New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-24
SOTRCES OF BOSS POWER.
AN ANALYSIS FOUNDED on EXPERiENCh W
MACHINE IN ANOTHER STATE

AN ANALYSIS FOUNDED on EAPEhihNNN -
MACHINE IN ANOTHER STATE
The Baltimore Sun" in a recent editorial quo'en
largely from discussion in The Tribune o ,tn
sources of power of the political boss III "'''o'
some stress was laid on the great influence per
con must exercise who was able to levy tribute
IN COMBINATIONS and dlsburse money TOT inc
cdhPAiS" 'Nf'' - .sop,I cbock THE
Sun" itself has had experience WIN Oo
and IT'S Vows are extremely lntereS'I"s'
+, perhars the local conditions surroundins ooSS
rule and the fact that in Maryland corporations '
not an much Interested in legislation as In great
financial centre like NeW-York which indu'e ne
sun 70 attach less importance 10 'Hit P''"'' "
boss's mower than observers In TINS ''d'e "o"''
do It's analysis OF other forces wh'n man oo1 '
rue possible is extremely just ana Is "'i
reproduced: .ou,rth,,-
49, RI" Tribmne is we believe, in error; Inc
general plan of the noitcaI p9Ts bnt tbc under
wing principle is the same. The boss sels n,S
power by combination It is in n0,.'' IN" man
,tbn cots m business as n boss 10 be succeaSIui
must have certain qualifications a"m ,s, he shrewd
adroif have knowledge Of men ana aualbteS ,o 90
leadership And above AL ne ,n msnaiV gets his
start hy securing for himself an appointment -
'o We nra now considering the State boss lie be-
Gins operations In the Legislature ny an a,''a, n,
with other politicians FNo are "lr..o vi 10
HE loaf"rsbip Each ono Of these must be aoG 10
cor,r1l votes in the Legislature. and tho coHp''l'r
influence OF the syndicate naturally 5ioNS "'r So
comes DOMINATING The presiding oIcttS a. ,noo
locicd and they appoint committee i"', r,n ir,
nI,rcr,cr A. tho dictatlon Of the combine Ihe I'M
nortont committee is that on corporations VIII
becomes Tho great source o. IeVcnue ann 1,rgIna
Al Tho limo tho circle Of Influence Is en- S'.tS
Tho assicnmcnt 81 public printing Is nS.l 10 81 So
euro Tho support OF certain newspapers i'H' ~
tho personal activity OF the conpih a,,, o-,,ira
lion 81 STATE officials is dictated. ana the rupnc
rat,onacc i secured The cohesive power OF pun
dor pertctuatcs the syndcat" until Reh'rd' "P-
RISING Of tho people disposscSScs II. H., ,r
pconlc are usually luk"Warm aDou' Hi''hl'"S ~
maros and SO they have been ielt mann ~ /,
rordur,cd hy tho ofticehoderS and the otncr ak'''
81 tho ring Having the appointment ol pil
election officers IS no l,'.o Ii'Ilgn'
Thosn are in the main the .ubstanthl ana pm
nahlo sources Of boss power. But there - an III.
palnablc element probably even more liIp' az, ~.
nnd that is Tho general belief In III" omnlpoteh''
~ tho combine Everything that is Done II ~
discreditabr tho boss claims as MS hdhi"o'N ~
and his ,cnspapars proclaim it, Everything Whwh
hoss nv his enemies And IL comes that asprahts
fnr f,,nc or favor who want To be on the "inhiLS
side go over 20 the boss n" mtl Nno j. '.,ts
- 80 LEGISLATURE always has some on" n" vans
,nnoirted 10 Office and measures he wants eh"','-
tho belief that b" must 90 M oI'i''.-
o. the ring In order 10 succeed. and nine u'S '''
% ~ does H. ,.,--,,..i ,,i al
combines sooner or later AT" froh'h me '",
ma, come hv the defeat of tho party su2efln'u,'
i,v G,sr..st with boss!sm. or an uprising W''!ln
rr over tho division ~ spells or the coming on o.
nov generation OF voters.
TN. destruction which ovcrtakes mo p1SS III
move u m 4 leadcn heel but II comes A. last ana
mon he boss falls from his pedestal, ana j.
su,a eh.I Ike the image o. Dacon AT NNhIoh oe'Ie
tn Ark 81 tho Lord