The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-06-04
GOOD FELLOWS AND CRAFTS.

The good fellows who have man
aged political machines liz the grow
iGg big cities of the United States al
most invariably have done better by
themselves and privileged corpora
tons than by the municipalities. Their
benefCence was a commercial staple
which they used to get votes. elect
their autOmat0ns and sell franchises,
keeping for themselves the rich tolls
that, Of right belonged in the public
revenue.
No man could aspire to dictatorship
who was not a good fellow. No man
was qualified to command votes I'M
less he We're genial and appeared to
be free and easy in the best0Wal OF
money, patronage or charity. or all,
among his followers. His gOOd-feI-
IoWship, often combined with a Win
ming personality, was the asset that
gave him control over a daring fol-
lowing that was strong in both par
ties.
The biographies Of the great pOliti-
cal bosses Of the large cities form al
most a complete history OF good-fel-
lOWship as the instrument of fran
chise grabs and official crime. One
boss took his profits in power and in
fuence. In that case a cOnfrere or a
cOterie of henchmen took the material
spOils, But he was a good fellow An
other distributed the influence and
patronage among his followers, but
kept the power and spOils himself
He was no less a good fellow Only
good fellow could get what he wanted
by duping those who worked for him
and those who with their votes made
him supreme
Magee. the Pittsburg boss, is de-
cribed as having been a good fellow.
Ames, the Minneapolis boss. is a good
fellow; at least he was while he ruled
Butler, the ST. Louis boss. who had
whip in the democratic pasture and
another in the republican pasture, was
reputed a good fellow Their careers
are now we'll known. Each had slight
ly diHerent methods. but each was. in
some respect. a good fellow.
The good fellow is a person essen
italy peculiar to the effectiveness of
ward politics. To him a ward is
unit, easy to direct. To the ward
henchmen, the boss is a good fellow.
and the henchmen work for him with
certainty OF personal gain Of some
kind. He owns henchmen and minor
bosses, aldermen, state legislators
gressmen-because he is a good
fellow. The public, too, likes him
also because he is a good fellow.
The political good fellow makes
himself solid with class of voters
by donating money Or provisions to
churches, lodges, associations of va
riOus kinds and needy families: BIZ
giving flee entertainments BY MAX
ing show Of his generosity, He
makes himself solid with the ware
workers by distributing minor office.
a4d by allowing them to get rake
oils II their districts. He make
himself solid with legislators bv di-
vidjng spoiis and patronage.
The good fellow has done more det-
riment in the big cities. even BY hi
false charity, than any other inIi
vIdual. with the possible exception @.
the predisposed criminal. He has or
ganlzed the political system and OF
ganized it into a spoiIs machine. Every
big city ii the country has witnessed
the success of one Or more good fel
lows, and there ale at least Indications
that the people, realizing their losses
will have less interest in suave bos
ses. The good fellow has taught the
necessity for better municipal and
legislative systems and for upright
men in public office. But he will be
remembered for what he has done for
himself and his friends.
Walla Walla might profit by study
ing the experience Of larger cities
with good fellows.