Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-04
MIR. ECKELs on PARTIsANIsM AND
POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE.
NARR0WNEss OF THE BOSSES.
POWER OF INDEPENDENT LEADERS
DECLARED TO BE GROWING.
Business Men and Scholars in Politics
md an Independent Press Held
to BE Most FOrceful for Good
in City, State and
Nation.

Chicago. Jan. S.-Jamcs H. Eckels, eX-
comptroller of the currency. delivered an
address at the convocation exercises of the
Chicago university. held at the Auditorium
this evening. His subject was public
Leadership ard a large audience APP
piauded his sentiments. He said, in part:
During the slavery agitation. and the
years of the civil war. individual independ-
ence was undesirable. l believe 1t was
equally undesirable in that earlier period
when the country was passing its years
of experiment in establishing upon a SAFE
foundation a constitutional republic. Those
delegated with authority. without abuse
OF il, secured TO the citizen his fullest
rights, and, if at times arrogant and keen
~ partisan, at the basis of every act was
an unselfish patriotism and a disinterested
devotion to duty.
To-day, however. the country finds it.
Self confronted by a situation where indi-
v.dual independence of action not only Will
Lot jeopardize the nations interests, nut
must be invoked to rid 1t of threatened
dangers. l do not underestimate the pa
triotism of those who control party or
CARNATIONS and ill places of legislative
and administrative trust, but there must
be something radically wrong in existing
public morals and public service when
questions of great national Importance are
treated from the point of view of mere
local desires, instead of on the broader
ground of a whole country's interest.
Our Lack Of Great Public Leaders.
1T cannot but suggest more than one
serious doubt as to the future glory of
the country when is noted the tendency up
on the part of public servant to compress
the interests of all the people within the
narrow confines of a congressional district
and measure the wisdom of taking cour-
aeeous action by the possibilities of an
election. The most friendly of our foreign
critics has declared that We have no great
public leaders. If such be the case, the
reason for il is not difficult of ascertain
ment. The strength of political party or
ganization has. in recent years, been built
ur at the expense of party principles and
public good. Its machinery has reached
from city to state and from state to ma
tion. By force of its demands, there have
been eliminated from party ranks many of
those who believe that political bodies
should be maintained in order to contribute
substantial benefit to the government,
whether it be national. state or municipal,
end not in a doctrine the reverse in prac-
tice.
There was a time in the annals of our
political history when the chief executive
Vi ~ ~ Noulu DIT lut SdiiiC lliilS pc
10th the leader of his party and of the
public. But that day is passed. There
must continue to be an irrepressible con-
fiict between the good of the public serv-
ice and modern party organization as long
as the matter makes abject party obedi-
ence the absolute test Of public prefer
ment and political honors, and the only
guarantee of accepted service.
Out of Evil Good Has Come.
Out of all this disturbing and destroying
force of party organization there has still
come, in the largest measure, much of in
value to the public. 1t has
aroused the business man TO political ac-
ton, called to duty the scholar. and Great
ed. to n greater or less degree. independ-
ence even in ii partisan press. l am con-
hdent that the public leadership which is
now the most forceful thing for good in
municipal. state and national affairs, rests
with those elements in one social and polit-
zeal system. 1t is leadership divided on
many issues and holding to differing views
on many questions, but united in a COM
mon purpose unselfishly to promote the
cause of good government. Its virility is
In the very individuality which is denied
10 those who denounce political independ-
ence as something to be abhorred and
courage OF conviction as against party de-
crees an objectionable sin.
Its good offices have more than once,
during the past two decades. been enlisted
in behalf of reforms which have gained
Aol 8i' uDAi 1t kalSt u
and added to the comfort of the individual.
Its protest is against lowering the stand
ard of American national and commercial
integrity: its demand that the country shall
have a financial system rational in con-
struction and adequate to properly meet
the changing. needs of trade and COM
merce. 1t rightfully insists that those who
have the power and the opportunity to act
shall not take counsel of political eNpedien-
cy or e~ndanser the financial fabric of the
nation through unnecessary delay.
The thoughtful citizen everywhere must
deprecate Il political condition which de-
mands a leadership outside the lines of n
responsible party organization. The fact
itself bespeaks the need of awakening a
orman public conscience and calling to
action a headless electorate. II comes only
when great issues are at stake and great
Interest involved. 1t constitutes a defense
against those who, unnindful of the trust
reposed In their keeping. would subvert
the ends of government to personal desires
and political ambitions.
Power of Independence Growing.
However weak the Independent leader
may be at the caucus, he can boast Of a
power at the polls which each year grows
more potent, and with each election gath
ers 10 his cause added force. He will re-
main a controlling factor in American pol-
itics until political organizations are care
ful of the rights of all. and guard. with
out reference TO private fortunes, the great
er interests of the public. He will dis
appear when in party ranks are leaders
who are courageous and far-seeing erough
TO deal with national questions in 4 nation
al way, free from local environments and
unmoved by local threats. His leadership
and his following, came because of the ar
rogance and unfaithfUfness of the dominat-
ing forces of a party machinery aud build
ed upon surrendered personality and ayow-
ed loyalty TO a self-constituted leader and
held together by a judicious bestowal of
public patronage. 1t cannot cease until
this menace 10 the country is removed and
instead Is given party organization which,
while faithful TO party creedS and party
needs. still needs the higher duty claimed
of IL.
The greatness of the nation must always
rest in the keeping of a leadership strong
In its sense of right. patriotic in its devotion
to duty and unwavering in its fidelity to the
whole people. Upon no other basis can the
repnhlic endure or the hanpiness and nrns-