The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-11
THE PRESIDENTIAL BOSS.

Postmaster General Payne rushes into
print with the declaration that there is
no authority for coupling the name of the
president with the statement that the presi-
dent is in favor of change in the basis of
and reduction in the representation of
the Southern States in National conven-
tons"
This is evasion.
MI Payne had just been in conference
with the president when he made the state
ment, and he proceeded to announce his own
approval of the proposition. One SO close
to the president would not In this manner
have antagonized his chiefs views. Mr.
Payne does not say that the president dis
sents from the proposition-only that there
was no authority for coupling his name with
the announcement.
But all doubt on this subject is removed,
Notwithstanding Mr.. Payne's clumsy dis
avowal, by the following authorized state
ment from the White House:
The republican party in the South, If it is to
have a material influence in party councils in
the future must establish its claim to recogni-
iion by a thorough reorganization, accompanied
by results al the polls. The president is deter
mined that the party in the Southern States
| snail become something more thau close cor
/ poration for the peddling OF Federal patronage
| The president and his advisers will revise the
representation from the Southern States, basing
| it upon the number OF votes cast by the party
in each State
The president here goes further than the
original statement. He declares that he
and his advisers will revise the representa-
ton from the Southern States, basing it up
on the number of votes cast by the (repub
lican) party in each State
He and his advisers, not the National con
vention, will revise!
There is bossism with vengeance!
His selfchosen title of Rough Rider is
not inappropriate.
Always selfwilled and headstrong his
needless personal bent is emholdened by the
vicious idea that a president is ruler in
stead of a servant, and now he assumes the
role of party boss in a more intolerant and
oonceited fashion than any public man who
has ever deserved the opprobrlous epithet
Yet it was only a few weeks ago that he
tamely submitted to the dictation OF Boss
Plat and made distasteful appointment
which he had declared he would not make
upon hint from Plat that the New Yorl
State convention this year might not ex
press a presidential preference,
II would appear that this boss, like most
Of his kind is a braggart as Well
The Post has no particular interest in the
republican party or its quarres or bosses
but it resents insolence and arrogance from
any source Especially offensive Is tn,
constant phariseeism OF the Northern re
publicans. Southern republicans are ba,
enough, but so far as The Post observe.
they are no worse as spoilsmen or barterers
than their Northern brethren Indeed, II
the matter Of eorrupting politics. the leader,
Of the republican party are the chiefest OF
sinners, and their Southern followers are al
the most but inapt students. When the
president takes into his cabinet the mastel
politician, Payne, and openly allies himself
with the notorious trioksters. Plat and
Quay he is estopped in all decency from
raising his voice against the petty jobbery
Of Southern republican leaders.