New-York tribune., 1905-11-29

public officials should not only be made crime.
but even voluntary contributions to political
parties should be prohibited The money of the
people should not be used in frustrating their
will
By this means the vice of patronage will be
mininlized If not effaced, and elections will be
free from most dangerous and subversive foe.
There can be no free election when from 10000
to 10000 paid public officials in single city are
let loose at conventions and Election Day to
their offices and Illustrate the will of the
independent voter.
President Fox asked him to say something
about conditions in Philadelphia, and Mayor
Weaver continued:
1--WE have no tiger in Philadelphia. He seems
to be animal known better in New-York"
Philadelphia has hyenas." ventured one OF the
listeners.
I'VE suffered from an octopus which almost
concealed the light of day. It's tentacles grasped
every department. I never believed that octopus
could be slain, but the free and Independent
voters of the city succeeded in it."
When Everett Colby State Senator-elect from
New Jersey, arose to speak there was general
crowding forward from the rear of the dinner
hall, which demonstrated lively interest in the
young independent. 1t was the most youthful
looking man on the platform, despite touch of
badness on whom thay looked. His face was
smooth shaven, showing the frrnness of his
chin to the full. His address was that of a sea-
soned speaker, and it not long before the
diners realized that he carried message He
said, in part:
Fighting bosses as individuals is like digging dan
delions without REACHING the roots-they spring 2 up
fore, with political decapitations but must remove
lous dictator to live in our political system, and
in my Judgment the method to be adopted In strug-
siids and principles les instead t Of With men
intelligent He is not student of great measures,
and he is, therefore. afraid of weapon in the
creates situation that appeals to public interest
and puts up deal which cannot be settled on
What is the result? Every man with an idea
the Sreaf T problem must be kept down BECAUSE the
boss doesn't know how to handle him. ard Il & he
the party with which he would naturally affiliate
ing off ali men who think and have ideas instead
out the problem that We facing and must solve.
& Ian y yop bil aag s aIPig t d down toetSer IN
secluded corner Of Tammany Hall to work out this
rounded By iaWbooks and histories containing the
accumulated wisdom Of past centuries? Can you
the IePer spots that are breaking king. gut on our
Can you picture them with minds single to that
great purpose OF securing patch Of blue sky In
for aIl7 Can you picture It? I think not. and
yet these two men In two difeTent States Ssh in , two
their parties tickets the name Of any man with
paramount remedy?
To me it seems that it can be found in a direct
of reform to get possession of the machinery of his
party to put his reform into effect The result OF
| and to make it impossible for any to keep
| boss to the wall for good and paves the way for
/ political leaders who will make the party an in
| the people rather. than. tool in the hands Of a
boss to advance the unlawful interests OF corpora
| tions
Big, hearty, whole souled Tom Johnson. radical
/ ..II.-
his turn His delight at the mingIing OF forces,
of the ofcials-elect of various parties and of no
parties was evident. He wore the lowest collar
| that has been seen on a New-York platform this
| year and the broadest smile.
MAYOR TOM JoHNsoNs SPEECH
Every one knew that he would soon get to mis-
own particular hobby-city franchises-but as a
/ prelude he declared that he saw in such a
/ gathering signsof citizenship rising above mere
! partisanship He spoke OF Governor Folk go
/ ing to philadelphia to help Mayor Weaver. and
| then to Ohio to assist Governor-eleot Pattison
| and declared that after such evidence he really
believed the forces of reform were at last fight
ing for the same thing. He said in part:
| Our city governments show the conflict
| between two antagonizing forces, one In the
direction of socialism, the other in the direction
| of special privilege. Socialism would destroy
| individual enterprise, while privilege In It's
AAAc4AOECAS
zenship. Socialism would put industry and
| property in the hands of the government and
| make it the sole employer Of labor. Plutocracy
| or conservatism as special privilege calls itself
would keep all city enterprises in private hands
! for profit. These the two extremes, and
| each must lead to destruction. We, who faVor
municipal ownership Of public service enter
prises stand as it were between these two con-
| ilicting forces. -
| We contend that public business only should
| be managed by the people We contend rhat
private business should always remain IN l- pIl-
vate hands. These three schools Of thought
have been accurately described as plutocracy,
which advocates the private ownership OF pupnc
! business; socialism, which favors the puDiIG
| ownership Of private business, ana munelpal
| own ersliip, which demands the public ownership
of public business.
| What is it that stands mostly in the way of
| our cities becoming healthy, beautiful and Tull
| of public spirit? What are the forces back OF
the bosses and petty 'grafters? Lincoln Stef-
| fens saws big business" and Frederick Z.
Howe says big privilege" but they really
mean the same thing, unfair advantage OF some
| kind. 1t is owing TO the corrupt1ng lnnuencs VI
| these owners of law made privileges, In an eIort
/ to enlarge. secure OF obtain new privileges that
| great funds are placed in the hands OF corrupt
| bosses or corrupted political parties
| In this process of city making, which you are
| considering, what influence Is 1t that oaInes
effort? 1t is the alliance OF the keenest Inlnos
and the brightest intelIects with the privileged
corporations This alliance Is not, as some claim
to keep these enterprises out Of politics. but II
| is to keep bad men in politics. that larger prohts
! may accrue to the owners OF special privileges
| The stockholders and investors in such enter
prses find that their interests lie IN perpetual 2 aa
profits that flow to them from street railway and
| lighting franchises these men would exercise
| their great influence to make our cities better
| instead of, as now, to keep them bad.
The greatest loss 20 the city is not the value OF
the franchise its private owners, nor in loss Of
convenience or public spirit and civic virtue
| among the men who naturally belong In the
ranks of those seeking to make this world better
All are willing to help in an attack the
petty CRATER. but how few are wiling 70 @ IooS