The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-04-15


NNE of the cleverest Of the politicians
who had a good deal to do around
the city hall during my administration
took me buggy riding toward the end
of nay term. We passed a handsome row
of flats. Pointing to the building, he
sale:
That belongs to me, built it out Of
my commissions"
commissions" l replied. "You
mean"
Il mean just what I say he broke in.
THAT building was put up with the
money paid me by the business pubic,
paid me for work done, and, if | do say
it myself, we'll done. That's my business
broker to the public. the business pub
lie preferred, and for that work getm y
commission. It's not Doodle or bribing
or graft. It's a straight, middlemans
business"
of course" I said, q have known that
some of you fellows used your influence
to get ordinances through the board of
aldermen or to get a committee to send
in a favorable report on some resolu-
ton or order, but didn't think there
was enough in it to make a man a land
lOrd Or a capitalist"
Il have never used my influence to
put through III order. ordinance or reso-
luton which smelled of dirty money"
said the politician, speaking earnestly.
But I have lobbied for measures which
required no lobbying and pulled for
ordinances which would have gone
through without any pulling and charged
my principals good round commissions
for it, too, You AVE been mayor of
this town a good many months and you
were no spring chicken When you were
elected. yet you could be gold-bricked
in the city hall as easy as the softesI
business man who wants something Of
the city.
You have the same idea of the way
business has to be done in the city de-
partments as most business men have.
You hin nothing can be done or put
through without influence or graft.
That idea is the capital of men in my
line of business. We are regarded as
men of influence in the public depart
mentS because we are politicians of
more or less strength. So, when Mr..
BUSINESS Man wants a favor done, want
a Iermit; order or certificate, wants the
street in front of his house repaired.
wants this or that-aI II legitimate, prop
er wants-he hunts us up, tells us what
he wants; We get the thing ion and the
next day get his check.
"He believes we used our own per
sona influence or cash 20 get him what
be wanted That is. he believes that
every man in the city hall. including
yourself. is crooked. so he puts up no
h0iIer when we gently intimate that our
little commission is due
Now the fact is. in ninety-nine times
onr Of a hundred cases that same bust
ness man could get for himself, without
paying one red cent. that for which he
paid me or some of the other BOYS sew
eraI hundred dollars. Sometimes it's
hard work to keep from laughing in the
face Of some keen, bright business man
who draws me into a dark corner to give
me $25 to get a permit for him which he
could get himself by merely asking for
il It's like taking candy from a baby
50 easy. Yet that sort of thing is dom
every day simply because the common
belief is that anything of a public ma
tUre is associated or connected with
Doodle or graft. And just as long as this
public pessimism continues I will buiIt
and own inCOme-producing fiat build.
ings."
lhaVe repeated these candid and some
what cynical observations Of this profes
sional politician because the public pes
simism which ave him a good living i
the most d~iscOuraging condition which
faces the chef executive of any city. On,
of the best mayors who ever filled tina
office. Golden Rule" Jones, of Toledo
died but a short time ago. His dealt
recalls a conversation he had with
friend of min in which he said:
1T was extremely difficult for me t
convince the business men of my cit
that I wanted to give them an homes
fair and decent administration. The
seemed to take it for granted that
was expected to say those things an
20 do just the opposite; to be a hypt
critic aud use my office for the persona
eneft OF myself and my friends"
Golden Rule" Jones lived Ion
enough to know that the citizens {
Toledo implicitly believed him an
In him, and it is a sad fact that tn
mutual confidence between a mayo
and his people is 20 rare tina Mayo
Jones OF Toledo was known the worl
over as a unique character"
As l drew near the close Of my teri
began TO count the days when
would step Gown and out and become
private citizen again. My impatien,
to transfer the reins of governme;
10 my successor increased as the en-
drew nearer. l had said in the cor
mencement of my administration tn,
would not seek denomination.
friends urged me to reconsider tn;
statement, but l had had enough of Il
office.
l felt that another term would tran
form me into a confirmed cynic. ! hs
tried faithfully and earnestly to lii
up to my ideals, to give my city
good administration. No scandals
any consequence had marred my re