The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-21

revolution bappeied? Who Ia the
head Of your s s W Who Il the the actual actual
mead of the government OF the United
States?
The Boss in New York.
usuaiIy easy, sometimes this question
is hard TO answer. What citizen OF New
YORK, for example, can tell you who is
the head OF the state government? SEN
hNor Thomas G.. Platt, the Republican
bose, used TO be. but he grew ola, and IN
moment OF weakness and folly, he broke
the cardinal rue of the boss system. He
named for Governor not safe man."
but his political lieutenant, Benjamin u.
Odell. In any State where the governor
ship controls good graft and large patron
age, the Governor can be the boss. Govern
or Odeli was boss. And IL such Governor
IN such State, wants TO be. and knows
how, he can 80 out OF Office and still be
boss. Governor odel knew how; Boss
Flat had taught him. Governor Odell
choose for his successor man who was
really and truly safe. He made Il certain
MIR. Higgins Governor. so Ex-Governor
Odell remained the head OF the actual
government OF the State OF New York.
But Il boss does not represent himself
alone. he represents the chief sources OF
the corruption of his State. Big interests
are often in conflict among themselves.
and Ii is ever Il difficult and delicate task
to adjust their differences to the salts
faction OF them all. Big things were at
stake in New York. and the conflict there
became acute. The interests Mr. Odcli
failed to satisfy. appealed to Plat. Platt
couldn't do much. but dethroned king
IS rallying point for the enemies of "A
ruling prince. so the business bosses fought
hard back OF their political bosses. Nov
the force that keeps such fights within
bounds is the fear OF publicity. The insur-
ance scandal brought demand for pub
lcity. II Governor Higgins had held
out, as he expected to do against an IN
n mi hey prnp yrp1 N
safe man is ,imid man. and the very
weakness that makes him good man
for Governor" In good times. renders him
dangerous Ito his boss) in a crisis Gov
ernor Higgins caved before the demand
for an investigation, and, as we all know,
the light OF publicity poured in upon the
New York grafters, political and business.
too. When you expose the business bosses
back of the political bosses. the business
bosses throw overheard their policical
bosses just as in purely political crisis,
tine political bosses drop" their Govern
ors and mayors. The business rulers of
q New York, to save themselves, dropped
s. both Plat and Odell. and, still lighting,
they could not agree on a new political
head for the State. They are looking for
one now. The people OF the State are
deeply Interested In the spectacle. but they
are not led 10 regard II as their AFFAIR,
wherefore. say, that II would not be
easy to go into the State OF New York
and determine just now who is the poliu-
1cal mead OF that state.
Is Roosevelt the Head?
There are other states and cities where
swer The citizens a Of Of New ea York . city at
have been asking ever since the election
Of ea syor The hend Q,
Murphy. In Pennsylvania all they know
is that the Governor isn't the head
ct the state: they are surer in Philadel-
ing some doubt In Jersey they have set
a9oHt nain G out i, for r henselves this
but in Cincinnati they are lighting, quiet
~; but vigorously, to settle. the question
De asp w shIs MaSS 1
in San Francisco. where Organized Labor
has nSur ped the Of
Mayor. and they, have; but Is he the
head of the actual city government? You
see y s aM sa 9Sy6ns who he real
VIC How "a about bout, the 2 s. Goysrnmsnty
the Nationg Theodore Roosevelt is In
the White House, but is the White House.
81 ths Keen
up 70 the Capitol on !, the Hill at The other
say the Senate IS the throne ' IS AH II? We We
are rs seeking !, to know Of our own know,
take the say.so Of other men en- We must ust
find out for ourselves. How?
MY experience OF, cities and states has
taught me to look for certain superficial
signs which I find to be true guides to
One OF these signs is trouble. II a boss
Boss Durham. Tor Example. But i fine the
he should tenp tSes Is no no
sore trouble il that town: said sal Philiadei-
ghia ,y Under Mayor Weaver for example.
2 take Wisconsin under Boss Sawyer and
G con 1,d II With Wisconsin under Cover
fore and New FORK !aas NeW NE fe eIacton
q GoyeT a,t Ode G;aell. Usually. this trouble
stick to the trait ana md 90 slow. f Mow % does e
al government?
Some Discomfort.
There's trouble in Washington. There
10 s5Ss and there St a. INV sssa
listen, ~ have all this, my first week
eomplalnants point at the wh h Houses lns
Some Of these complaints are serious:
say that he doesn't They ' say that my ~
Ps ppS Hiss %a Rhy hey sSy th nat h
G his party they thdt he SSGesn
philadelphia, and that be thus helped
defeat the Republican bosses and rings
have done this in other states. They;
say that he rides oyer the Gepnst!tntion
ne does aena sv w sarysa
i former, they say that he violates civil
aws and 6 Ms
tes much With IT, IL late tier li' every Very
s stses eS p only n 81 9s p %os
asssss fesl