The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-11-25
KEEPING THE RASCAlS
OUT IS SERIOUS GAME
Bigelow Sees Much Hope In
Result of Recent Election
In State of Ohio.
Tells His Congregation That
Greatest Problem Will Be
to Keep Rogues Out.

CINCINNATI, OHlU, INON. IO.-1kcV. 11e1"
bert S. Bigelow entertained his congre-
CATION in the Vine street church last
Sunday with an interesting discourse
on the recent elections in Ohio. He
said:
I'VE have turned the rascals out.
Now the problem Is to keep them out.
yesterday we were hanging our
heads with a sense Of civic shame; to-
day our name Is no longer a reproach
among the peoples. Yesterday men
spoke of the power of organization, of
the grip Of the gang, and few had
faith that the machine could be dis
lodged that was welding q reign Of
terror In the town. Today that ma
chine is smashed, It's terror is gone,
its Sampson is shorn Of Its locks, and
there is none to fear him now. Yes
terday men spoke in whispers. To-
day they are unafraid. Yesterday they
seemed paralyzed and helpless. To-
day they are astoundei at themselves
and glory in their new found freedom.
Evil can no longer boast Of it's ma
jorities. A breath Of fresh air has
come in to purify the putrid atmos-
rhere of our municipal life and quick
en- the pulse of our democracy.
"'Oh, the gang has this town sewed
up This was the dreary comment
heard at every turn. Men said that
the bos WAS a wonderful organizer,
that his lieutenants were so clever as
they were unscrupulous, that The sys-
tenn was perfect and that we should
have to wait until the thieves fell
out or some scandal happened.
Like 4 House Of Cards.
But We have. seen one of the strong
est organizations that was ever built
fall like a house Of cards. We have
seen the organizing ability of thu oss
and the resourcefulness Of his (eu-
tenants, and the frantic efforts Of
thousands of Office holders and their
relatives. and the purchasable votes
Of the slums, and the influence of big
business men with their pockets full
of franchises, and subsidy bribed news
papers, and corruption funds and pub
lie service corporations--we have seen
all these influences swept away with
the utmost ease, apparently with no
effort at all, by the silent voter at
the polls. -~. ==:-....:~. = =: =
" Dsmoeraey's Greatest Lesson.
eve have learned Democracy's
greatest lesson. Honest people are al
ways easily in the majority. II wrongs
prevail 1t is because the people Sleep
The little finger Of the people Is thick
or than the loins of the biggest boss.
The shadow Of the macmine has passed
away. The menacing figure of the
boss has shrunk and dwindled in a.
day. Government will return to the
people. Public opinion will become the
law. Each man may take a hand in
making that opinion. Citizens will re-
spond to patriotic apeals. Popular en-
thusiasm will break out. The self
respect and independence Of manhood
will take the place Of the clinging,
his machine.
But how long shall we enjoy this
freedom? Six years ago the boss was
beaten. But it was only a spasm of
reform, after which he returned more
powerful than before. Will this hap
pen again?
Two Laws Needed.
''There Is reason to hope that 1T will
not. The people are wiser now. They
know that the boss is not merely a
forceful personality. who. gathers about
himself kindred spirits and builds a
machine by sheer organizing ability.
He is not an accidental genius He
Is the product of conditions. Every
city has one. He has two sources Of
power. There is the ignorant and pur-
chasable vote Of the slums, and the
backing Of the franchise seeking cor
porations.
abolish al party emblems and pass
a rigid Australian ballot law and the
slum vote will be practically elimin-
ated. Pass law attaching a refer
andum clause to all franchise grants
Then the corporations will accomplish
nothing by controlling councils. These
two laws will do much to keep the
rascals out. The next Ohio legisla-
ture con not do less than this