The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-10-09

Gratis who are called single-taxers:
they have no clear idea OF how bosses
may be abolished or else shrink from
the radical measures that would re-
quire, they prefer Boss Cox to the
worse boss. who. they fear. might take
his place.
Yet, as Is the case with all other
bosses. Boss Cox dare not himself as
pire to public position. He has tried
II several times, and been beaten each
time. Nor can he succeed by a direct
vote when the issue Is clear. as was
shown by the defeat OF his scheme to
have the city sell the Cincinnati South
ern railroad. which 1t owns. This
scheme was beaten on O city referen-
dun a few months ago. although the
aggregate vote was very small. Cox
rules by his skill In making combina-
tions and by acting as a go-between
for the corporations and special inter-
ests who are prominently concerned in
politics, such as the gas company and
street railroads, and those who want
new franchises.
was curious to see this modern type
OF tyrants that grew up In the cities OF
ancient Greece ere the word tyrant
had acquired the meaning that Il now
has to us. easily got a glimpse OF
him on the street. where he stood sur
rounded by knot of clients and
looked at him for a moment with the
same interest that looked at McKin-
ley or the antiques In the vatican. He
Is a strongly-built. stout and almost
fat man. with hard. determined face.
and was wearing. when / saw him. q
large republican badge. and l could
easily believe what is said Of him that
he stands by his friends and never
forgives his enemies until they make
ebsolute submission. He Is. am told,
OF Scotch-Irish extraction; began life
as a bootblack or newsboy; then drove
g butcher cart, then became a bar
tender. ran a saloon and managed or
tended keno game; got Into ward
politics; acquired reputation as
winner; became chairman of the
county committee In the Blaine cam
Iaign and gradually organized the
powerful ring under the republican
name that enabled him, when he does
not show himself, to rule the politics
Of Cincinnati. He is a man Of native
shrewdness and force. though said to
be utterly illiterate. He has, how
ever, a client or partner. who can sup
ply that deficit. in the person Of an
ex-newspaper man, Of literary ability.
And whether Foraker made him, as
some say; or he made Foraker. as
others say; all agree that the two are
close political co-adjutors. though. of
course. as is the manner Of all bosses,
Cox works through the democratic or
ganization as well as through the re-
publican. -
He has become very rich; has a mag
nificent house in the choicest part of
the city. where pianos are built in the
wall, chairs cost 800 apiece, and ''old
masters" look down on the visitor But
he still continues his diligence in the
business which gave him all this and
much real estate besides; and still
goes daily to his office and nightly to
the saloon "over the Rhine" The pe-
cullar interest that attaches to him,
however. In this matter of a national
election, Is not as to the manner Of
man he is, but that, politically, Cox
is Foraker or Foraker is Cox; and that
the republican machine throughout the
state is Foraker machine. This
hear without dissent. That we'll
trained orbit Of mercenaries, a wink, a
shrug. a flash of silver Is as good as a
| proclamation. Hanna evidently does
not trust them. and Is working In his
own way with more money than has
ever before been used In Ohio politics.
He has the great banking firms be-
hind him as II has never been behind
anyone since Jackson's time; and the
concentrated railroad strength sup
porting hlm-both for reasons of their
own. And he has state pride backing
him.
| But on the other side is q deep and
growing dissatisfaction, not only with
the management of the currency. but
with ring rule. with the condition OF
labor and with the general bitterness
Of the times. In Hamilton county. the
large coterie Of the Foraker people hate
the Mckinley people and the McKin-
ley people hate the Foraker people,
far more bitterly than either hate dem.
Gratis or populists. Cox Is wearing a
republican badge and Foraker Is max.
Ing roaring republican speeches in
other states. But that either would
shed tears, other than those Of the
rroverbial crocodile. IL Bryan were to
carry Ohio. no one who knows them
believes.
Both will doubtless continue ostens.
IDLY to support Mckinley until elec.
tion. But whether they will really give
him the support that tells, Is the ques.
tion. To their vote may doubtless be
counted on for Mckinley. But as to
every other element there seems to be
doubt, with a set Of the current In
favor of Bryan.
Henry George.