The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-06


another phase OF politics. chiefly in New
York. have seen the light in the various
| magazines. Some Of them have been I'M
| deniably good. But well-constructed nov
| els are few-those that succeed in putting
clearly before the reader, in a way that
shows an understanding of the forces at
| work underneath semblances, what may
be called the organism" of politics.
THE TWO POLITICAL
STORIES OF THE YEAR.
Two novels that take politics for the
central theme and delineate powerful
characters typical Of that sphere of &C.
tivity have been published during the last
year.
They came out within q month of each
| other. and each has conspicuous merit.
They are. of course, "The Boss" by Al
fred Henry Lewis. and THE Mills of
Men," by Philip Payne.
The former deals with New York, with
Tammany Hall-the marvel In organiza-
ton, which survived Tweedism, Croker
ism, and Is entering upon another era Of
supremacy that doubtless will go down
in history as Murphyism.
Tammany Hall. to the usual mind, con-
veys an impression OF all that Is Ubiquitous.
Much Of that has attached to 1t. But it
STANDS pre-eminent In the country as H.
pact organization, and, many think, as
proof that the success of reform move
ments. lies in such organization.
The latter has to do with Chicago and
Illinois
1t attempts the portrayal Of a wider
field than does 1.-THE Boss" and introduces
more types.
Owing to the wealth of the State, poll
tics in Illinois is on a scale second only
Iy, HI 4.
city normally is Democratic, 1t Is not so
by as large margin as In New York. and
Is not nearly SO settled In its political per-
suasions.
The swift movement, the hurry bury.
which may be called the spirit of Chicago.
enters into its politics. and also has de-
veloped out Of its newspaper men several
virile writer's.
One Of them is Mr.. Payne. From the
scenes with which he Is SO directly in
touch he has evolved a novel that pictures
all the hurry ana the stress of the city
and that is forcible Interpretation and
study of its politics.
The machine managers. the ''bosses.~
being at the head of the party Or
CARNATIONS in the respective States and
cities, often have come to hold the chief
positions of authority in their spheres. de-
spite that they are not legally officials.
Each one of them always. however low
his morals, is man of strong character
and unusual personality. Indeed. 1t may
DO said that to no other type in American
life to-day attaches SO much OF dramatic
and picturesque interest.
Alfred Henry Lewis has the comprehen-
sion and the expression with which to n
terpret such q type, to resolve him into
black and white. and does SO in 1.-THE
Boss"
BEGAN IN PRECINCTS
AND WORKED TO THE TOP.
He starts his Boss upon his career IN
the manner in which most bosses begin,
as precinct leader-the bottom rung Of the
time one of the incidents of his life was
arrest on the charge of MURDER charge
of which he was innocent.
That such a crime SHOULD have over
Swallowed him was a poignant sorrow,
from which he could not escape the rest
of his life. Anxiety for her husband, the
fear that the law might fasten guilt upon
him, innocent though he was, drove his
wife to her grave, and the same incubus
OF fear hangs over and torrents the
daughter. who Is brought into the world
Just at the time. In such incidents lie the
motif for the emotional parts Of the novel.
Oppressed by a crime that left upon him
no stain Of guilt, the Boss comes later In
life to the daily wanton. and unrepentant
commission Of the crime against which the
people only recently have been Weakened
to cry out against loudly-use Of political
authority for private enrichment. The
capital offense to him means disgrace; the
other, that was business"
"A citizen merely. yet this leader Of Tam
many gives and withholds franchises. par
ticipates in the manipulation Of stocks
and corporations.
The relations Of the Boss to the Police
to the legislative depart
ment, to the corporate interests. are de-
picted unsparingly.
No doubt but that every word il true
and that the Boss Is from the life. Any
reader who is to the slightest degree in
formed as to 'how it's done" knows and
feels the truth Of the tale.
Granted that we must admire his abil-
ities We must also admit that Alfred Hem
ry Lewis betrays symptoms Of an inclina-
ton to write merely UP to tho good
mark and does not endeavor to
much more than tho external
quality into his work.