The Portland daily press., 1891-11-26
POLITICAL PARASITES.
The Striker" the wheeler" and
the "Heeler."

the "Heeler."
The vocabulary of politicians is not
frequently enriched by additions of any
very striking sort, for the reason, very
probably, that local leaders are much
more likely to quote the expressive
phraseology Of others than to originate
any of their own. So when in giving
his testimony at one Of the Doodle trials,
Alderman Michael Duffy, known prior
to that as ''the mayor of Harlem" used
the term "a COMMUNICATIVE the accent
on the com-to describe a corrupt alli-
ance between public officials having leg
islate powers, he added something to
the politicians vocabulary and the term
has endured, in frequent use, since.
There are, however, some nouns of de-
scription which all local politicians un-
derstand, even II no one else does. Here
are few:
A STRIKER" is full fedged or would
be elector who seeks some pecuniary re.
turn as the condition Of giving his sup.
port to q candidate or party. The basis
Of his demand is that If his terms are
refused he viii work for the other side.
Usually the 'strike" is sugar coated,
under guise of ball, picnic or excursion
tickets offered for sale just before cleo.
ton, or of the membership of target
company or social club, or subscrip.
ton for an alleged destitute person, or a
chance at rattle. The distinctive pc
culiarity of the striker is that he is with.
out power or influence. He deceives
only the weak kneed or uninitiated.
Strikers, like wolves, usually go in
pairs-never alone.
A "wheeler" is, in politicians par.
lance, an elector whose identification
with party is due to pecuniary reasons
and wholly disconnected with any prin.
ciple. The wheeler" is q grade above
the STRIKER" because he has usually
some influence, and those who pay him
get, therefore, some return, whereas in
the case Of the STRIKER they are, to use
a Bowery phrase, ''fiat bunkoed." The
wheeler" does not remain on the same
side Of the political house two years in
succession, lest through close Identified
ton with 1t he might come to be regard
ed as regular member, and thus out Of
reckoning as purchasable agent.
A 'rooter" is follower of a party OF
candidate on behalf of whom or which
his loyalty and enthusiasm is shown
whenever required. He gives and car
give no reason for his support Other
than the fact that he is with his cham
pion through thick and thin" Ht
holds usually some small place and there
is no discount upon his ELUSIVE devotion
extending, as it does at times, to deed,
Of violence and even to those of Grim.
inal character. The ''rooter" does whal
he is told and does it with great energy
and in a loud tone of voice.
THE "HEELER's" FORMER BUSINESS.
A "capper" in the field of politics is the
subsidized eulogist of a local Statesman
who is rich in means but spare in fame
The chief duty Of the "capper" is to re
tail in touching accents and In forciblt
and picturesque language the kindly and
benehcsnt actions OF his chief. He gets
for this regular weekly salary, and hi,
ordinary formula in crowded barroom
VI Ol " bbtGCb COIuCI 40 ctDOub bklSs VI
al think that the old man is mean,
small. selfish and only looking out fol
himself. You never made bigger mis-
take in your life. Why, in my presence
only this morning, I saw him distribute
$500 among score of poor persons, ask.
ing only Of each of them one thing, that
they would never mention it to living
soul. suppose he will be dead sore al
me If he hears that have told this, but
I've got to stand up for what is just and
right, even IL 1t is my ruin"
A ''heeler" is the follower and attend.
ant of some boss or subchieftain whom
he accompanies on all missions or excur-
Eions Of peril or Importance. He is not
enthusiastic like the "rooter" and has
none Of the intellectual accomplishments
of the "capper," but he is invariably on
hand when needed for a convention, a
primary or an outing, and no instance is
known Of "heeler" enjoying anything
but the most robust health on election
day, even though on other occasions his
infirmities should be as many and as
complex as others of the average of hu.
manity. In the old days OF repeating
and ballot box stufing, before registry
law was enacted, the prime duty of the
"heeler" was to vote early and often.
ABOVE THEM ALL, THE VOTER.
A "hooker" is constitutionally impe-
ounious person, who believes that the
living which the world owes him, and
which the world withholds, can and
should be secured in the troubled fields
of politics. He regards, therefore, every
candidate, leader, ward worker and mu-
nicipal statesman as his debtor, and loses
no opportunity to enforce small loans
ranging in amount from dime to dol
lar. He uses no threats like the striker"
and makes no promises like the ''wheel-
err" but regards himself as privileged
character and the candidate as his ap-
propriate prey. 1t not infrequently hap
pens that one of the results of the
"hooker's" persistence is his failure to
register, the consequence of which neg
lect is that heis unable to vote, and thus
all the financial aid and comfort given
him is entirely thrown away.
The list Of personages indigenous, as
it were, to the field Of local politics
might be still further extended, but
when the Striker" the wheeler" the
"rooter," the "capper," the "heeler" and
the ''hooker" have been told about, the
subject in its palmer aspect has been
very nearly exhausted. For above all
these is the one man whose influence out
weighs all the others-the voter who,
and who only, determines elections, ap-
proves or rejects movements and policies,
indorses or rebukes the action of the
public servants, and maintains intact
and entire the system of representative,
popular government, which the others
named would threaten If tAev had the
mower to assail it,
One from Fifth Avenue.
New York Evening World
Twas investigating lot of old relics in