The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-21
CONNIE REALISM
IN POLITICS.
Paper Prepared by Bird s.
COler of New York.
Read Before the National Munic-
ipal League at Milwaukee.
HE QUOTES INGALLS,.
Office Seeking a Matter of Salary
and Perquisites.
Industrial and Commercial In
terests Controlled by Capital.


of the forenoon session. His paper was
entitled 1.-THE Essential Element in Good
City Government"
George E. Hooker, of Hull House,
Chicago, read a paper: Local transpor-
tatfon and it's relation to the welfare of
the municipality"
/ A paper on Municipal political par
/ ties" by DR. Milo r. Maltbie, of New
/ York city, was read by the secretary in
| the absence of Mr.. Malthie.
The principal paper was by Bird s.
Coler of New York. Mr. Coler was I'M
able to be present but his paper was
read by the secretary.
The convention closed with the read
ing of paper by NJ. N Baker on Mum
icipal accounting which was discussed
| by James B. Cahoon, of Syracuse, N. Y.
Mr.. Coler's paper was on Danger OF
the commercial spirit in politics. He
said in part:
4'At the outset of my remarks I want
TO make 1t known that / am a pretty
firm believer in our system of govern
ment, its plan and endurance and that
my faith in the wisdom and patriotism
OF the American people as a whole is
But while our system of government,
combined with the honesty and patriot
ism OF the public a whole, has en-
abled us to grow from a local expert
ment to great world power, it may not
be perfect in all its details and when
we discover defects, regard it as the
duty Of the best citizenship to boldly ex-
pose errors and seek to correct them
In the early days of the republic pol
tiles patriotism and statesmanship We're
IN large measure synonymous terms.
Today the system is changed and when
a man seeks Office ii is often with a
view to material personal benefit Pat
rlot1sm, in many cases has become a
question of salary and perquisites,- and
"A spirit of commercialism has inva-
ded our politics and our craftsmanship
THE system OF making money out of
government and politics, conmercialism
in public affairs, has been a matter Of
slow and unobtrusive growth
fhe root of this evil, which is SO
dangerous to our institutions. may be
found in the mistakes in our system of
politics. Our machinery for the main.
tenance OF political divisions has be-
come so vast and complicated that large
sums OF money are required to keep it
in motion. We have not vet reached
that degrees of public spirit or civic pride
where men are willing TO spend largely
from their private fortunes to promote
the general welfare without expectation
Of ulrect return The result is that most
OF our citizens of means hold aloof from
practical politics and leave the field
open to less scrupulous individuals.
the late John J. Ingalls, once said
that no employer was so poorly served
as the government, the truth of which
cannot be denied This is due to a pub
lie spirit created largely by dishonest
pOIliCS ana 10 q Q1SHO1eSt notion that
an office holder or public employee need
not render the same quality of service
to city, state or nation as he would rem
DER TO private corporation or indi-
vidual.
1T is an accepted and universally
practiced theory among practical poll
ffc1anS that, conditions being equal all
offices and favors of government should
go to members or friends of the party
in power.
place a thoroughly organized party
or faction in absolute control of every
department of a great city and that
power can be used to enrich favored
corporations and individuals and to
crush any and every legitimate business
that refuses to engage in questionable
transactions with the representatives of
the man whose word is law.
To-day the Industrial and commercial
interests of this country are largely
controlled by few men, Every trust
in this country today is in whole or part
creation of dishonest commercialism
in politics.
Honest government conducted on
business principles does not grant to
combinations of men or capital special
privileges or powers that are denied to
individual citizens. Such legislation is a
radical and dangerous departure from
the true spirit of our system OF govern
ment.
zone Of the gravest features of this
danger is the liberation with which such
methods are endured and the failure of
the average pOullCla1 TO release MS
moral dishonesty. Men have made mon
ey out of politics until they have come
to regard such transactions as legiti-
mate.
THE conscience of a politician can
thrive on subterfuge and false reasoning
and he can speculate in the stock of a
friendly corporation while boasting that
he is a faithful public servant.
No man can grow rich on the salary
of any public Office in this country, and
whenever a public officer accepts
chances to earn money by reason of the
he has entered the commercialism of
politics and the end of that business is
dishonesty and moral bankruptcy.
"ETlle dangers of this spirit of greed
and commercialism in politics and pub
lie life we cannot longer afford to
ignore. They are real. they are threat
ening. The remedy for the evils and
dangers of the present system is in the
hands of the people. The time has come
for them to act and to act effectively.
The adoption of a sound political plat
from does not make good government,
well founded viii never destroy a trust
or reform a public abuse
1.-THE remedy for the evil of corrupt
politics is to arouse an intelligent pub
edeg of their rights and the wrongs the
masses now suffer. they will speedily
apply a remedy and once aroused no
political machine or combination of
politicians can stop them Government
can control and regulate that which it
cialism is crushed out OF American poll
tics no trust can buy a favor that is
denied the poorest citizen"
Hutchinson and Return $465 via the
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