Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-05
POWER OF THE BOSSES
It is Causing the, Republican Leaders
Some Anxiaty.
This May Be an rIssae I'm the Con-
gressional objections as
il
Well NJ. In 10O6.

selected their congressional committees in
preparation for theacambaign which is to
determine the complexion of the next Con-
gress. The democrats some time ago COM
pleted their organization on Bryan free
silver lines. There is no contest over the
organization of the republican committee
and 1t is well understood that the officers OF
the old committee will be reelected and
their campaign will be conducted along the
same lines It was last fall. If there Is any
change as to the issues 1t is simply that
the democrats are more firmly committed
to silver ande the republicans are more
fearlessly fighting for, the preservation OF
the gold standard
The division of sentiment in this country
on that question is pretty we'll understood
but there is another thing that is liable to
have a great influence upon the result of
both the congressional election and that
OF l9OO, and which is giving some anxiety
to the thoughtful men in Congress, espe-
cially among republicans. This Is the ques-
ton of machine control in politics. There is
growing belief that the republican party
of the bosses to retain and expand their
political power. A paradcxical situation
renders the power of thte machine less dan
gerous to the democrats. In their case,
where the machine is powerful the platform
OF the party is weak and the machine sim
ply operates to hold in the party lines,
without regard to principle men who, If
they acted independently Of the machine.
would not support the party candidates. To
that extent the machine power operates
temporarily to their advantage.
Fears of the Bosses.
With the republicans the situation is diff
ferent. They have much to lose and moth
ing to gain by the domination of the bosses.
Many who feel that there is nothing for the
republicans to fear from going before the
country on the direct issue of currency
reform and the preservation of the gold
standard. as against Organism and free
silver, fear that they may be threatened
with serious defeat if the power of the
machine becC mes fixed upon the party. 1t
is recognized that there is a revolt among
republicans herever the power Of bosses
has been felt against further bending of
the neck to the bosses. This may mean a
serious loss Of votes if the power of the
machine is not broken meanwhile; and 1t
certainly means that many recruits that
should be had from among sound moneJ"
democrats will not come to the support OF
the republicans. Most of the latter apt
to argue that If it is to be a mere matter of
machine politics they may well stand by
their own machine, where there may be
some hope of profit. They see an advantage
to themselves in standing by the machine
in New York and in Chicago, for instance,
and will hardly be disposed to sacrifice that
advantage to any sentiment of principle II
that involves the acceptance of new bosses.
Get Rid of the Machine.
The men in Congress who3thus examine the
situation feel perfect confidence in the abil-
ity of the republican party to retain control
of the government IL the political struggle
is confined to an issue of principle, and they
do not want to see their cause weakened
by the want of confidence excited among
the people by the persons who pose as po-
litical bosses and undertake to dictate the
policies as well as the appointments of the
government and the nominations of county.
state and national conventions. 1t is there
party and to the cause Of Sound money
that the machine system should be got rid
Of as far possible before the campaign
comes on. By the men who feel this way
the action of the Business Mems League
in Philadelphia Is viewed with great salts
faction, and the hope is entertained" that,
for the good Of the party, the fight against
Quay will be successful. 1t is felt that if
the machine is smashed by the republicans
in Pennsylvania 1t will give an inspiration
to republicans all over the country and
will overcome the hesitation of many who
are on the verge of coming to recruit the
sound money forces. With all the con-
fused clamor about civil service reform,
about deliberate prosperity" and differ
ences as to finance, with respect to the
policy of the administration, it is felt that
the real weakness Of the administration is
in the fact that the bosses have been rec
ognized too much with respect to the con-
troll Of the states which they claim as their