New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-23
HOW TO BREAK BOSS RULE.
THE REV. JOHN L. SCUDDEf "
CITY. COMMENTS on THE ACIoOHN
POWER OF THE POLITICAL MACHi->I'

CITY. COMMENTS on THE ACToOHN
POWER OF THE POLITICAL MACHINE
The Rev John L. scudder. pastor OF me &C.,
nacie, Jersey City. last evening deHVe'eu ' =,
OF q series OF preludss on the poiiIcaI qu - =.
the day His subject was BOSS f'u' <,,,,.
Be Broken?" and he handled 1t in MS usuN' 100,
manner After brief introduction, Dr' 'e"0N''
said: eso,
There is something radically wrong In our pno1iti
political system Inis IL the Soi.ict o,can neople
and recent occurrences in the State OF New" y, ,
have strengthened that CONVICTION tii US r;eb, of
suTrsee and exercise a theoretical rulersnip. they
frequently md themselves tricked anu y. Tsr ~,
have sscertained that this is largely Government
o. the people. by the politicians ioi ts pnrne otri-
cia position, but In the Empire State TO-DAY t .ne
DICTATOR, Thomas c. Patt is private o,,cn ~
lower Broadway. and We, from his throne invisible
ne rules his party and the entire people WIN 'oa
The comica feature Of the present distress .,es
in its following so closely upon the heeis o.
reform movement in which the two principal pai rs
changed places. and the people VINO iiaue u. q -
the change now find themselves IN tnra ,9 ore
vain their denunciations have no effect upon tne
occupant of the express office short tine ht
Boss Plat oushinos and surpasses his predeces-
in that he dominates the entire state, m
papers cartoon and lampoon him ana MAKE .i.
people laugh but 1t is no laughing matter wneh
one own the Legislature OF rev IL VI IN N,
control its Executive and snap his myers ~ u.ao
face of G.0O0co sovereign people. Here Is
stance worth nongTa private c. bon the people
are bitterly opposed but whom they are po~en,rrnns
to overthrow What travesty on popular govern
ment, - ,,- r-osan,
still this Is the natural outcome OF our prcsehl'
unrestrained representative system once eieoo -
can act as they please The indecent haste with
which the Ranes bill ra!lroaded throuEn ai.o
LEGISLATURE the marked disres pect shown 70 '
lyn in the matter OF consolidation and VarIety
of recent violations of the pIincipe OF ,, cInq
by me awmake,s OF so,A1a,hnSe pos,ive must be
done extinrush boss rule in American 10
not ha I'd 70 fnd II is our imperfect system OF gov
eminent The people elect men without; definite IN
st;u.ip h ann rlprenpves 0cehoders prov.
false to those who ,hcm with AUTHORITY ana
fhoir political future and will certainly turn thcm
down II thcy disobey his orders Many rrpr Ia
The wishes OF their constituents because they ,ear
the whip OF the party bose ard are IN no',i
IS mirhfler than the people. and It emhod'es
tyranny most odious TO liberty loylns men oo,,s
oI5 desplcsblo sysor3? Yes answer ard Is
very simple Let us rerrn az once 70 syst'n zoo %
iirsc.Ir on i-,3o-.a-. questions and thus deprive
the rot,-tans Of absolute poTsr ana o,lnyeI 70
become despot. The only cure Tor mac poo,
IS direct Legislation for ms sT'Hcs a, the In
itlat.ve and re,erenium. the people can enact ava
r@,"ai obn5xiaus vs ~ recourse the ballot
hats
Trus thew place wholesome check upon the'.
reorescn'a;lvcs and compel them TO act justly anu
Tor fhe bubble good. %
tbs idea Of submitting mportan; measures 90
nop.,iar vote is nothing new We make use o. y
now and then on rare OCCASIONS. 80" "nAt tm.7
coun;rv needs IS an expansion % this wel-recog-
nizcl princinle TIE privilege - vot" OF any mas"
which is d!~rns'eful 70 ccns'dera Die lrhr,l1"
tho people In this respec' America IS woiui!y % .
hind the times Switzerland has alouied nir"c,
ie,sla,i7a with gratifying src-ess AMI she hecHos
ms % follow In TO- model Republic thor" arc n
bosses mach no politics ar unknown ana n'is.-s
a.. more ,r1ror.1nt thai Th- representatives.
az the people behave thcmsc,v"s. because any cor
run, legislation or their part would he Nfkl! Up.
20. n. nc POLLS r. IL .nter"s'in- 80 know NAY
under this wise system Of restraint law making -
sv-i.ze~a-d j. so pure and hencn'sa' mt icw
me sures are dccr1ed WORTH hy The Prone 10 10
submitted 10 popular vote The psoolo follow 'nH'r
usual voca lions huf they possess the power %
ler,.Is,e DIRECTLY whenever 10 occasion may 10
Inard and they themselves determine me occa'i'i.
Thov are f-eernen. but We are saVe--slsV"s ~ 4
vicious and despotic system. Direct l"T.'la i'l-
,ha1 10 Ne united fundamental and hr-ieachinS
form 70 which every patriotic citizen shouf y
hts earnest thought and 'n'fus'fsic alhcrencr
Il will guarantee legislation saiifac,ory 70 VIC
people and under II political bosses VIII evaporaie
and vanish