The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-09-09
.VERY large city
of mixed ma
tiOnality Of

II HoW0vef, II
and Loud wren fers q rare oppOr-
o.a tunity for studying
what may be well
termed racial poll
tics" To an outsider, the facts are of
course not apparent enough to make 1t
interesting, but to a man on the in
side" the drama is chock-full of inter
est. AS l had. and have, no sort of
prejudice against any race or creed,
my experience in municipal politics
was as good as an extended course of
travel in foreign countries. l saw the
various outs and ms Of politics unfold
themselves, viewing matters with a
strictly impartial eye. There was moth
ing in the life of the city that was not
in some way, either remote or immi-
nent, connected with the political
game. A man might stay at home and
abjure politics II he wished to. and
most of the native Americans did this,
but his sin would find him out. Then.
when he made his roar of protest
against existing conditions, he had no
one but himself To blame.
The ward I lived in was. for our
city, singularly free from an admixture
of races. There were quite a number
of Germans, large array Of Swedes,
Norwegians and Danes. some Irish and
Irish-Americans, a strong colony Of
Poles, a few English and Welsh, some
Bohemians, and a scattering Of Greeks,
Arabians, Jews. Armenians. Italians,
Spanish, Chinese, Firms. Scotch. Rus
SLAMS and some Americans, with an Oc-
casional Patagonian or a native Of
the Cannibal Islands. But 1t was not
one Of those wards of the city where
all races under the sun were repre-
sented; and a few besides.
BY and large the Irish-Americans
ran" the ward. That is. in our par
ty. 1t was the simplest thing in the
world. They were born politicians.
taking to politics as a duck does to
water, and having a real love for the
game. They were ready speakers,
and sometimes good ones; they were
invincible ''hustlers;" they always at
tended the ward meetings. and usual
ly held the Offices: they were active in
getting acquainted. liberal in their pur-
suit Of their natural prey-the other
races-and resourceful. They were not
too scrupulous in attaining a desired
end. and they never lost heart in de-
feat. They could and did rejoice in a
victory, but they were never cast down
when they lost. It's all well enough
to talk about the alleged volatility Of
the Irish race, but they make good
soldiers. don't they? Well. there's {:
deal of discipline and other military
ingredients in political life, and while
it is true that in the rural districts the
American comes out strong for poll
tics. in the majority of the cities, big
and little. the Irish-American poll
ticians run things" II you don't be-
lieve this. travel a little and inquire.
But politics is such disagreeable
work, don't you know" OF course,
don't you know" But the result of
letting politics 60 hang while one
keeps his nose stuck tenaciously to
the grindstone of business often re-
suits in disaster to the entire commu-
nifty ''doncherknow." And l for one,
had nothing but bitter contempt for
the people of my race who lifted pro-
testing hands and gave voice to the
'lily-livered" dictum that politics was
something a gentleman couldn't en-
gage in
But speaking of Americans" so
far as the cities are concerned, where
are they?
English and Irish. Dutch and Danish.
German. Italian. French and Spanish,
Crossing their veins until they vanish,
In one conglomeration:
So subtle tangle of blood indeed
No Heraldry- Harvey could ever succeed
In finding the circulation"
You can find regulation Americans
down in Kentucky, for instance, men
who can trace their ancestors clear
down to Daniel Boone in an unbroken
line. You may find them indulging in
such pleasantries as burning tobacco
warehouses or shooting at each other
from behind rail fences, for they are
quite as handy with a rifle as Daniel
was
The Poles were a clannish nation,
and no one else could do anything
in their wards. Where they repre-
scented only a smattering of strength
they could be handled fairly we'll by
the leaders" in the ward, but they
were live members" and wanted some
share in the "spoils" of Office.
The BOhemians were also a COM
batively inclined people, politically,
and waged lively campaigns in the
wards where they held the balance of
the vot:=E cower. But they did not
have the cohesiveness of the Poles,
and candidates of other nationalities
could occasionally squeeze In. The
Bohemian. and In fact all Of the for
eign-populated wards. were strong for
personal liberty. and as near al pos
sible for the social privileges
they had enjoyed in Europe, minus any
intrusion of the king business" The
Scandinavian voters were apathetic
mostly, only once In awhile producing
an orator or hustling politician. They
were governed in their political judg-
ments partly by party fealty. partly
by the question of personal fitness,
and somewha: by the question of ma
tionality. But l give them credit for
not being carried away entirely by
either pride Of race or demand Of par
ty. They really wanted good men !:
and the fact that a man was one of