The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-02-18
POLITICAL BOSSES.
THEIR METHODS Or WORK.
How They Manage Legislators

How They Manage 1esislatorA
Youths Companion.
The influence which certain political
leaders, Familiarity known as "bosses,"
exercise over legislators and through
them upon legislation, is sufficiently
familiar. Often when legislatures are
in session, members are observed tax
ing frequent counsel with these
"bosses," and sometimes following their
instructions with such regularity that
they come to be known as ''So-and-so's
men,"
But while the fact of this influence
is sufficiently plain, it is not always
clear how it came originally to be ac-
ouired. The "boss" is perhaps man
in private life he is not endowed with
extraordinary wisdom; how does it
happen that legislators flock to him to
get his views on public measures, and
then act steadily in accordance with
them?
We get at least suggestion OF one
method in which the "boes" acquires
his Influence in a recent incident.
There has been published lately letter
which was sent to number of candl-
dates of one of the political parties for
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of one of our most important
states during the last campaign. 1t
was from the state chairman OF the
party, and ran thus: "By request OF
- take great pleasure in enclosing
contribution to defray your campaign
expenses" Each letter contained a
cheek either for two hundred and fifty
or for five hundred dollars.
1t would be hasty and unjust to argue
actual political corruption from snch
letters and contributions as this. There
is no suggestion that the recipient OF
this aid shall render any return for 1t.
1t is not stipulated that, if elected, he
shall pay attention to the wishes of the
person to whom he owed the suggestion
of the timely aid, In matters OF legisia-
ton. But if it appears later that the
person aforesaid has some scheme to
promote in the legislature, OF is inter
ested in the election OF q certain man
to the United States Senate, human
nature being what it is, there must
necessarily be loss of independence on
the part of legislator who owes his
election to contribution to his cam
paign expenses by the favor of a boss
He has gwen no promise; he Is not
under mortgage" But he cannot be
as truly free as if he had not taken the
gift.
There is great deal less of actual
corruption in American legislatures
than those who take a gloomy view of
politics suppose. But there is an IN
creasing tendency toward the use OF
methods which are at least question
able, and which may be corrupting.
Some political leaders seem to have
two different consciences. One they
bring to bear upon their private con-
duct, and it makes them honest and
truthful in their personal relations.
The other governs their political &C
lions, and leaves them free to use wholly
inscriptions methods.
A welLknown railroad manager re-
marked years ago that the great corpo-
ration which he represented was "Dem-
o:ratic in Democratic counties and
Republican in Republican" He was
understood to mean that it was not
limited by partisan considerations in
the arrangements which it made for
legislation in its interest. Corporations
nowadays do not often incur the risk
and odinm of direct attempts to secure
legislation through improper means.
But if they make large contributions to
campaign funds, and these contribu-
t,ons are distributed by the chooses" in
the manner indicated by the letter to
which reference has been made, Is NOT
the transaction similar in character and
perhaps just as efficacious in results?
Legitimate campaign expenses have
been greatly reduced by the general
adoption OF the official ballot, printed
and distributed at the public cost
Under ordinary circumstances there
.can be no large call for expenditure by
a legislative candidate. But the men
who meet such expenditures as may
legitimately be made out of their OWE
resources are in a better position to serve
the public well, than it they were aided
to their election by checks filtering te
them from corporate and other giverl
through the hands of "boss"
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