The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-19
Machine Politics.

Members Of legislatures, as a rule, are
creatures Of practical politics. The mem
Der who ignores the machine and wees in
accordance with his judgment has not
much influence and accomplishes very lit
tie for his constituents. The power Of the
machine is particularly noticeable in the
election OF United States senators and
other officials who are chosen by legisla-
lures.
A few days ago the republican caucus
Of the New York legislature nominated
Mr. PIatt for United States senator to sue
coed Senator IIil He VIII be elected. In
the caucus he received all but seven votes
the seven going to Mr.. Choate who was
Mr. Platt's only opponent
Il is admitted that in many respects Mr..
Choate would make a more acceptable
senator than Mr. Plat. Intellectually he
Is a much ADLER man, and besides, he was
the choice of the better element Of the
New York republicans. Why was It,, then,
that he received only seven votes out of
one hundred and forty-nine? The answer
is that Mr. Plat controls the republican
political machine in New York state. and
it was well understood that those republic
cans who voted against him would not
stand a chance Of getting any bills through
the legislature.
one member. writing to a constituent in
respect to the senatorial contest, said: Il
am uncertain what to do. 1 have various
important measures which 1 desire to in
troduce into the assembly. and if 1 do not
vote for Platt none Of them will go
through"
1t is apparent from the foregoing that
at least one of those who voted for Mr..
Plat did not do so because he thought
he would make a better senator than Mr..
Choate He did so because he believed
he would not get any of his bills through
the legislature unless he voted for him.
How many more were there who believed
that Mr.. Plat controlled the legislature
and that they would be punished by hav-
ing their usefulness to their constituents
destroyed If they opposed him? That
question cannot be answered, but It is
safe to say there were very many. There
may have been enough to defeat MIR.
Platt. They were afraid of the machine
which Mr.. Plat controlled absolutely 1t
is by means of machine politics that many
men reach high positions.
We do not wish to be understood as say
ing that Mr.. Plat is not a man of ability.
He is an able man, and doubtless will
make an influential senator. The charge
to which he is open is that he will use his
power as a political boss to crafty his
ambition and advance his own political
schemes rather than promote the public
welfare He will insist that he shall name
the federal officials in New York, and he
will take care to name those who will
strengthen his political machine rather
than those best qualified to serve the pub
lie
In other states the political machine
plays an important part in politics. In IL
linois the candidate of the republican po-
litical machine for senator was a man
named Madden. He was totally unfit for
the position, but he would have been
chosen, in all probability if the newspa-
pers and the public had not opposed him
so strongly. He was forced to step aside,
and the machine is now being used in be-
half of another man who is even more
Objectionable than Madden was.