The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-04
FEDERAL MACHINE.

II Is partly coincidence aud partly consequence
that during the past year, while Doodle questions
have been agitating the public in general there have
been many striking exhibitions of the nature and
operations OF Federal patronage machines or, more
definitely, Republican State machines. AS some PEG.
pie know and many others surmse, the Republican
national managing machine is made up of State parts,
the whole responding the engineering talents of
q few great leaders.
In several conspicuous instances the inner nature
Of the engine has been revealed. Its component parts
in Rhode Island Delaware, New York and penusyl-
vania are seen to be bad In every department Aid
rlchs machine is sourced in bribery; Addickss organ
zation is corrupt in every detail Pats is scarcely
better, and Quays wonderful creation Is worse.
Three of these men United States Senators; the
fourth aspres be and doubtless will be at the next
vacancy.
In some States there are small competing factions
which harass the machine-there must always be dis
satisfaction while there spells divide-but in
the main the State machines intact, acting as
units In most instances they commanded by
United States Senators or Representatives both.
1t does not follow that because a man is good" in
his domestic, personal business relations he is
good politically. Hanna Is good" in perhaps all!
senses save the political: in politics he is monster Of
method without distinctions. So. to some extent Is
every Senator who handles machine throttle
All the machines subsis, primarily upon patronage.
When TO the power of disposition of Federal Offices is
added political control of the State the machine be-
comes invincble With its growth in power. ex-
emplifed in Pennsylvania, there is corresponding
growth in corruption. In single instance has
chine which attained sufficient strength to ignore the
peoples wishes. failed ignore them; in such in
stance has there been State satisfactory
to the people, in such instance has the consdera
ton Of public service Of State welfare been he'd
above extension of power and dominion.
In dual sense the national machine makes for
bad rule. Its local strength helps it to seize upon
State gorernment-exeept for loyal Democracy in
Missouri and the fact that local Republican politics
has been poorly played for many years to the dis
gust not only of Democrats but Of Republicans Mis-
souri, might have illustrated the drawing power of I
patronage machine-and when States secured they
re-enforce the central strength.
Neither the local functions Of Federal government
nor the functions of State government exercised
primarily for governments sake. where the machine
reaches high development, but subordnated to
political exisencies. used TO further the Others
strength. and inseparably linked that communi-
ties virtually under ruling power and that
corrupt power essentially II is thus forcbly appar
emf that national machine is in many respects an
influence both to destroy the dual nature of govern
ment. tending TO detract from the autonomy of the
State and undermine the constitutional principles
upon which the nation itself stands.
1t is singular fact that the gigantic national ma
chine has developed its highest perfection under the
direct influence and encourag and partly under
the manipulation of President Roosevelt.