The herald., 1893-02-24
THE DOWNFALL OF A BOSS WITH IN
TRRKSTING CHARACTERISTICS

The present is undoubtedly the era of
political revolutions everywhere. Not
to apeak of the groundswell that has
landed Mr.. Cleveland a second time into
tho White House, which ia now an old
story, the elections since have been in
the same direction; and, eingularly
enough, this has been most conspcu-
ously ehown in the old-time Republican
strongholds. The telegraph day before
yesterday advised US that Bernard
McKenna, young and talented Demo-
crat, was elected mayor of Pittsburg,
and that Chris Magee, the Republican
boss of Western Pennsylvania, and a
man who has been looked upon as the
successor of Matthew Stanley Quay IN
the Republican leadership of the state,
has been "downed" in most emphatic
manner.
There is something very significant in
revolution like this. Pittsburg is
located in Allegheny county, Pernsyl-
vania--in that Allegheny county which
gave Lincoln 10000 majority in 1880
a fact which led that statesman to dub
it the estate" OF Allegheny. So dyed in
the wool was the Republicanism of this
county that it gave Grant more than
$4,000 majority over Greeley in 1872.
Even in the last presidential election
Pittsburg gave Harrison majority OF
1900. To elect Democratic mayor by
thousand plurality in such city is no
trihing triumph.
The overthrow of Chris Magee is a
portent of great significance. This young
man has in the past encountered moth
ing but SUCCESS both in his private and
political fortunes. This is the first de-
feat encountered by him in quite re-
markable career. Although scarcely
forty, he has been the absolute dictator
of Pittsburg. Between political sagacity,
business aptitudes and a remarkable
genius for political leadership, he has
accumulated quite three million dollars.
He owns an influential and profitable
newspaper amongst his other assets.
His history shows what great things a
young and ambitious man can achieve
in the United States if he starts in to
succeed at all hazards. The fact that
such man, notably winning, scrupul-
ously correct in his personal habits,
handsome and ingratiating, can be
knocked over in the very center OF Re-
publicanism, shows how great has been
the change which has lately come over
the popular mood.
The late Simon Cameron had re-
markable knack of surrounding himself
with bright and ambitious men, and he
always picked out young men-men
either absolutely or comparatively
young. This was the secret Of his own
long and unexampled control of the des-
TIMES of the Keystone state. Mackey,
Qusy and Rutan were his favorites for
years. Mackey died and Rutan fell to
the rear. just at this stage young Chris
Magee came to the front. His abilities
and magnetism quickly impressed them
selves on the old Winnebago chief, and
that meant power, certain kind of dis
tinction, and fortune for the favorite,
and young Magee enjoye the full meas
ure OF dazzling success which such back
ing and his own abilities made inevita-
BILE. The election of Democratic mayor
in the city in which he lives has doubt
less shown him that a new era has
begun, in which "bossism," however
much it may be redeemed by ability and
dash, has at length reached the last
ditch Tho nnOnla will houa M mora of
it. At least the popular notes are set to
that key now, and long may the sa utary
dispensation last, is the prayer of all
Americans.