Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-02-18

Distribution of Patronage Essen
tial to Successful Administration
BY AN EX-MAYOR OF ONE OF THE
LARGEST CITIES IN THE UNITED
STATES.
NTHEN you elect a man mayor of
w any large city of the United
States you practically start him on the
broad road to perdition. If he doesn't
end his administration a crook he Won
ders how it happened he escaped being
one.
He is ready TO believe that every
man either has his price or is eagerly
willing to be appraised by some expert
on graft valuation. II he does not go
wrong" It is not the fault of some Of
those whose names are always in the
list of "pubic-spirited" and "promi-
nent" citizens. If he is not travelling
with swift smoothness on Perdition
boulevard before his term of Office eX-
pires it is because he is either too cow
ardly to take a chance or too brave to
grasp an easy opportunity Did it ever
occur to anyone that some of these he
roes OF munlclpal warlares are moral
towards?
VI late magazine writers ana some
OF the Keepers OF the pubic conscience
who speak through the daily prints
have paid large attention to municipal
corruption, gang rule ana graiters'
I lhey nave much 10 say ABOUT some
mayors and ex-mayors, and what they
have written has been interesting and
more or less true. But an analysis OF
the evidence they present indicates that
almost all of 1t is of the hearsay order;
not competent in any court of record
not good even in clothesline case be-
fore a crossroad justice of the peace,
1t appears they have seen every one but
the mayors. They have really present.
ed but one side Of sided case,
They are perfectly safe in making
statements of apparent facts so far as
mayors are concerned, for they know
and the mayors know that the chief
executives OF large cities would not
dare tell the -hundredth part of the
truth concerning the happenings of
their administrations. Not that the
cold truth would necessarily crminate
the head of the city's administration,
but it would start an exodus of we'll
known business and professional men
of such magnitude and suddenness that
the passenger traffic managers of rail-
roads could not furnish the required
rolling stock to handle the outgoing
business.
When was elected mayor of one of
the largest cities of this country took
office free from pledges of any kind
Political exigency and public clamor
compelled the leaders of my party to
seek for business man to head the
city ticket. To my surprise, for | had
not sought the office, | was nominated.
AS there was small hope of electing one
of our party, the party leaders had not
attempted to tie me down with pledges
of patronage. SO 1t was | assumed
office feeling that was under personal
obligations to no man or set Of men.
The vote was close, and 1t was not
until the returns from the last ward
came in that our campaign manager,
who had been keeping tab with his
pencil, leaned forward and said "Mr
Mayor, you are elected"
They told me afterward that | took
the news calmly; that | accepted the
proffered hands and vociferous con-
gratulations with the nonchalance of
an old political camPaigner But can
not recall what occurred during those
first few moments, sat, mentally and
| physically Denumbed. AS | look back
now can see that this curious condi-
ton was the result or psychological
reVulslon was regaining my individ-
uality,
For some weeks my personality had
been completely efaced. In those few
cred hours, the high pressure days in
the cycionic finish OF fierce campaign
| was not a person | was an issue, In
my hurried speeches, evening follow
ing evening, when | spoke of myself
what would do and be If elected,
| mad the feeling OF Deing impersonal;
| there was the curious idea ever pres
ent that ! was another man talking
| about myself. | walked, talked, ate,
| schemed, planned and worked dual
creature; one of me, the issue" was
running for mayor; the other was my
self, fighting for and defending the is
sue.
But when the campaign manager
told me | was mayor-elect it was
as il a flood of ce-cold water had fall
| len on me, leaving me numbed and
gasping, alone with myself again. Men
rushed at me, crowdlng me against the
wall. SO eager were they to take nv
hand and clap me on the shoulder. |
remember nothing but confusion, los
tic. incoherent utterances, disiointed
| and disconnected sentences
lust when passed the crisis and
headed toward the normal | cannot re-
call, but my first sane thought was.
why are all these men so particularly
ioyful?"
They were the partv managers the
so-calIed bosses who had directed the
compaign. Not one of them held n cItv
lob elective or appointve. for the city