The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1908-10-10

- REFoRMER in politics is
A sometimes a dyspeptlc, but
"A not always. lie is also
sometimes actuated by mo-
IEEE tives entirely impersonal
ySJ and unselnsh. But not al
ways. And reform politics may be
classed as OF two kinds the counter
felt variety and the genuine.
Independent, or reform movements
I'm political campaigns, are intended to
be the breaking away OF members OF
the old parties and a consolidation of
these boilers for the purpose OF
electing a ticket which is supposed to
be better than either OF the old.line
party tickets. Sometimes an inde-
pendent movement means this Some
times It means that Democrat or n
Republican who has failed OF the regu-
lar party nomination has been per
suaded to make the race on the
ground that he has been deprived of
the nomination by unfair means. But
the basic element OF Independent
movements is always a claim toward
n bettering OF conditions, and there
fore arguing reform. politically.
Then thore Ia usually the Prohibl-
tion movement TO be reckoned with.
and this is strictly founded on reform
principles Or there may be an edu-
cational feature in the campaign
which will prove TO carry the balance
OF power as to votes. and which may
be adopted In the platform OF either
OF the parties with view TO secure
votes for the whole ticket. Politics
Ss largely a game OF expedients. and
as the only things that count, in the
last analysis. are the votes, II follows.
therefore, as the night the day, that
votes are the prime necessities. and
any expedient to catch votes is consid-
cred justihablo
Other phases OF reform politics may
enter particularly into national cam.
palgns. and may influence local condi-
tions enough 20 swing Victory IN
side which may be weaker on paper
than It's antagonist
In every large city and noticoably
in my own city found two well de-
fned types OF the political reformers,
with a smatteriEg also OF what were
known as "cranks," "dreamers" and
''visionaries." One Of the two types
referred 10 was the hard-headed citl.
rem who, regardless OF ridlcule and dis.
couragement, steadily set himself TO
work TO better the class OF official
selection. Without caring anything
for party Affiliations, he associated
with organizations which went
after" weak or UNIT candidates. and
supported and encouraged good candl.
dates for all Offices, whether state.
county or municipal.
This class Of men accomplished.
with the aid of decent politicians.
great deal OF good. In the beginning.
like all men actuated by really high
motives, they we're derided and lam.
pooned, and their lot. like the police
mars, was not happy one. But as
time went on they became force
which had TO be reckoned with, even
by the most hardened Of the bosses"
excepting In what may be classed as
strictly saloon wards"
In the saloon wards, where the al.
dermen for instance, were saloonkeep.
ers. or where the saloon influence pre-
dominated overwhelmingly. the boss.
os" did not mind reform politics any
more than a rhinoceros would mind
the bite OF mosquito. | never could
understand, knowing the absolute
hopelessness OF It, why the reformers
would sometimes try TO break into"
such a ward In an aldermanic cam
paign. / remember very well the oc-
casion OF a gentleman calling on me
and endeavoring to enlist my services
ms a speaker in q campaign of this
sort.
you know the disgraceful condi.