Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-09-13
Battle of the Bosses.

In both Allegheny and Phil'a counties
many Republicans look upon
the Primary elections as a mere battle
between the bosses of rival political
machines, whose interests conflict
Commenting on this feature Of city
politics the Pittsburg Dispatch Of yester-
day said.
1T was the shrewdness of Colonel
Quay in 80 when he took up a public
issue, thus raising the question from
merely personal plane of contending
bosses, which gave him ultimate vic
tory on that occasion. He saw that in
mere fight between rival machines,
each with gross offenses to answer for,
the public were not deeply concerned;
but he knew that there were great
grievances from which the public had
suffered through corrupt politics.
These he ostentatiously and loudly
promised to rectify. Popular support
Immediately went to his side Legis-
lature with an overwhelming majority
was elected TO carry out his pledged
programme Of roform-and everybody
knows that nothing whatever came Of
1t excepting broken promises and utter
public disappointment.
Tow the shoe is on the the other foot
Colonel Quay can promise nothing Of
special public interest or advantage,
by reason Of his record in the recent
past. To his opponents however, has
come a similar opportunity. though less
in degree, ~ that which presented it
self 10 Colonel Quay in '05. 1t would
be vain 10 expect from them such "A
comprehensive and roseate prospectus 3
Of the abolition Of gross abuses in State
and municipal affairs--for which they
themselves have been more or less con
stantly responsible as Colonel Quay 30
freely advertised
But in conjunction with the Democrats
they declare they are at least in favor Of
the abolition Of one overwhelming abuse,
the notorious frauds upon the ballot box,
by which as many as 80, 900 fraudulent
votes are alleged 20 he yearly cast in
philadelphia alone. With past exper-
fences before them citizens are not likely
to take much stock in general prOies-
sionB. But if the insurgents are really
in earnest they could make a powerful
impression even 80 late III the campaign.
by subscribing themselves ~ a party and
as individuals TO distinct and definite
proposals H. for instance, they were
to come out as committed to n specific
act Of Assembly, ordering that the
primaries Of all parties be held the same
day throughout the Commonwealth, +,
that they be supervised by the courts Of
the counties in which they are held,
that the voting be direct upon what is
known as the Crawford county system
that delegate conventions which are
notorious sinks Of corruption and con
fereuceB which are even worse, be for
ever abolished tina. the corrupt use Of
money in politics be made highly penal,
and that OlTenseB Of fraudulent voting or
tamperng with ballots be punished with
minimum sentences Of - or 20 years in
the penitentiary they would quickly
win for themselves an earnest public
hearing.
1t remains TO be seen whether the in
surgcnts have the cleyerneBs and courage
which Quay showed in 81 in availing
himself Of n similar opening. II would
still remain 10 be shown whether if they
won in consequence Of such n declaration
they would be any more honest than
Quay in carrying out their pledge
There are thousands Of voters. however.
who are totally Indifferent as TO which
machine or sct Of bosses might win If
the issue were merely on that sordid
plane, who would, on the other hand, be
willing 10 exert themselves on behalf Of
any specific pledges Of ballot reform
which had for their basis such strn-
gent criminal law and court safeguards
as have been above outlined, coupled
with the substitution Of direct popu-
lar vote upon candidates for the corrupt
delagatc ana conferee conventions that
are now the source OF most Of the evil in
our administration of public affairs.