The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-11-09
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER 9, 1906
Hon. Charles J. Bonaparte.

banks of the river Nile, man, to tell
when the water is up and when it is down.
Mr.. Bonaparte seems to have taken that
position in Maryland politics. He knows
lust who is honest and who is not; just
who can be trusted and who cannot. He
can tell at glance whether man is a
political scoundrel or a reputable citizen.
From the pure, lofty standpoint from
which he surveys the doing of ordinary
mortals, he is both immaculate and infalli-
ble
He also prides himself on being Kick
er, and sometime ago delivered a discourse
on the Usefulness of the Kicker. y Every
body who knows Mr.. Bonaparte at all knows
that he is a Kicker, or as he phrazes it
himself, ga Kicker from way back. - He,
however, lacks the qualities of good
Kicker. A good Kicker, as an all round
Kicker, and one would have supposed that
Mr.. Bonaparte, being a shining light in
that superlative organization, known as
the Reform League, would be just such a
kicker. But in all his kicking, he has
never been known to kick in the direc-
ton of Republican, or if he did, the kick
was so feeble as to give no cause for alarm.
But just put Democrat in front of his
broad heel, and he will grind him to pow
der, or exhaust himself in the effort.
Here in Maryland, where Mr.. Bonaparte
is well known, his kicking furnishes some
amusement, but is regarded very harmless
performance. Iii
After all, we do not think the kicker is
a character to be commended, whether he
be a Mule OF Man. A constructionist is
much better than destructionist. 1t is
easy to pull down, much harder to build
up. A Mule can kick down more in an
hour than the best Carpenter in town can
replace in a week. While Mr.. Bonaparte
may be very amiable gentleman, and is
always interesting even when he is dis
agreeable, his kicking performances have
never added anything to his real strength.
Then, as Civil Service Reformer he
has distinguished himself, preaching the
gospel of Civil Service, in season and out
of season.
He is reported to have said, during the
last campaign, when the Constitutional
Amendment was the ISSUE that Repub-
lican who voted for the amendment would
have no recognition as an applicant for a
federal position. He was also reported to
have said that he did not wish to be re-
garded as a Boss. Oh no, he is the great
enemy of the Boss, but ''Call me an Advi-
ser, that what l am" And so the pro-
ceedure would be about this. If Re-
publican wanted to vote for the amend
ment, he would not as a dictatorial Boss,
say you must not do it, that would be too
Bossy, but would say something like this:
/ advise you not to have anything to do
with the amendment. Ifyou do, you need
not apply for federal Office, for while l
am strong Civil Service Reformer, and
hate Bosses, tell you now that you can't
get federal job, and I would advise you
not to apply. All this reminds one of the
story of the celebrated Tim Campbell, who
was sort of Police Judge in New York.
A case came before him on day when
there were to be some fine horse races, and
Campbell was very anxious to attend. The
testimony was taken in the case, and the
young lawyer, who represented one side
in the case, and who like the Judge wanted
to 60 to the races, arose and said, "May
it please your honor, propose to my
brother on the other side, to submit this
case without argument.
The lawyer on the opposite side was an
elderly gentleman, and doubtless knew
nothing about the races, said he preferred
to make an argument.
The Judge said he thought he fully
understood the case. The old gentleman
replied, eff the Court please, I think I
would preferlto be heard" Whereupon the
Judge said, "Well, sir, if you want to be
heard, go on, but I'll bet you ten dollars
you'll lose your case"
Mr.. Bonaparte would not for the world
interfere with the right of an American
citizen, in the matter of casting his vote.
That would be playing the role of the
Boss, but he would, in effect, do as Tim
Campbell did, and say, eff you don't take
my advice about this amendment, I'll bet
you ten dollars you'll not get a federal
job" Mr.. Bonaparte may try to play |
the role of a Reformer, or if you will, as
an Adviser, but everybody in Maryland |
knows he is an uncompromising Republi-
can partizan, and none know it better than |
the Republicans themselves.