The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-22
"THE CONFESSIONS OF A BOSS"

IN ACTIVE POLITICAL WORKER
} BUY yOTEs-AN INSIDE VIEW OF
labor organizations. 1t was bitterly
fought by railroad corporation which
had blacklisted all Of its employees known
to be connected In any way with or
ganized labor Gs.A
The lobbyist of this road approached
me on the day the bill came up on final
passage In the house and said that all
of his efforts against the measure would
be fruitless unless he could get twoi.mor
votes on his side. He asked me to fur,
nish him with the yotes-said that my
own and that Of man was known to
control absolutely would turn defeat into
victory for him. He offered me $4,000
spot cash to do this. Did ! affect vir-
tuous Indignation? Not at all. But did
refuse the bride, and I helped to pass
the bill. Moreover, did not rest until
1 had induced the governor to sign the
measure, and was thus fully enacted into
law. acted purely and entirely from
conscientious motives, and, as was ap-
parent, at great financial loss to myself.
The officers, directors and stockholders
Of the corporation that employs the lob
byist who offered me the bribe stand high
in the community, and have known one
Of them to deliver public lecture de-
nouncing the Wiles and ways of politi-
clans and. the prevailing corruption in our
public life.
During all of this time WAS prospecting
in worldly sense. l served my party
and my party served me. became known
as man Of my word, which means much
in politics. was let in on the ground
floor in many good things. Looking back
on it now, / can say with deliberation that
my wealth was acquired in a legitimate
manner. BY means of friendly tips I
bought stocks low and sold them when
they were high. | might have had twice
as much as l have, but I was always lib
eral with those around me, and scattered
my money with a lavish hand. 1 saved
enough to keep me comfortably in my old
days, and don't regret the rest. During
these years l was conspicuous in the
councils of the party, helped to select can
d;dates, assisted in drafting the platforms
and was never in the background when 1T
came to electing the nominees. But out
side of my legislative positions | never
held office. g.s
Between Corporations.
When l was in my prime there occurred
great contest, affecting the franchise for
one Of the waterways of the state. TWO
railroad companies were after certain
bit of territory which was important to
their development 1t was struggle be-
tween corporations. l never could see
that the public had much in it. Anyhow,
took sides. I was not a member then; but
that didn't affect my usefulness in get
ting votes. Being an ex-member, l hac
~ ~s-.sy - L. a. 1x,l ! ~
take many weeks to get all Of the legis-
lators lined up. Many of the members
took my side because it was just .what
their constituents would approve. Others
did it out of pure friendship for me. 9th:
ers still wanted to be "staked. l re
sisted the last element as much as pos
sib1e, but not with entire success. Oul
side won. But after the session two o
the granger members who voted with VI
paid off long standing mortgages agains
their farms. And they didn't do it from
the proceeds of their crops, either,
can't bring myself to believe that l dit
any wrong in this matter. There was I
purchasable element in the legislature
and it, was a very small proportion Of tn
| legislature. We, simply went into tn
open market and purchased our share
that element. saa
If might digress for a moment here,
would like to remark that in my humble
opinion, the corrupt minority in publ
life is about equally divided, whenever 3;
division is possible;: and that honest mel
generally get Their dues. 1t was; certainl,
so in this case, and regard 1t as typica
instance.
One more episode and I will conclude
| Not many years ago syndicate with mil
| lions of money behind it made a PROPOSE
! tion to lease the city works which fur
nished the people with one of the tprlm
necessaries of life. will not say Whethe
the proposition was to lease the waite
works, the gas works or the electric ligh
works, because many of the men who too
part in the deal are living to-day, re
spected members of the community.
have no desire to criticise them or poin
them out, even by indirection; I Civ
merely few inside facts that may fur
nish food for thought in considering tn
! iniquities of boss. I studied the mat
ter over carefully and came to the conclu
sion that the measure was a steal, pur
and simple. 1t was case of handing owe
public property to private corporatio
| without giving the people anything Xix
what they should have in return. fe1
not only that the thing was wrong, bu
that it would bring disaster on the party
Other leaders differed with me, to such a
extent that there was factional split j
the party which has not been fully heale
to this day..
Cash VS.. Conscience.
am logged when you oppose me; an
4 l fought that bill as bitterly as il Their
were millions in it for me; instead {
nothing and the contempt of many of m
former associates. When the round u
came the advocates of the mill had II
votes assured to them, while I .controlle