The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-03-08
S0ME THOUGHTS ON POLITICAL
QUESTIONS.

Chapman, in the February Atlantic
Monthly. He reviews the rise of the
money power TO political control in re
cent years, the situation PROD uced, and
the reasons for believing the evil to be
on the wane. Tt will be remembered
that the Atlantic is not a partisan or
political magazine and Mr.. Chapman
looks at the matters discussed simply
as a citizen interested in the welfare Of
his country, unbiased by partisan
PR JUDGE.
CORRUPTION OF THE al AND BENCH
The most lucrative law practice, Gays
Mr.. Chapman, is that of an attorney
who protects great corporate interests
among the bankers. He needs but one
client; he gets hundreds. The mind of
the average lawyer makes the same
unconscious allowance for bribery az
that OF the business world. We can
not, moreover, overlook the case of
simple old-fashined bribery to which
these masses of capital give rise. In a
political emergency any amount of
money is forthcoming Immediately,
and it is given from aggregatIons of
capital so large that the items are easily
concealed in the accounts. Bribery, in
one form or another, is part of the un-
written law. 1t is atmospheric; it is
felt by no one. The most able men in.
the community have believed that 10
clety would goto pieces without bribery.
They do not express il in this way, but
they act upon the principle in an emer
gency. A leader OF the bar, at the be
hest Of his Wall street clients, begs the
reform police board not to remove In
spector Byrnes, who is the Jonathan
WEld of the period. The bench is now
able, and for the most part upright.
But many of the judges now on the
bench have paid large campaign assess
menrs in return for their nominations;
others have given noGes to the bosses.
This reveals the exact condition of
things. In a nor corrupt era the
judges paid cash. Now they help their
friends. The son or the son in law of
a judge is sure of a good practice, and
referees are appointed from lists which
are largely dictated by the professional
politicians of both parties. Next Mr..
Chapman talks of
THE POLITICAL BOSS.
The boss o. excellence is q State
boss, he says He Is q comparatively
recent development. He could exist
only in a society which had long been
preparing for him. He could operate
only in q society where almost every
class and almost every individual was
10 a certain corrupted. The exact
moment of his omnipotence in the State
of New York, for instance, is recorded
IN the actions of the State legislature.
Less than ten years ago, the brlbing of
che legislature was done piecemeal and
a5 Albany and the great corporations
Of the State were accustomed to keep
separate attorneys in the Capitol, ready
for any emergency. But the economy
OF having the legislature corrupted be
fore election soon became apparent. II
the party organizations could furnish
a man with whom the corporation
managers could contract directly, they
and their directors could sleep at night
The boss sprang into existence to meet
this need. He is a commercial agent,
like his little local prototypes; but the
scope of his activities is so great ard
their directions SO various, the forces
chat he deals with are so complex and
his mastery over them so complete,
hat a kind of mystery envelops him.
He appears in the newspapers like a
demon of unaccountable power. He ie
che man who gives his attention to aid
ing the election of the candidates for
State Cfce, and to retaining his hold
upon them after election. His knowl-
edge of local politics all Over a State,
and the handling Of the very large
sums of money subscribed by sundry
promoters and corporations, explain
the miracle of his control.
THE TAMMANY HAPPY FAMILY p"
New York City reached the Happy
Family stage many years ago. Tam
many Hall is in power, being main
tanned there by the great mercantile
interests. The Republican party is out
of power, and It's Organization is kept
going by the same interests. It has
always been the earmark OF an enter
prise of the first financial magnitude
in New York that it subscribed TO both
campaign funds. The Republican fCnc
ton has been to prevent anyone from
disturbing Tammany Hall. This has
not been difficult; the Republicans