The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-10-09
OHIO'S BIGGEST BOSS
His Name Is Cox and He's the
Head Of the Heap
ALL THINGS GO HIS WAY
Mr.. George Shows That Cox and
Foraker Are a Pair and That
they Can Either Make
or Break Ohio.
ALL THINGS GO HIS WAY


Standard.
Cincinnati. o.. Oct. 4.-Cincinnati
has the reputation among its own peo-
pie. and In the wide regions hereabouts
OF being the most thoroughly boss
ruled city in the United States. That
there are great bosses in other cities
such as In New York Tweed was and
Croker and Platt are now these people
will admit. But George b. Cox. the
republican boss OF Cincinnati. could.
they say. give the best OF them
points," and the organization that he
controls is the most minute. compre-
hensive and thoroughly disciplined OF
any body of political mercenaries in
the whole boss-ruled country that
Mr. Mckinley and the body Of repub-
lican speakers and writer's are calling
upon its own citizens and the be-
nighted denizens Of other parts of the
globe to admire. Attempt after at
tempt has been made to break Cox's
rule by reformers of that amlable nom
analytic type who regard the evolution
OF the boss as but case Of bad man
getting into power" and who think II
can be cured II honest citizens will
only resolve to vote for none but good
men. But they have failed. Boss Cox
so governs the politics Of Cincinnati
that no man can hopefully aspire to
any public place without obtaining his
permission and support. while his con-
troll Of the state legislature Is shown
by the quiet passage of the Dana act,
of which I have previously spoken as
preventing any fusion between the
democrats and populists by voting un-
der different political headings for the
same candidates.
OF the rigor of his discipline great
believer in the boss, a newspaper man
whom I met before I got to Cincln-
natl. gave me with evident admiration
an instance. In what ne said he has
himself heard. He told me how Cox
drove up to a booth on his election-day
tour, when one of his men. a Judge Of
election-for Cox does not neglect the
precaution OF huvfng his men. whether
ostensibly republicans or democrats. In
such useful. though supposed non-par-
tisan places-unable to restrain his
curiosity, thrust out his head and
asked how the election was going gen.
orally.
TT Is none Of your business how II
Is going," stoutly retorted the boss.
1T Is your business to see that II goes
right In your precinct Go back and
attend to that. will see to the rest Of
| the city"
And II was to the wide ramification
and thorough discipline OF this organi-
zation that the newspaper man who so
much admired Cox based his confident
belief that come what would. the re-
publican ticket would be made to carry
| Hamilton county and the state. He
| could not see how such a boss could
| be beaten.
Yet, like all other bosses OF whom
have known anything, the boss of Gin
cinnat owes his power to certain
qualities admirable in themselves
These might be used by Sunday school
teachers with greater effect than the
| illustrations they are In the habit Of
using. to show how truthfulness and
honesty get their reward In this world,
while they would have the additional
advantage Of showing by Implication
the limitations of that axiom.
Truthful as the great Colbert. who.
as I read in my younger days. gained
the first step on the ladder that led
him to the position Of the all-powerfuI
minister of Louis XIV. by his refusal
to disguise from a customer the true
value Of a piece OF cloth. Cox's bare
word Is universally admitted to be "as
good as an ordinary mans bond"
Whatever he promises in the peculiar
goods in which he trades. the buyer
may be absolutely sure that he will
get them in due time or that the
money win be refunded. And he Is
diligent in his business. The daylight
part OF II he conducts in a well-ftted
office on Walnut street, where he has
clerks and typewriters, but no account
ant as ne keeps no books. Here he Is
to be seen at regular business hours
But be II rain or shine. punctually as
the clock strikes at night on each
one OF the 3e5 days Of the year. at a
certain table in the wielert beer gar
den. "over the Rhine" as the German
quarter is called. he receives another
class OF his patrons and subalterns In
similar way. though with more
genial surroundings. to that In which
Boss Mclaughlin Of Brooklyn receives
In the Willoughby street auction store
As bosses go. Boss Cox is esteemed a
good boss. A large street contractor
for another city who recently did some
work here. and who Of course knew
many bosses. was very decided in hi.
praise.
"I have done business" he said. "ir
New York. Brooklyn. St Louis ant
many other cities. But your boss 1:
the best boss know anything about
A man who has business here know.
precisely what he has TO pay and pre-
viously what he is going to get. ant
can count upon IL absolutely. AnC
what is more. your boss leaves a big
ger share to the people than any othe
boss | know Of"
The people Of Cincinnati too, ever
those who do not quite Ike bossing II
itself. seem to have something OF IN.
same opinion and service. with the ex
|