The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-14
BRACKET, ROOSEYgLYCENSOR
SEES DANGER IN "BOSS' RULE
FROM HIGH PLACES.

He would Have the People Forbid Cabinet
Oficers Going Into q state At Election
Time and speaking with Authority
The Executive Not n LEGISLATOR.
SCHENECTADY, n. Y, Nov. Estate
Senators Nathaniel A. Elsberg and Edgar
7. Bracket and Congressman William
s. Bennett were scheduled to deliver ad-
dresses at to-dsy's session Of the New
York State Conference Of Religion, which
opened here last night. Senator Elsberg
and Senator Bracket we're to speak on
the subject Of Public Service as a Moral
Vocation"
Senator Elsberg wa unable TO be pres
ent to-day and Senator Bracket paid a
glowing tribute to the absent Senator.
As Senator Bracket is reported to have
retired from political life, his address Of
to-day may perhaps be regarded In the
light Of a valedictory. He spoke in part
as follows:
The boss system in our public life has been
much exploited and much condemned OF late.
Convention has We'd with convention In de-
nounoing ii. individuals have run swift to
he in the very front OF, the attack. many OF
them weaklinss who. but for the favor OF
some boss. would never have attained enough
20 ~ ~ wv
day OF boss crucih xion. everywhere through
out the land, as the surest method OF securing
popular approval.
And yet, the system OF political bossism has
grown up and grown up only because Of a
lack of strength in the public servants. who
ought to be able to get along without any boss
at all.
| hesitate to give the latest illust ration that
has come to me OF subservience to the boss
system. because il Is furnished by one high In
the affairs OF state. and who has much pro-
claimed his Independence; but IL will he under
stood that ! do 1t inIpersonally. and in criti-
cism only Of the system. and not OF any indi-
yidusi.
In the same interview in which he declared
his complete independence OF any boss. he
declared that on a certain political question,
not national. he was going to he governed in
his action entirely by the wishes Of the Presi-
dent OF the United States.
Now. | confess that I can see nothing but
the / NEST 81 bservience to the boss system
In any slch announcement as that. \ Presi-
dental boss, no matter how wise or how good
the par,ieular incumbent may be, is no less
hntcfal than n Senatorial boss or a State
chairman boss.
would like 10 sec constitutional govern
ment restored in this State and in this nation.
and in its restoration I see the surest work
that will make public service a moral vOca-
ton. would SEQ the present tendency to
make the executive. whether In State or
nation. a supreme authority checked. /
would inject into Congress and the Legis-
latures Uhe most direct representative of
the peoplel a little Of the manhood that would
resent executive interference In legislative
matters: into the people the independence
that would forbid Cabinet officers from COM
ing into a State election and speaking with
authority" that would very politely but very
firmly say 90 the executive. your function Is.
ha wing first recommended by messaR &c such
measures as you deem necessary. 70 pass on
such bills. in such form as the Legislative
body sends to you II you approve them to
sign them. II not to veto them and any inter-
ference on your part In the way OF sending
for and arguing with members Of the LeRisla-
ture and use OF the veto power on local bills,
any use OF abuse Of patronage to Influence
the result. will be resented and repealed. In
other words. I would make the executive
really an executive and not a Legislator or
a political boss.