The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-11-12
The Bosses Hold Their Own.

4
| The election in New Orleans resulted
in a victory for the bosses who have
controlled the political destinies OF
| the city for a generation, save during
the brief interregnums when their
power was temporarily scotched by
| the Y. M. D. a. and Citizens League
movements. The city belongs to the
ward bosses in political sense, and
| they have held their own, with the as
sisgance OF the gubern atorial boss at
Baton Rouge, who lords it over them
as they do over the people.
Martin Behrman was elected mayo
| by q plurality of 1915 over Chas. F.
Buck, the total vote standing Is, 1852
for Behrman, lO,047 for Buck and
about 500 for Wogan. The remaining
candidates on the Regular ticket were
successful by about the same plurality,
and the only Home Rule nominees
elected we're the three eouncilmen in
the twelfth, fourteenth and sixteenth
wards. The million-dollar school bond
amendment was voted down by large
majority, Regulars, Home Rulers and
Republicans uniting in opposition to
the scheme. The vote stood 1870 for
the amendment. 5s46 against it, an ad-
verse majority OF 44T6. Parker re-
ceived Is, 485 votes for president and
Roosevelt 1852.
The Chief anticipated the defeat of
the Home Rule movement, as Indicated
by the following extracts from an edi-
torial written for publication in last
week s issue but crowded out for lack
Of space:
"There can be no question that in
point Of individual and collective
merit, and more especially because of
their adherence to the principle of
local self government and resistance
TO bossism and ring-rule, the Home
Rulers are far-and away the better OF
the contending factions, and their sue
cess would promote the material in
terests of New Orleans ID much
higher degree than could that of the
Regulars. Unfortunately, however,
virtue and merit are not always vic
torious in such struggles-on the con-
trarY, their victories are compare
lively few and far between. The CITY
bosses are strongly intrenche6 behind
the barricade OF a powerful party or
ganization and are armed with the
control and distribution OF vast
amount Of patronage, and it is only
by heroic means that such a combina-
tion can be defeated and driven from
its stronghold. The governor of the
state, panoplied with an appointive
power greater than that vested il the
chief executives of any half dozen of
the other commemorative of the Union.
Is in active league with the Regulars.
and does not hesitate to let it be seen
that the whip which this pernicious
system places in his hands will be
used mereilessly to drive recalcitrants
into line and crush out opposition to
the city ring and the governors per-
sonal schemes.
lthln the past two weeks, and |
Partlcularly since the exposure of MIR.
benrm an moral la1ity-evidenced by |
MS having served at the same time
TWO masters whose interests coniicted |
ana taken pay from both-there has
seemed to be flow of the tide of pub |
lie sentiment towards the Home Rn1a |
ticket, but it is very doubtful that the |
movement will be OF sufficient volnma
to overwhelm the ring. ~
The wish Is by no means father 10 |
the thought with Us, for If the control |
OF the issue lay in our hands . differ.
ent result would ensue, but it is orr
Judgment that the Regulars are lika1v
to elect their general ticket and carr /
q majority Of the city wards
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