The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-28
WHO WILL DO TIT


 The Chicago Tribune (Rep.) has some caustic comments on Senator Platt and his remarks. The Senator wants the Republican State organization of New York to regain Tits old time vigor and quality" and The Tribune remarks that some of the responsibilities were dis closed by the Senator in his testimony before the legislative committee. It devoived upon the head of the State or- ganization to receive the sums paid by corporations for special protection to be given by 1t. The ordinary pro- tection which the law and the ministers of the law extend to all was not enough for the corporations. They thought they needed in addition the protection which the Republican Party represent ed by it's leaders. controlling the Leg islature and State executive depart ments, could give them"
 Then The Tribune continues:
 trying duties to discharge when it had to ascertain from the important cor porations of the State how much pro- lection" and of what kind each of them needed. and to determine how much should be paid for it. It takes a busi- ness man-an expert in calculating complicated questions of this kind. There has to be a graduated scale Of prices. To be guaranteed immunity from wholesome legislation will cost more than protection against blackmail legislation. These are the agreements which the State organization, when it had its "old time vigor," used to carry out.
 Regret is often expressed at the re- luctance of business men to take a leading part in politics. That regret will not be so profound if the business men who go into politics are to take with them the business methods and the low standards of morals of the men who have of recent years been leaders of the New York Republican State organization. The business man who becomes a politician and a boss cannot always divest himself of his mercantile instincts. but begins trad ing in legislation. He acquiesces in the election of blackmailers to the Legis- lature and then insures against their rapacity. for heavy premium, the cor porations that ask merely to be let alone.
 The need of the hour is not the busi- ness man in politics, but the honest man in politics. That man, when the leader of a party, will not resort to the sale of privileges or protection to party bosses in many States and cities have improved on the crude methods of the Italian "black hand" organiza- tions and extort money in more sci~ entific and less violent manner. The time has come for the honest rank and file to put honest men in the places of those who have betrayed and shamed them. Banish the "easy boss" and in- stall the honest leader.
 All this dirty work of collecting and receiving corruption funds was in full blast while Platt himself was boss of the State organization, and he appa- rently longslfor a return of those good times. Platt is about as shameless as Odell or any of the rest of them, but how the party In New York is to rid itself of such bosses is the question. It Is all well enough to say, as The Tribune does. Danish the easy boss and install the honest leader" but who Is to do 1t? "who will bell the cat?" as was asked in a famous convocation of Scottish leaders when they were pro- posing to get rid of one of the Kings favorites Has New York second Archibald Douglas who will take upon himself the duty and responsibility of deposing the bosses who control the party and substituting the honest lead- CTS for them? If man of that sort can be found he may redeem the party in New York. but 1t will be hard job to choke off those who have ruled 1t in their own interests and to fill their own pockets