Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-06-13
POLITICAL BOSSES

The "boss" in modern politics is an
Of modern times, and is of
American origin. Although we read
of ancient as well as modern autOcrats,
cOnsuls and dictators who were abso-
lutte in their authority, and who
broOked no interference with their
will, the simOn-pure article as exem-
plified in our days. belongs to us and
not TO another,
Caesar had his Brutus, but he made
no pretensions to be a political boss,
and Charles his Cromwell, and while
the latter developed into pretty fair
politician as well as first-class despot,
he was not the political boss, the
statesman maker, the skilful wire
puller, the open sesame TO fame, for
tune and power, as is the modern
political boss, whether of a ward,
caucus or state convention.
You will find him in all stages of
incubation. Very often he has passed
the tentative stage, has succeeded in
his attempts at bound and
become a full-ledged chanti-
cleer, and rules the roost right
royalty, his followers jumping like
puppets when he pulls the string.
Salaams most profound greet him as
he approaches, and deep Obeisances
mark the way of his footsteps. He
grows rich, likewise fat, he is clothed
in purple and fine linen, and he fares
sumptuously always.
The gray brain matter may be
diminutive. IL makes little difference
since the requisites for the position
are not brains, but cunning, and a
complete absence of all moral sensi-
bilty. Moral turpitude and mental
tergiyersation are avenues with which
he is acquainted and his feet know
their devious turnings. And people
know him for what he is and yet he
runs the machine with unerring pre-
cisiOn. He wins every time. His
methods are not unknown and are
condemned unsparingly. He is either
garrulous as an old woman or as UNI
communicative as the sphinx, at bis
pleasure. He appoints and removes,
in fact, he is truly centurion on a
large scale, and he says to one man 60
and he goeth, and to another come, and
he cometh, and the faithful all obey
him.
He is in a way, like Caesar and yet
unlike him. Like Caesar, he general,
prefers TO be first in little IberiaI
village to being second in Rome, blu
there the likeness ceases. He fatten
on spells, is generally thief an
always scoundrel. He is an espresso
of the poor, and would steal from
widow or defraud an orphan
If it were necessary to d.
so in furthering his plan
He is an example of what evolution
lists call the germ theory. Hesprings
generally, from the lowest source, an,
has at his beck and call the worst ele
ments, vilest passions of any commu
nifty. He starts, it may be, in a vii
lage; the village becomes town, an,
the town grows TO a mighty city
But, his fangs early implanted, h,
grows from puny insignificance t,
robust greatness, in an invidiou
sense, and to have "pull" with hin
is TO share in his reflected greatness
He is grasping likewise brutal, anC
the way TO kill him is to run politics
whether municipal, state or national
on a plan which has purity for it,
fountain, justice for its watchword
and honesty for its end and aim.
New York has had its Tweed, ant
still has its Tammany; San Francisc,
has its Buckley, Portland its twill
bosses, and many other towns an,
cities have had, and still have thei
imitators. From their experience
there is a lesson to be learned, an,
one which it will be well for the stat.
of Washington, its towns and cities {,
ponder over.
/