New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-26
THE POLITICAL BOSS"
WHAT HE IS AND IlO" NE - EVOLVED.
AN INSTRUCTIVE PAPER READ BEFORE THE
rRoox1yN YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLrr.

AN INSTRUCTIVE PAPER READ BEFORE THE
rpoox1yy YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLrr.
7 w,o1borse delivered a carefully prepared and
/ interesting paper last evening n-iore The Brooklyn
Younx Republican Climb. on American Cities Their
peril. and Their HOPES: Clubs Golden Oppor-
unityr lie is vice. president OF the club. and one
OF It's most active and public spirited members. lie
begun by describing cite, a. centres OF political power
crntrpetaI forces OF nations ana rapidly traced the
origin and growth Of American towns. which have
inherited ittc and have made their own laws. NAH.
ners and methods Nearly One-th,rd Of the popull-
TN, n, tbe vnion IS now centred in 443 cities The
! pro,Lem of city government has become under con
ditlons Of unrestricted immigration the most per
picking OF modern times.
At the summit Of power, said Mr.. WOOdhOuse, Is
the boss AT Its foot Is the ward heeler." Mid
way II The ward-lcadeI" The selected ward
heeler" hns energy WILL rough mental power strong
social instincts and dcprav,d tastes. These are his
| capi,al His associates like him, but weaker !;
the hrcl.rr wants bread this Is his goal this the
extent of hi, power. The ward leader is OF better
! type, lie may be personally honest, but he Is n
political trader. His political habits are bad. He
| Is the connecting link between the ward -heerr7
ard the political "boSs.' His pr,ferment depends
! upon the strength OF the connecting link He Ii in
touch with the bosJ' he Is In touch with the heel
crs" the one puts places AT his disposal the Others
receive them brides for their votes thus the ward
heclerr becomes nal 10 the boss thus hc con-
trolls primaries BY attaching 10 himself large groaps
Of voter, who suppliants for bread. The wari-
leader next appears In general committee this
potent body he Is elected NJ the primaries by his
Creatures" wurdhcc!cs." Thus constituted the gen.
eral committee creates primaries prescribe, their
rules and terms OF membership, and makes q, In
pcri1is will their only law. The general commit.
Tee through its ward members, dictates It's choice
Of dclceaes ~ The various nominating conventions,
these delegates servants o: The general COM
mi;tee" and gistcr s WILL they nominate for Office
men designated by The general committees" and th"-.
The nominees VII, solicit votes. The theory
Is that prIiarc, control elections The practice H.,
tie gcne.l committee organize, Primaries control,
tirr aci!on,, selects The candidates, runs the CON
vcniVns and conduct, the cectlons Fitness for
once from such p,rcn,agc is impossible imdepcni
cnce IN ONCE l. suicidal.
The American boss Of selected type : m cv,u-
ton. Polite, Is his game and the great city his
theatrc Of action. 81 irGomtntlc will c.rai ehlal
vision. infcXlblc purpose. infaillole msmoy SLOW
IA delibeIation but swift In action alive dan ger,
but OF intrepid couragr, Ctn. u defeat unmOvd In
victory patient AZ delay Indifferent to attack. o!
unc!ring Judgment. sirong ina Snail)n. master Of
mciI. to his word Kindly BY nature no; e.ossly
immoral and of modest department H. Is unvex q
By state questions and great IN organization. Lofty
ideals. intellectual ts,-. refinement q feeling ericcs
OF main,r have 10 plIc" In the furnishing Of tue
American boss His soul H. untrcrb-i by these
priceless treasure. Eat h. shape, policies and par
les. selects th' candidate, ana control, thr will.
. IN general rom,ni' hr /, the -p!rit within the
Nheel, tie inv! g. !. ..nd which plot, he snip. HIS
Will 10 ward lrd,rs- IL law and. through them
hr ibid, the balance Of power hut whore did hc
com" frum | said h. was EVOLVED. From tue u
rirnirg ward -1GersT have Lc"u ~ politics for
/ I'vcnGr only. They saw large civ contacts with
million. In lhcu,7 nun erics- jobs IN sight and thou
,snd, of places 10 "a thr voters were theirs, these
v.,r Tia. hcy III. cl,y lock. They met To talk IL
over. tn,.r dolne- Mere secret ihcr laws hnvr.ti"l
e. ,oual greed. personal safety and the law of co-
hc,ion bound them together Win hooks OF steel
II,lDyaty destruction. This ilir baby ring
NJ IA an infant city. Iui trc c'N grew did Tie
hn1. tr-itt emergencies arose 10 which w-it l'ad
were Unequal. IN pi1rcsi Of time this rlns
! evolved bO-.." D. tn' npnu u hi nature Ia
i'rni~d supremacy. such j. To-" origin Of thc p"Iu
cal " hos re III all "Ir great American cities.
IiDuLlNu'> los i Of inc selected iSp'. lie
has held IrOOklNno -c'piir for nearly tFht year,
Ia a leader. Ia" IL In every sense bo,,
IN the party always Boss. In th!s hour Of Re
publican dscam1iturc 10" bosses both parties. Per
,Jnaly honest. he Il whitc-foGlcd when compared
with he ring but lfH makes the ring possible. and
thus II" mcnaccs 'ur lbcrtIs. Sometimes the ring
b."iks hs hold and runs riot. then Il Freedom ;
hour gentlemen. HAT hour has struck. tn Brook
| l,n t.ng /, doing r,il viii: both hands.