Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-17
THE PASSING OF THE POLITICAL
BOSS.

BOSS.
Observant persons In all stations
Of life, and OF all shades OF poiitica'
opinion. are nearly ready to conclude
that the day of the political boss
the old-fashioned dictator of party
nominations to once and mou der OF
platform principles-are numbered.
In many states OF the Union the
boss power and prestige have been
noticeably on the wane for good
many years. This has been par
ticuiarly lad year for his kind.
By the term boss" Is meant the
person recognized as the chief tac.-
clan OF any political party In nationa'
or state. He may. or may not have
political ambitions of his own. Gener-
ally he does not aspire TO elective OIL
fec. Most frequently, he prefers TO
keen out of the limelight ard I" Gun
duct and control AFFAIRS po iti,ai from
behind the scenes. holding in subj''c-
ton his aides and lieu,enants by var
tous articles. chief amongst which
might be mentioned the Installing In
them Of the hope OF reward through
the homer and emOlument of ONCE, to
be theirs some day IL they are prop
eriy submissive. and intimidatlng
threats of dismissal and oblivion for
such as have already been thus re-
warded and may evince symptoms OF
INSTRUMENTATION. :,
There will OF course, te party
leaders 20 long as there are political
parties. But the signs Ct the times
point unerringiy to the survival only
OF the director who keeps his car
the ground. ascertains when the peo'
pie Of his political faith desire to rep
recent them In Office, and helps them
to get what they want. 1t may safe
~ be predicted that such chieitains
as Thomas c. Plat ami the late
Senator Quay have had their day. ana
shat. ave for . few ststes like Penn
aysvania. ouch guides have been per-
ma,ensay discredited an! have gene 20
return no more.
= IL q conspicuous fact that in all
ths great state Of New York there was
NOT one Republican figure Of sdeQuat"
Ilsl ortions or with the temerity to
essay the role Of boss when senility
aLe an outraged public sediment sal
r.a e,ed Senator Platt .-nr1 he ami-
nence to which his ?a'ty ssseF .at's
sai toisted him-if ao's' 4 be 'he
yaGper word. The ne:rcs, approach
to succession to the job Of boss In
New York state vas o sort Of Repu5-
Hcan "junta," composed Of such men
rs Woodruff. Barnes. ct al. By the
denomination Of Governor Hughes. In
spite of the desperate antagonism OF
virtually all OF the practical po'itf
clans OF the state. this cstaI. while
yet in It's infancy. has received q jolt
Witch ausurs III for It's future EN-
cheney.
Governor Hughes may be defeated
The Press. as q Democratic newspa-
pr. hopes that he win be. and BE-
Meves that the chances for the success
q the Democratic :ickct. both national
sad state. In New York we're never
brighter In any presidential year Hut
this paper regards the triumph OF a
majority Of the voters Of any pch-
teal party anywhere over the mach
Ssstsoas Of . small group Of purely
sslash political rscksicrs as q dis
sssctly heaithfsi mark Of progress In
H. poHcies Of the country. over which
IN cifireas may jubiIatc.
IT, usp,eassst experience OF thr
bpsses IN New York statc has been
tia - ODER bosses IN other siaics
~ ~ sesvsa b vsrtia< In stu