The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-07-21
A WHEEL WITHIN A WHEEL.

It is estimated that there are $50, 900
federal offices. Perhaps one-half Of
these are so insignificant, so fnr as the
salary is concerned, as to offer no in
ducement for a scramble. This does
not include the State, county and
municipal offices, which would add
many thousands, making perhaps a
total of 100000 offices in the United
States for which we have an army of
seekers. 1t is safe to say that there is
on an average, in each of the two old
political parties, of two persons
wanting each office or i 400, 900
persons in each political party.
The power and influence of these
two armies of hungry officer seekers
can only be realized when we take
into consideration the completeness of
their organization. It is wheel
within wheel, with selfish greed as
a cohesive plaster to hold it together.
The basis of this organization will be
found in the voting precincts. Here
some man wants to be Justice of the
Peace while another desires to be
Constable. For these small insignifi-
cant offices there are always
men who are willing toJ give
their services to their party. These
are either men who have some
influence in the community or
the willing tools of men that have.
Their duty is to marshal the hosts for
their party-for everything is done in
the name of the party. Their pay is
the Office. These men cooperate with,
and are the willing servants of county
leaders who, for a county Office and
the salary attachment, are willing to
serve the country and their party. In
most instances few men in the
county control its politics They are
usually designated as the ''Court
House Ring" There are few coun-
ties that have not only fclt their
power but suffered from their raids on
the public funds in various ways.
They have their lieutenants in every
township and woe to him who dares
to incur their dlspleasure. His politi-
cal ambitions are not only nipped in
the bud but the bud is pulled out by
the roots. AS powerful as these men
seem to the little shysters who are
willing to crawl on their bellies be.
fore them, or throw mud and slime at
the purity and innocence of woman
hood at their command. they pale into
insignifcance before the stately inn
portance of the political boss of the
Estate House Ring" Here is the
holy of holies, the political altar be-
fore which all must bow. Here
is the pewer that controls
the Governor, the Legislature and
the courts. This is the power that re-
leases the defaulting State Treasurer
who stole several hundred thousand
dollars and sends up for five years the
man who stole some flour and meat for
his starving children. From here the
edict goes out which all must obey
the lieutenants, the captains and the
colonies. Here the dogs are trained
to jump political ropes, turn hand
springs on peculiarly constructed plat
forms, and gyrate high in air on ira
pezes constructed of political promises.
The paraphernalia of this inner politi-
cal temple is varied. Here are politi-
cal rubber uniforms that adjust them
selves to at men of all types of poll
tics. See this. coat? It is free silver
on one side and gold standard on the
other. That vest is constructed OF
free wool on one side. and protected
cotton on the other. The coat and vest
can be worn either way. The coat
can be worn for free silver in the morn
ing and a single gold standard in the
evening. Here is a Greenback prop
| that was UNI one end Of the State
platform ir 1877. It hasn't been used