The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-29
THE POLITICAL BOSS" THE PERIL

The thoughtful observer must admit
that the peril which threatens Democratic
institutions is the political boss" He
foists himself into place and controls
government as the nominal representa-
tive OF the people. But though he Sc
cures his election by apparently conform
ing to the methods which are provided
to secure an expression of the popular
will. 1t is by an apparent conformity only,
and really and in truth, by methods
which entirely stihe the popular voice.
The boss secures his place through
the use of money in elections. 1t may be
by money paid outright or it may be
by money paid through salaries from
the Government to persons whom he gets
appointed TO public Office. But in either
event, the use of money is what secures
him the support that raises him to the
office to which he aspires. The man who
has in him the making of political boss
gets we viii suppose, to Congress. Upon
his recommendation all the postmasters
In his district are appointed all the
collectors of internal revenue, and all
the other functonaries of Government
In his district. Now the very striking
fact connected with the case is. that
as soon as men are appointed to places
on the recommendation OF this congress-
man. they look to him, and not to the
Government, whose officers they are, as
the author of their being, and they yield
their allegiance thereafter to this con-
gresham. and not TO their Government.
They become his henchmen and the most
active partisans for re-electing him to
his place OF congressman. or for elevating
him TO any other place on which ne may
fix his eye. In this way the congress
man locates a claquer and henchman in
each neighborhood of his district, and he
has therefore. from that time forward an
organized and disciplined force to work
in his interest all over the district when
ever an election takes place. If an op-
ponent rises up against him. this opponent
has nothing but unorganized forces to
fight him with, acting without coherency,
without union. and with no conformity
OF conduct. Military men rule subjected
districts by locating garrisons at the
strategical points of the territory The
congressman fixes his clamp ON his dis
trict by putting the same principle into
force, and thereafterwards he becomes
the political boss" OF that region. This
is the boss" created by use OF Govern
ment money.
The boss who arises out OF the pri-
yate use Of money is the same in ma
ture. Take another case of this sort.
In one OF the States of this Union the
Changers. Populists. etc. seemed certain
10 elect a majority OF the members of a
Legislature about 10 be chosen. The
railroads OF that State took alarm lest
this Legislature should fix a confscatory
railroad commission law upon them. and
they spent their money very freely TO
secure the election OF members who would
oppose the commission bill. A particular
railroad employee was given the distribu-
ton or this money. The railroads won
their fight. Now the remarkable fact
connected with this transaction was that
the members who were elected TO the
Legislature by railroad money looked
entirely TO this railroad employee as their
benefactor and not to the railroads. He
was their boss" and they were his
most willing and obed,ent slaves. The