The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-04

4h,tp for sentitncntfs What nre otir ho-
rolc monuments. but expressions OF our
sentiment? BY nj, means let the Council
adopt Mr.. Jehtins's suggestion.
Ff l'!tN -...---:=E.e..--.:-l--
The People and the Bosses.
District Attorney William rraver rsss
Jerome. who is the bright particular star star
IN New York politics and municipal gov.
rrnncnt, hns secclved q number OF let
tors from voters saying That they would
gladly sign 4 petition to Nominate nm
for ro- election, and still others want nm
10 l,c Mayor. Mr.. jerome replied TINT
1T was against hia principle TO accept
nominations from Il political ma chino TO
which he would DC subscrvicnt in the n 'y.l
miristrnton of his office. OF to the dc
tn,cs Of any political leader.
Z a, myself. am a very small factor IN
the situation. /" he says. compared 70 me
principal iss,ic involved. The blg thing is
to break down the evil solidarity OF NE
political machines and to 60 over me
hnnds az the groups OF mon who control
these machines Or tho bosses. directly 10
the people. .3 "a.
"To my mind, this is the appropriate
time 70 make the test. In advocating
tthi5 principle I hope to create discussion
Al over tho country. especially Of local
nolitlcnl affairs. What wnnt to bring
out is whether the people are politically
flce or su.N;ervient 10 tho one-man power.
mt whether am successful or motif
VIII not shake my faith In the principle
However, think this Is tho opportune
time, al there Is 4 feeling Of unrest
throughout the country.
"Can you call 1t political freedom when
tho people have the choice between TWO
men, either Of whom they would not
choose voluntarily Little or no respon.
sibility is felt BY the man who IS elected
.ty the votes Of his party. AS soon as ne
let's into office no begins schemlng 70
held It or to seek promotion to q higher
r,,,,ce And to whom does he so for pro-
motion? TO the men who control the
,olitical machines, the bosses. And every
mai who does this believes that his SUD
sc; yence to the political machine IS nee
cssary to hold his political offlce
wc do not despair or even become de-
spondent because there are political rings
and political bosses. They are the natu IRA.
product Of our system Of politics, and VIII
continue to be- Just as weeds will spring
IN IN the fiLds and rs tares will grow
np,n,c the wheat. Tho farmer does NOT
refuse to pitch crop because OF the
weeds and the tares. He knows that the
growth is natural, and he knows that
there is way to destroy It, IT our poiitl-
raj machines and bosses held their POSI-
tons as kings rule, by the right OF IN
herltance. we might, indeed, despair ana
take our medicine and consent@to become
slaves Of the regime. But IN our gov
eminent all power IS vested In the peo-
nle, and at every election the people may
have a reckoning with the machines ana
brssny. and rid themselves of both and
nut ,lcir own chosen representatives into
office
But some say, why overthrow the ma
chine? Why turn out the bosses! II We
do. another machine and other bosses Will
soon take the place Of those that have
been retired. Granted but machines are
not made, and bosses do not develop IN
day or n month, and for time al least
after the reform has been accomplished
We may depend upon 1t that the officers
will behave. and when the next machine
AHA the next bosses appear the time
will soon follow when We may have a
reckoning also with them at the polls
and deal with them according to our own
will.
Coming back to the homely illustra-
ton, the farmer does not fail to cut
down one growth 81 weeds simply be-
cause he knows that another growth will
come by and by. It is a continuous per-
Torrance, but so long as the people are
true to themselves and to their prlncl'
rlcs and attend intelligcntly and Indus
,iousy to their own affairs, the ma
chine and the bosses may be kept vel
in hand. 1t all comes back at last to the
Inspired saying that eternal vigilance Is
the price OF liberty
T.