The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-06-07


marked this carnival OF plunder)
~ Marlen L. Pew.
STAFF Correspondence 10 the Seattle
Star
PHILADELPHIA. Pa. June T.
students OF American politics agree
that the political gang now under
fire In Philadelphia has established
for Itself the record Of being the
most audacious clique OF municipal
nlunderefa IN America. Tammany
Hall, under Tweed or Croker
never approached thia hnEon or
guulEatiun for ayHtemAtlzed hood
ling ~ public funds
Until Mayor John Weaver turned
his back GA Boss Durham and the
ganE. and prcclpltatcd the present
moral revolution. there had seem
inEly been no limit 20 their daring
exploits Nothing was deemed i'm
possible.
Amer the gang leaders and their
eonfcdofaies % the gas trust had
decided that tho public vas really
aroused. and that q would be poll
title for the gaa trust 10 proclaim
lts vlrtnoua purpose 90 declining 70
accept any stolen gas franchises.
some optimistn proclaimed as final
the victory Of the mayor and the
people. Hut the great fight has
really Just begun.
Durham may retire az boss and
a new machine leader vii take hls
place. lie viii probably BE- hailed
As a rcfurmor some EnOd people
may believe t. Others win re-
member how Durham came into HIS
great estate and will urge Mayer
Weaver and his associates on for
real reform and honest government.
Tho suber-minded men Of honor
who are standing az the back Of the
mayor realize that now Il the cru
cial moment They are working 10
keep alive that public interest
which made possible the first vic
tory. and they are standing ready
70 strike down the first new gang
head which comes from cover.
The qualifications aud wheels
within wheels Of this cltya misKoy.
eminent under the gang rule have
been one % the most remarkable
examples Of the wicked power Of
commercial politics Aat have ever
been seen anywhere.
The small ward booalrr preyed
for revenue upon vice aud crime.
and had his picklnEu from all bones
Of patronage for delivering the
votes when the gang called for
them. The big bosses found their
GRAFT mainly Ia city contracts. OF.
fieeholdsrs we're the dumbcat q
dummies.
THE PRESENT oRGANIzA.
TON UNDER ISRAEL W. Dur.
HAM CAME INTO POWER As A
REFORM PARTY. PARADONICAf.
As THAT MAY SEEM. 1T SET
OUT. As THE PUBLIC THOUGHT.
TO RECTiFT VERY SERIOUS
FAULTS WITH THE clTa - GOV.
EMINENT UNDER THE MAN.
AGEMEST or THE PRECEDING
GANG. AT THAT TINE THE
CREDuLous PUBLIC HAILED fr
AZ THE "DAwNiN0 or A BET.
TER DAY"
Getting bis clutch on the city
that was. Durham. an apt pupil Of
Quay'a uaa buay FOR five years
Tightening the screws There uaa
much bowling If times over obvious
schemes for boadiing and criminal
election practices. but somehow the
gang always came out on top.
City contracts were Eobhled %
By members OF the gang. The city
was forced 20 deeply into debt for
vast improvements that there will
be no chance for Il 10 satisfy theae
claims. except by bonding or direct
taxation. for many years. one o.
the pet theories % the gang was
that "Today's the day and tomor.
row will take care OF itself. let the
fathers contract for and receive city
benefits for which the children can
pay tomorrow
THE LITTLE FELLOWS SHARE
Boss Durham put his machine
workers. from smallest to heads Of
departments. on a bread and butter
basis when be 60; into power
There are ~ wards IN the city.
Each ward has n leader. or ward
boss. who il directly responsible 10
Durham. or one OF his first lleuten-
ants. Chas. seEre and Jas 2. Mae
Nlchol. Durham operated In close
harmony with United States sena.
tor Boiea FenroHe. IL Is very ad-
yantageous. Durham found after
long experience with Quay. for a
municipal boss to have hlN state
legislature and federal patronage In
no way sntagonistio 10 his plans.
The ward boss. usually gutter
snipe individual advanced 10 the
moral standard OF diamond shirt
studs. rules his district strictly
upon orders. II Il he who has IN
formed the councilman how he
should legislate II was he who
tipped the police as 20 what gam
bling hell 20 protect. what dive 20
shield, who 10 haraaB and who TO
favor. The ward boss got bis pick
ings direct. The more vicious his
district tho greater his revenue.
All was easy for him except pos
sibly. on election day. Hs had his
orders" from the boss. lie must
deliver 30 many votes or such a
majority. He'd do Il all right.
Ills henehmen. also working on the
bread and butter basis, went out 10
the polling places They put their
operations on the bread aud butter
basis. Sometimes 70 was at the