New-York tribune., 1900-08-01
POLITICAL ADVOWSON.


Quarantine Commissioner Schroeder nav not
be entirely discreet In his utterances but his
frankness has a distinct value worthy of recog
milton. One of the chief difficulties TO be en-
countered in the maintenance of honest and
free government is the ignorance and apathy
of people concerning the actual workings Of
the political machinery which is nominaly
under their control. They are prone to neglect
the reality Of power and be content with its
empty forms, and they are reluctant to believe
what may be told them about the developments
and changes in the spirit of their institutions
When reformer says that their government
is being transformed that its theory and
practice no longer coincide they are likely to
regard him something Of a crank They
need the revelations of men on the inside of
politics, who tell of the practical system not
In the least to criticise it. but simply as an
incident TO their work under and in accord
with that system.
This is what Mr.. Schroeder does Ex-senator
Jacob Worth is candidate for Congress in the
With District. Since Mr.. Worth came 70 the
conclusion in 1897 that it would be good poll
tics for the Republicans to join in electing an
anti-Tammany Mayor, when Senator Piatt in
sisted on defeating the only anti-Tammanv
man who could possibly be elected. Mr.. Worth
has not stood high in the favor Of the organiza-
ton. He appears, however to have n large
following in his district and ii has been thought
that the people there might nominate him. Mr.
Schroeder. however, thinks it is time to put
pretence aside and honestly dispose once for
all OF the notion that the people Of the district
have anything TO say about It. He declares:
There may be a few election districts that will
drift away through friendship for Worth but
the leaders have got to be for DunweIl's nonoI
Senator m
willing 10 let the people of that district decide
TO suit themselves, then will pull Dunwell out
or the race at once, and will pitch in to
nominate Mr.. Worth But now IL s runUeU
and he is to be nominated unless Mr. Plat saws
to let him alone.
1t is not a critic Of machine politics who
says this. It is no anti-Platt speech Of ex.Sec-
retary Bliss or Mr. Choate or Mr. BrookfieId
or any of the other men who have protested
against Mr.. Platts assuming to decide what
the people Of a district may do 1t is not the
complaint of Mr.. Gruber over the organiza-
tion's attempts to punish his people for choos-
Ing him as a district leader These persons
might be called prejudiced, and their charges
that Mr.. Platt was dictatorial might be de.
clared unfounded But Mr. Schroeder is no
boss bogie" raiser When as one of Mr. Platt's
neutenants, he declines as a matter of course
TO concede to the With District freedom of choice
unless Mr.. Platt tells him 'he is willing to let
the people Of that district decide to suit them
selves he means it, He is simply the faithful
steward of Mr.. Platt's goods The Vth District
Congress seat belongs to Mr. Platt If Mr.
Schroeder were cashier in Mr.. Platts office and
anybody should come in and ask for a thousand
dollars he would inquire If the applicant had
an order from Mr.. Platt. and in defauIt of II
would refuse TO give him the money So now
when people talk Of taking the Vth District seat
the incOrruptbe custodian tells them to ask
Mr. Platt If they can have IT, Unless he con-
sents the district has got to be- otherwise dis
posed OF.
We ourselves comment on these remarks of
Mt Schroeders. not for the purpose of censur-
ing them, neither 10 make them a text for ex
pressing disapproval Of machine politics. We
merely call attention to them in the interests
of historic truth and scientific knowledge They
Will be Of use 10 the future student of politics
and civil government. At this point he will note
that the right 10 fill Congress seats once nos
sessed and exercised by the people had been
firmly settled on the party organization leader
and 1t was clearly recognized that the old order
was merely an empty form. and that the people
could decide 10 suit themselves" only when
the patron Of the living" 10 use the English
church expression, gave his permission This