The herald., 1897-05-08
THE DOMINATION OF BossISM

THE DOMINATION OF BossIsM
Unless the tendency to the control OF
bosses is arrested popular rule In this
country will very soon become merely
nominal Already New York Republic
ans act under the dictation Of Thomas
C. Platt, and the Pennsylvania Repub-
Matthew S. Quay. Neither is states
man, but both are simply political manip-
ulators, and manage to control by
their hold upon the irresponsible ele-
ments.
Leader and boss are very different
characters; tho one achieves his posi-
ton through superior powers of mind,
and his virtuous and patriotic purposes
the other has talent of a certain kind,
but his ambition is venal. and his meth
DDS are in disregard to the public well
fare. He is a leader who influences
political action by the advocacy Of wise
and just principles Of public policy. but
he is a boss who appeals to selfshnese
and controls through disbursement Of
offices and money.
Earlier in the history Of the nation
bossism was most largely sustained by
patronage. Whoever controlled con-
ventions and nominations had a pull on
the officers elected and was able to die
tate who should be the recipients of
official favors. Spoil was the power in
the hands Of the boss, and 1t enabled
efforts and vicious practices of those
who received his promise of reward for
their services The boss is a supporter
Of partyism, though he cares little for
policies, as through party zeal and pre-
judice he can better crafty his ambition
for domination. He therefore allies him
self to party strong enough to win cleo
tions, and hence he rarely appears in a
weak party. The boss is animated by
the desire to rule, and to have it said
that he holds the votes Of cities and
states in his pocket, and at the same
time he is not averse to making money
out Of politics.
| The growth Of civil service reform
and weakening of party spirit have tend
ed to lessen the power of bosses. but the
loss has been more than counterbal-
anced by the increased use of money in
elections. The growth of bosefsm dur
ing the last third of century has kept
pace with the increase Of monopoly and
special privileges. In that period legis-
lation and administration of public af-
fairs have been favorable to the confer
vileges upon corporations. Methods in
business have been tolerated which have
assured inordinate profits to capital,
and to the detriment of the masses.
The money power is constantly seeking
favors from governments, national, state
and municipal. and to obtain them mo-
ney is freely used in politics Capitalists
realize that it is folly to appeal to
schemes. and hence they place their in
terests in the hands of political thimble-
riggers, and supply them with funds
necessary to the achievement of a sue
cess. Wherever there is political ma
chine it is safe to conclude that the mo-
ney of monopoly and trusts is behind it.
We have reached that stage in the
development of wealth, industries and
commerce which subjects the people to
severer tests than at any previous time.
When population was small and scattered
and broad and unoccupied fields were
open to enterprise and the improvement
of the material condition of the mass
when there was not a class possessing
overshadowing riches, there prevailed
degree of individual independence
that rendered our institutions safe
against attacks from without and from
within. Our danger now Is not from the
assaults OF exterior forces, but there
are evidence that we are not entirely
secure against insldious alta cks from in
ternal enemies
Popular government has always been,
and probably ever will be, an expert
ment Free institutions can only be
maintained and perpetuated by intelli-
gent. honest, and patriotic action by the
body Of the individuals composing the
voting population. The struggle now is
not only to preserve but to develop to
a higher degree those qualities in the
mass Of the poulation.
The bulwarks OF free and Just govern
ment are in danger Of being broken
down through a combination of three
classes Of our people. They are the
capitalists, the rascals and the depend
ents The first is active and organized.
it originates policies, and it's power will
be proportionate to the number who can
be corrupted, and the number who can
be controlled through their dependence
Those who engage in monopoly and
form trusts never exert themselves to
promote political morality, nor to render
the body of the people Independent.
The dependents may be honest and
even intelligent, but they must have
food, clothing andi homes. No one, should