The Washington herald., 1906-11-11
FOR LEGALIZED BOSS
BOnaparte Says the People
Should Elect One.
BETTER CANDIDATES SECURED
Secretary of Navy Proposes NOmi-
mating Convention of One, Who
Would Have Time TO Select Good
Materials and Induce Men to Serve.
Rap ut the Present System.
Special to The washington Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald
Baltimore. Md. Nov. 10.-Secretary Of
the Navy BOnaparte, in talk here, said
he favored 4 legalized boss. whose duty
II would be 70 nominate candidates for
Office. He said such man should devote
his whole time to finding fit candidates,
and then induce them to accept the nOmi-
nation
I have sometimes thought, said he,
that a solution for the problem of get
ting good candidates for public office in
this country might, perhaps, be found in
the establishment Of a legalized boss in
each political party in each Of our States
and cities"
In view of Mr. BOnaparte's frequently
and strongly expressed views as TO the
merits Cor rather demerits) OF bosses in
general, and certain bosses" in particu-
lar, the idea struck his hearer as rather
startling, and he inquired if the Secretary
were speaking seriously.
Yes" replied Mr. Bonaparte. i am
quite serious, but you may, perhaps, mis-
understand my meaning 1t is hard, in
deed very hard. often impossible, to get
the men who are fit for public Office to be
come candidates. Somebody has to do a
great deal Of work in finding the right
man for each place and inducing him TO
run for It. Unit candidates can be Sc
cured by the bushel but public life in
this country involves such grave sacrifices
of both inclination and interest for men Of
character, ability, and high standing in the
community that they have to be driven
into it By a sort Of comDulsion, through
appeals TO their sense of public duty in
some cases of party loyalty.
Would Want Honest Work.
Now. by q Gegalized boss meant an
individual authorized on behalf of one of
our parties 10 choose all candidates Of
that party for elective offices within a
designated territory-to do inteliigeutly
deliberately. and carefully the work which
IS supposed to be done by nominating con-
ventions or Crawford County primaries,
but which would be done by such agencies
SO Jhoughtlessly. hurriedly. and negll-
gently that it is done usually. in fact by
the local boss or ring in secret
"Of course, every facility should be af-
forded for making independent nomina-
tions, whether within the organized par
ties or without, so that all citizens who
may be dissatisfied for whatever reason
with the regular nominations may be
able to vote effectively according to their
convictions"
The correspondent then asked how Mr..
Bonaparte would choose his proposed
"legalized boss"
He ought TO be elected annually" said
the Secretary. by the legal voters of his
party, at a primary held under all the
sanctions of law. and at which only this
one office, or rather. position. should be
nlled. Each voter would have only to say
whom he considered the best man in the
party To be constituted nominating con-
vention of one for all elective offices with
IN the State. city or county as the case
might be This would be a very simple
duty, and I am inclined TO think il could
be satisfactorily performed by the aver
age voter; and I likewise think it prob
able that no one Of the persons who have
been known as bosses since I have
known something of politics would have
been elected at such a primary.
Could Not Hold Public ORice.
Perhaps it might be wise to provide
that the 'nominator.' or 1egalized boss.
1 have suggested should be himself dis
qualified TO hold public Office, but of this
] am not sure; there are certainly two
sides TO the question
The Secretary was then asked whether
he expected to get up an agitation in
favor of establishing 'legalized bosses. a"
NO, he said. smiling; "the thoughts
I have just expressed are crude and un-
developed. and probably worth no more
Jhan you viii pay for them. Moreover.
1 fear 1 am getting decidedly into the
seTe and yellow FOR purposes Of political
agitation; perhaps for other purposes also.
But I am inclined TO the belief that II
somebody with half my years and four
times my leisure would take these ideas
up seriously. he might, perhaps, work out
something Of benefit TO the public, and
tending to promote good government"