The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-15
;|Il!1 ||;llI||sl i 15|I||'|a
A MORAL FUNGUS.

A Pen Picture of the American Po-
Iitical Boss.
Baltimore Sun: The boss is the most
powerful factor in American politics;
and yet he Is irresponsible. He be-
longs to the legislative, the executive,
or the judicial departments of the gov
eminent. The founders of our constitu-
ton, the sages who drew the instru-
ments under which our present govern
mente are carried on, apparently had no
idea that boseism would evolve from the
product OF their wisdom, and they made
no provision for calling to account an
officer powerful enough to appoint all
the officers whose duties they defined,
but holding no position himself. The
law provides for the frequent election OF
MAYORS and governors, with a view to
holding them to a strict accountability,
but the man who rules and moves the
mayor fills no place for the mismanage-
ment OF which he can be impeached,
and is never called upon at an election
to give an account of his handling of his
power.
The boss sits in retirement. He never
even talks to reporter unless he gets
the big head or loses his nerve. The
successful boss, whose word 10 law, gives
his order and is obeyed. While he sell
dom goes far enough in defiance OF
public opinion to risk very much, yet he
never puts himself in the way OF invit-
ing public criticism by public discussion
OF his views and aims He knows tlat
the less he is heard of the more he Can
do
The boss ia the last outcome of the
spoils system. His growth begins as a
email dealer in ward Offices. In the
g eat cities he finds congenial atmos-
phere. He generally begins his career
by acquiring influence among his neigh
bors and fellow workmen or, If he is a
saloon keeper, first among his custom
era. He takes part in the primaries,
follows leader in primary fights, throws
bis votes as be ia told, and becomes one
of "the boys" When he reaches
point where he towns" certain num-
Der of votes and has following OF
"heelers" whom he can control, he be-
comes power in the ward.
He can then demand and obtain an
office. From the organization that rules
the ward he is promoted to membership
on the central or executive committee
of his party. He becomes one OF the
small group called the ring" which
pulls the wires all over the city, runs
the conventions, picks out the candi-
dates, arranges the "slates," and which
aims not only to hold Office but to garri-
son all the city and state and national
offices with the mercenary workers.
At this stage of hie career the coming
boss begins to make money. He is now
in position to influence the letting Of
contracts and to get share of the pro-
ceeds of the sale OF legislation. His
fortune begins to grow and he sees riches
before him.
Some one person in the ring gradually
obtains a paramount influence over the
others. He pulls more wires, works
more successfully upon the weaknesses
of his fellow members, undermines sue
cessfully his strongest rivals. He be-
comes the boss.
The boss can afford to do without an
office. There are enough people anxious
to buy his influence to keep him in
receipt OF q good income.
His influence lie, of course, for sale.
A man does not work to be boss for fun.
How is this state of things to be met
II you bride mayor you can be pun
ished and so can the bribed official, but
the boss who makes the mayor and his
whole force of aubordinates can be hired
to influence them as readily as can any
lawyer be retained to address jury
and the bols's fee for accomplishing
through the mayor or council any de-
sired purpose is matter of business
discussion. Why should the boss be
permitted to sell his influence over Off
Gals who would Themselves be open to
punishment il they were bought? This
state of things is an anomaly for which
the law makes no provision.