The herald., 1897-07-04

of the Forum which is we'll calculated
to surprise those who have not been
observing the trend of city and state
politics in the United States. The arti-
Gle in question is entitled IA New Form
of Government" and is a scathing state
ment of the methods used by New
Yorks latest incubus, Bose Platt, who is
said to be the worst despot the city has
ever known.
Mr. Joseph B. Bishop, author of the
article mentioned, is recognized as an
authority on such matters from his long
connection with the New York Tribune,
and also from his later work as editorial
writer for the New York Evening PoSt,
position which he still holds.
There are many who. while agreeing
with Mr., Bishop as to the menace boss
ism is to the development of the United
States, will disagree with him as to the
boss being a new institution. Bossism
is as old as the Tweed regime, and older.
In fact one way or another, the boss has
always been with us, but it must be
acknowledged that his enormous power
is of more recent development. 1t seems
almost incredible that such state of
things should exist as Mr. Bishop writes
Of He tells us that in 1896 Mr.. Platt had
determined to enter the United States
senate. He was able to lay his plans free
from scrutiny or even observation. and
the national alarm which carried the
state of New York for Mckinley by 268,-
900 plurality swept Platt into power
more firmly than ever. 1t was not, says
the writer until it began to be stated
that Platt would be chosen by the new
legislature to go to the senate that peo-
pie realized what had happened. Dis
cussion soon revealed the fact that the
Republican, majority, composed of 100
Of the 200 members in both houses, were
as irrevocably pledged to him as if they
had been his personal property. 1t mat
tered not in the least that there was no
popular support for his candidacy. 1t
mattered not that he had no qualifica-
tions for the place. These considerations
did not enter into the question at all.
The members of the legislature had
promised him that they would do his
will In all matters .and his will was that
they should elect him to the United
States senate.
His comment on the election was:
"Well, / got there" And yet the intelli-
gence and morality Of his party, as well
as Of the people generally was solidly
of pre-eminent fitness was put forward
by the Republicans in opposition to him
This candidate, after a vigorous cam
paign had been made in his behalf re-
ceived seven votes in the Republican
caucus, and not single vote in the
election itself; the entire Republican
majority voting for Mr.. Platt. We are
informed that the legislature which thus
obliged Mr.. Platt had, as usual, been or
ganized by himself. He o.. the work
even more openly than before, having
the members meet him in New York city
and arranging all matters there. He held
his weekly conferences and gave out the
results without reservation to the news
papers, thus admitting, says Mr.. Bishop,
that the real work of government was
carried on in Platt's room, instead of at
Albany. And this became strikingly ap-
parent soon after Mr.. Platt took his seat
as United State senator. He left Wash
ington at the close of each week, going
to New York city for the express pur-
pose of holding his Sunday council or
governmental conference with his legis-
lative and other agents. This conference
has all the authority of cabinet council,
and at it's close its decisions were given
to the reporters as constituting the leg
islative program for the ensuing week.
With regard to the Greater New York
charter, the writer says it gives the best
demonstration of the despotic power be-
hind the legislature, for the instrument
has been condemned in the. strongest
terms and yet passed, without amend
ment. except a few trifling changes, by
an overwhelming vote. The Bar asso-
citation, through committee which con-
tanned several Of the leading lawyers of
the city, subjected 1t to expert examina-
tion and declared it to be so full of de-
fects and confusing provisions as to be
"deplorable," and to give RISE if made
law, ito mischiefs far outweighing any
benefits which might be reasonably ex-
pected to flow from it," The chamber of
commerce, the board of trade, the clear
ing house association, the City club, the
Union League club, the Reform club, the
real estate exchange, all the reputable
ex-mayors and other officials expressed
equally strong condemnation. and the
legislature was formally requested to
give more time to the subject by post
poning the date on which the charter
should become operative. Not the
slightest attention was paid at Albany to
any OF these requests. The chief reason
for the otherwise unaccountable action
OF the assembly and the senate in pass-
ing this charter was, as one of the mem
bers who voted for it said in private.
that the 'old man wanted it to pass"
We would like to go into this matter
more fully, quoting Mr.. Bishops strong,
condemnatory words but space forbids
AS he says a more complete defiance OF
the right of the people to voice in the
conduct Of their public affairs could
hardly be made. A system Of
government which they had OBJ
Jected to because it flew di-
rectly in the face Of all experience-its
leading provisions embodying methods
of administration which had been tried
and abandoned as pernicious, and which
no great city in the world employs today
was thrust upon them in contemptu-
ous disregard of their wishes, no reason
being given for this disregard of the peo-
pies wishes than that "the old man
wanted it."
The most striking feature of the new
despotism is that it's supreme acts are
invariably performed in silence. It's
motto in such cases is "vote and don't
talk" When Mr.. Platt was nominated
in the Republican caucus for United
Gfot