The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-09-18
The Man Behind
The "BoSs."

L
We have all heard of the political
"boss," but how many of us have ever
heard Of "the man behind the boss?
The "boss," bad as he is, is by no
means the worst element in our poll
tics.
The "boss" does not live by and fol-
himself. He is not principal-he is
simply go-between and agent.
No man need suppose that the lobby
lists who debauch legislatures and pol
Lutte the stream of politics from start
to finish, find their own funds and
distribute their own Doodle.
Where, then. does the money come
from-the boss carries the dough
bag" but who fills it?
The money is, nine times out of ten,
Iput up by the trusts-the combines,
and the corporations, railroad and 9th.
erwise.
The game of politics is too often
played with loaded dice-the players
are actuated, not by patriotic motives
but by motives largely personal in
their nature. Threaten a millionaire
material interests, and he will jump
any political fence ever erected.
1t was Jay Gould who years ago said
when asked by legislative commit
tee what his politics were: 'In Re
publican district, | am a Republican
: in Democratic district, am Demo
crat-but l am always strong Goult
man."
The great Wall Street Speculation
l told the truth, and put the question il
3 nutshell. And precisely the same
D conditions exist today-and always
will exist as long as the people permi
the private ownership of public utili
/. ties.
AS Eugene Debs puts it in recen
. magazine article:
: Political parties express the econo
u mic interests of those who belong t.
: them. Men do not join parties that OF
= pose their material interests. Politics
therefore, is simply the reflex of econ
- omlc conditions, and men are activ,
y in politics, primarily, to advance thei
e material welfare. The capitalist is tn
private owner of public utility. Th'
capitalist owns it but does not use il
e while the people use it and are de
:. pendent upon it, but do not own il
Take the railroad, for illustration; tn
h capitalist who owns it wants profit
all he can get-even on watered in
} vestments. He insists upon high fare
and rates, but draws the line at az
! commodations, and when they attemp
tc assert their collective interests, a
II the people, against the private inter
d est of the capitalist, who owns tn
!. railroad, by the introduction Of ord
a nances in the council, bills in the Les
islature and in congress, the work G
defeating them, and of seeing to
that no friend of the people and n
enemy Of the corporation shall b
Ii elected, becomes the special functio
a of the political boss" and, the grea
Q er the bulk Of capital in private col
e troll, the greater the necessity for tn
4 BOSS" and the larger the premium
for his indispensable" services. VIVA
3 applies to the railroads applies to a
q other departments of wealth produt
ton and distribution. Modern "bus
ness" has developed the moder
boss" and the evil will not be rem,
o died by assaulting the scapegoat Tn
It people are receiving their first LEI
, sons in the true meaning of "bos
" ridden" politics." Many of them al
Is beginning to analyze the "boss," an,
el as they proceed, they observe tn
ID economic origin of this political sp'
cies; and. when the people at lengt
understand the source of boss rule
t. as they surely will, they will put a
a end to it, not by exchanging bose
,s but by abolishing private property i
social necessities.