Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-12-09
Editorial Page Of the News.
How the Boss May
Be Eliminated From
Politics ~ ~ ~
By SAMUEL L. CLEMENS OZARK Twain)

7 is a peculiar condition, but none the less true, that the pol+
ical liberty of which we are SO proud is mainly responsible for
the existence of the political boss. At any election the people,
- IF THEY CHOOSE, may turn out the whole crowd. But
this very power which rests with the people is accounta-
BILE for the laxhy which permits the Murphys and the MeStrdys and
the McCalls and Hegemans to flourish. We know that whenever we
get tired of the domination of the bosses or those in office who repre-
sent them we have an unfaiing remedy. W. may apply it at any
time, and for that reason WE DON'T until some fragrant act causes
an upheayal such as we have seen in New York city and in Philadel
pMa and in some other places.
There is a way to escape from the thraldom of bossism, and that is
by the organization of a third party, AN INDEPENDENT PARTY,
made up of those who are generally called "mugwumps" I'm a "mug-
wump.' have never tied myself to any party, but have voted for the
nominee who appealed to me as being the best man.
Some man of great executive ability, John Wanamaker, for in
stance, will have to enlist all his energies in the formation Of a perma-
nent third party. 1t must be composed Of men who are willing to give
up all affiliations WITH EITHER OF THE GREAT PARTIES.
No man in it can have any political aspirations. He must not have
any friends whom he wishes to push forward for political preferment.
The sole reason for the existence of this new third party must be to
elect the candidate of either the Democratic or the Republican party
who is h believed to be the BEST FITTED for the Office for which he
is nominated.
Tits not the idea that this independent party is to consist of another
fog of nonindividuaities to be swung in a mass for any candidate at
any ones dictaton.
THERE WOULD BE NOBODY WHO COULD DELIVER THAT
voTE IN A MASS.
It is a party made up of separate Municipalities, each holding and
pricing the privilege of voting as he chooses, the rest to vote as they
choose. And therefore you have this result-that if the candidate of
one of the great parties is conspicuously a better man than the candi-
date of the other great party 1t Is behevable that the independent party
would vote as a mass for that man.
But if both are equally conspicuous for merit it is belevable that
this would split the independent vote in two, with the final result that,
both of these candidates being excellent men, NO ONE WOULD
CARE WHICH WAS ELECTED.
Ii an independent. party can obtain the nomination of excellent
men on both sides, this would certainly Justify the organization of a
third party.
sS.
If this third party has power to elect whoever it pleases, neither
will select for its nominees any but the very best men. One can realize
with what pains the names of the candidates would be considered be-
fore they were chosen for a place on the tickets? There could never
be any question about their eligibility. All the "mugwumps" would
have to do would be to decide which man they liked best and vote for
him. [ admit it would be a mixed government, but that wouldn't
matter.
have often wondered at the condition of things which sets aside
morality in politics and makes possible the election of men whose I'M
fitness is apparent. A mother will teach her boy at her knee to tell
the truth, to be kind, to avoid all that is immoral. She will painstak-
ingy guide his thoughts and actions SO that he may grow up possessed
of all the manly virtues.
TIE FATHER OF THAT BOY WILL, WHEN 1T COMES TIME
FOR HIS SON TO CAST HIS FIRST VOTE, TAKE HIM ASIDE AND
ADVISE HIM TO VOTE FOR A BAD MAN WHO is ON a CERTAIN
TICKET BECAUSE HE HAS ALWAYS ADHERED TO THE PRiNcI-
PIES OF THAT PARTY.
COULD ANYTHING BE MORE ABSURD? 4