The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-04-13

| ly to me, and discovered that a most
Iiriuuitous condition existed Massa-
chusetts senators and representatives
were not only bought and sold as sau-
sages or fish are In the market, but
there existed a regular quotation
schedule for their votes. Many OF the
prominent lawyers of the state were
traffickers in legislation, and earned
large fees engineering the repeal OF
old laws and the passage of new ones.
Agents of corporations nominated cam
didates for Office, and paid the ex-
penses of their election In return for
votes for favorite measure and prom
ises to do business" The Legislature
was organized on the same basis; its
executive officers were chosen because
OF their subservience to certain cor
poration leaders; committees were
rigged to do given thing and pre-
vent other things from being done.
Above all, ! learned that the chance Of
a citizen Of Massachusetts obtaining
charter from the legislature of his
state, unless he had money to put up
| for it, was about as good as hobO's
Of securing diamond and ruby stud
ded crown at Tiffany's by explaining
| that he wanted 1t. In fact, the citi-
zens request would be regarded by
senators and representatives very
much as Tiffany's would take the ho-
bc's as a joke first, then as an imper-
thence.
The Massachusetts legislature Is
bought and sold as are sausages and
fish at the markets and wharyes. That
| the largest, wealthiest, and most prom
| inent corporations in New England,
whose affairs are conducted by our
most representative citizens, habitual-
ly corrupt the Massachusetts legisla-
ture, and the man of wealth among
them who would enter protest against
the iniquity would be looked on as
"class anarchist" I will go further
and say that If in New England man
Of the type Of Folk Of Missouri can
be found who will give over six
months to turning up the legislative
and Boston municipal sod of the past
| ten years, who does not expose to the
world condition Of rottenness more
rotten than was ever before exhibited
| in any community in the civilized
world, It will be because he has been
suffocated by the stencil of what he
exhumes.
The Whitney machine for the manu-
| facture and moulding of legislation
was complex but efficient. 1t achieved
| it's wonders in broad daylight. COnsid-
ering what it did and how it was done,
| the astonishing fact is that no outcry
to speak of was ever raised at its per-
fCr vUoC VOC hn1dnr
Tammany and made fewer excuses for
what it grabbed. But it's chief engi
neer was a leading citizen, and his as
sistants all gentlemen of great respect
ability and admirable antecedents, and
| in Boston, social and civic dictions are
shields behind which much may be
concealed.
Corrupting a legislature is not some
thing man may do with flip Of his
finger and thumb. However bold the
operations, the convenances must be
observed. When really large designs
are entertained, the manipulation be-
gins before the preceding election and
has had his lawyers" at work
throughout the country, seeing candi-
dates and ascertaining their feelings.
So certain percentage of votes are
signed and sealed in advance, ready
for delivery at thep roper time. But
there is always crowd of new men
who must be taken care of on the
spot, and these must be approached
with tact. Some amateurs have fanati-
cal notions of honor which interfere
with both their own and the interests
of the franchise-grabbers. To deal with
all these contingencies, to take care Of
captured votes and to shape legisla-
tive proceeding along safe lines, re-
quire the services Of almost an army
of men.
At the head of Whitney's forces
was his lawyer, George H. Towle, big
of brain, ponderous of frame, and with
the strength of an OK. A man of ter
rife temper, he knew not the meaning
of the word fear. Nothing aroused
him to such frenzy as to have to do
with a legislator who unnecessarily
haggled over the price of his vote or
| influence. On such occasions, when a
lieutenant had reported that Senator
This or Representative That would
rot come into camp, Towle, with an
oath would SimDly saw. "Take me to