New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-24
PATRONAGE ( CI RISE!

TN. nnI;,ical hcrcsy hunters should keep an
eve on Mr. William Brookiicld. lie holds hish
office in this town and j. dispenser 81 i'r-'
amount Of patronage ii" Is lii" cry SCI "p""
hill. and his light Is seen from afar. Ills III
nucncc for good or evil j. great. Ills ui''rih''s
should be carefully scruiinz'r lest he Sprclh
abroad false doctrines. We are lci To These TO-
marks by the report ~ al Interview win 'oin'
missioner Brookicld which. II seems to vs.
cannot but be regarded by ;hc professional
polific;an as "A wani0n attack on what he holds
dearest AS undermining The most fundamental
article Of his political faith. The Commits
sloner's doctrine once implanted In the breast
Of the average voter. would lead 10 the dcSirlr'
ton Of machines organized for the reward ami
CONSEQUENT encouragement At public expense "i
faithful servants Of private pcrsonagcs. 1hat
strikes not only ~ ideals. but al institutions.
Mr. Brookiicld i a dangerous icon0clasi
He SAYS not once but repeatedly that patron
age is a curse and adds: 1T ought 10 be- taken
"out Of the hands Of The Mayor and the heads of
"dopar,mcnrs and n,riisf,1 entirely 10 the civil
..Scrvlce Commissioners. Appointments should
mot be partisan There should bc no considcra-
"rion Of political parties In putting men In Office
Now his sounds revolutionary. Mr.. Brookirld
papers are able simultaneously. and with una
nimiy Of phrase which leads Ia belief In yer
bal inspiration. 10 become a. passiona'cly worked
up over the appointment Of second assistant
subclcrk in a city department who does not
enjoy the favor ~ the organization a II the
salary had been diverted from their own Golfers.
They have no interest in that particular once
and the uninitiaicd cannot how protection,
honest money or any other party princpl" Is IN
any way affected by the personality Of that
clerk But the machine politician knows better.
He is well convinced that the end and aim ~
party existence is TO get the Government I" pay
salaries TO "A lot 81 men who III return VIII work
for some machine leader and enable him 10 sat
isfy his ambition for power or IL" his political
influence for the requirement OF wealth. AS
there are not Offices enough 10 20 around among
all those whose aid is necessary for III" success
Of such schcm', the niachn" esppiscs such
doctrines rs are believed in by those whose sup
port is needed. and the voter with party prin-
ciplcs is led to believe that the possession OF
the offices is in some way connected with the
supremacy Of his beliefs. That is a system hon
orcd by long usage among practical politicians.
rs Mr. Brookicld should understand. How
would Mr. Plat get the support Of district work
crs to build up power which will enable him
70 exact contributions from corporations II there
were no such thing patronage. and how would
II, get the support Of 81. Lawrcnc" County
voters who do not care whether John Jones or
Thomas Smith is Police Magistrate In the
city of NewYork unless they think their prin-
ciplcs are bound up in the disposition OF that
office? II there were no patronage nut Omccrs
who had The fixing Of policies were elected TO
carry out policies pledged by parties and ap-
proved by the people and the street sweeper and
bookkecpcr went on with his work unconscious
Of change. there would be 10 incentive for mer-
ccnarics OF either party 10 be- workers In the dis
trcts. there would be no temptation 10 make
pledges for the sake Of breaking them. but men
who had ideas about government would vote as
their views dictated and the view Of the ma or-
ty would be carried out. That may seem very
nice. But what would become Of Mr. Croker
and Mr. Plat;
Mr. BrookfelI may bc Il political hereto. but
he seems TO have confidence in the popularity Of
his hcrcsy for he says "When the adminisira-
'tion OF Mayor Strong draws 10 Il close the pub
'lic Will ask. not whom have you appointed but
chow have you administered your trust: That
sounds Ike a defiant prophecy Of the spread Of
lIllS Iu'H. 'nal u I'LL piItFS N'i' u'PN'u W.
patronage equally. all parties would be as well
off in everything that gives them legitimate rea
son for existence If that prophecy IL true. AMI
the people do Judge the administration by the
work ii does t. make this city more worth living
In instead Of by what II does In enabling bosses,
large and small 20 build mp machines. then the
city will be- better OF. But that might bring
something like honesty In politics. which has
been declared to BE- an irldescent dream. aud