the principles Of party organization,
that when the bad band together the
good must combine to rsist Them
In this community the great mass OF
the sutfragans give no attention 10
political affairs and elections. They
regard even the duty of voting, like
that of serving on grand OF petit jury,
or on the militia, as d grievance. As to
holding or standing for an office that
involves the admission that a man has
abandoned every other mode of lvell-
hood, and become Il politician for ever
more
Thus Il class is created who always
keep close eye on the distribution of
the offices.
The elections mnst be looked after, to
prevent being superseded in their as
pirations and arrangements to keep in
office, OF to get some other office. From
| this condition bosses, rings and combl-
nations are inevitable. There will be
in every political division and locality
some man OF men who are eager and
instant to relieve the people of these
arduous and Onerous political duties.
They attend to matters which the con-
mon citizen engaged in his private
affairs, has neither time nor inclination
to perform. Tins they acquire the
power and influence of bosses, just as
brokers, whom capitalists employ to
operate for them, relieve the latter of
duties which might demand more of
their time and consideration than they
could spare from more important bus
mess.
These bpsses and manipulatOrs of
conventions are the middle men, whom
the principal parties find it necessary to
employ in their personal transactions.
1t would, no doubt. be better to dispense
with them. But they have always ex-
listed and always will exist as long us
the multiform transactions of our very
complex social, commercial and polit-
ical condition shall exist The only
remedy and resistance to the evil con-
sequences of their large influence in
political affairs will be found in the
rally of the great mass of the people in
opposition to all candidates who can be
found to be incompetent, dishonest or
in any sense objectionable to them.