Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-31

f74H 44Ct.I certain, IL VIC ihoJ
III half the politicians them
W selves are saying about It on
~ the stump and In the news.
papers. The politicians OF
the present day are divided into TWO
classes, the bosses and the So called re-
formers. 1t Is difficult to tell Whicn -
doing the most to destroy the interest
of the ordinary citizen In tne eiections'
and the Independence OF the eiectoI.
The younger generation of voters, 10
whom we should look for pure citizen-
shin and political independence, are oi-
vided into two classes namely, tne
nerilously Indifferent and the perlc-
iously active. The great mass OF tne
older electors have Joined the FORMER
class and take almost no interest," III
civic affairs 1t would be great sur
nrise 10 those who take no active in
terest in political affairs to know now
many otherwise good citizens, young
and old, do not take interest enough IN
politics to register and vote. say
..otherwise good citizens" because no
man can be good citizen who negiects
the duty of every elector to use MS IN
flufience and cast his vote In favor OF
good government and good, enlclent
and honest public officials. This deadly
blight of indifference that has fallen
upon the voters Is the greatest peril 10
our country and it's republican insti-
tutions that 1t has to contend with To-
day.
The so-called reformers aie doing
more to foster and continue this appal-
ling condition of Indifference, perhaps,
than any other agency or influence.
This NAV be questioned and doubtless
1t will be by the reformers themselves.
But let US s1e. Their present policy
Is to magnify and dilate upon the aD-
solute and ruthless power of the politf-
cal bosses and corporate influence In
political affairs. Their chief remedy
for this alleged powerful influence Is
abuse of the boss and the corporations.
Thus the voter who takes no active
part In politics Is educated to believe
that these unlawful and corrupt in
fluences are irresistible and, as an In
eyltable result, the voter feels that he
can do nothing against 1t. and, there
fore, he stays away from the caucus
and primaries and cannot take time
from his business to go to the polls on
election day
Complaints Often Insincere
He sees, too, If he reads the papers,
that those who are crying out coercion,
and fraud In elections, are srneettnG II
only by abuse and extravagant and
often false assertions as to what these
corrupting agencies are doing and are
able to do in controlling the elections.
Reasoning men say. very naturally,
there is no argument in abuse, and a
power so potent and powerful cannot
be overcome by any such means. / am
man of peace and prefer not to join
In a warfare of this kind. I think
will let them fight 1t out. Not only so,
but the cry of fraud and corruption Is
too often insincere, as we have learned
to our sorrow. A warfare of this kind
is generally insincere and often fraudu-
.x@4A 4A.k 4s.tA
ests 1t Is too often the cry of dis
carded politician who was a boss but
has been dethroned. 1t is warfare
between men who are bosses and those
who want to be. In such contest the
good citizen who is not In politics
for political place or reward has no in
terest. 1t disgusts him with politics.
If this country could only rise above
the petty. office-seeking, selfish and
self f-seeking brand of politics that pre-
vails discard both the self-appointed
reformers and the bosses alike, and
take on enough civic pride and dis
interested citizenship to work and vote
for men and things in the interest of
the public good. this would be true re-
formation. But the present day re-
former is standing in the way of this
genuine reform by educating the voters
to believe that they are pcwerless
against the influence of the machine"
If he really means well for his country
why not use his influence to educate
the conservative, inactive and indiffer-
ent voters to knowledge of the fact
that If they will only do their duty
the machine, the boss and corporate
influence would be powerless for evil?
Does any thinking man doubt that
this Is true? The true political re-
former Is not the man who spends his
force and energy In advertising, and
often magnifying. the power of these
evil influences, but he who raises his
voice in disparagement Of these cor
rupt influences and expends his energy
in the effort to induce the electors of
every political party and of every age
and condition to go to the polls and
exercise their right and duty of citizen
ship and bring the electors to a reali-
zation Of the indisputable fact that the
powers of evil that are corrupting
politics would be absolutely impotent
If they would only do their duty.
Abuse Is No Remedy
The younger generation of politicians
is unduly impressed with tie idea that
the way to popularity and political
preferment and success is to abuse the
bosses and the machine Never was a
greater mistake. This cry has become
SO common that the effort of the am
bilious young to curry favor by such
means has not the slightest influence
for good, but is potent for evil. for the
reasons above stated. Such exhibitions
breed not only discredit and suspicion
of everything political but a profound
Indifference to civic duties and obliga-
tions. California is having it's full
share, Just now of this mistaken
course In politics, acting under the
name of reform. The leading political
party in the state is disrupted and well
on its way to bitter internecene war
that BODIES the party no good, the result
of this cry of boss and corporation
domination. The voters are led to be-
Iiave fiat tbs party Is in a hopeless
state or sub les.io to railroad and boss
s,Auence that can be shaken off only
b senarafe organization within the
uartg
this be 80 the party had best give
,g.s, 10 some furer and more indepen-
dcnt ore IS outlived its usefulness
aR shot N he deserted by all good
1ns. Enf S it true, and. If it is.