The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-10-02
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ways. And reform politics may be
classed as of two kinds the counter.
felt variety and the genuine.
Independent, or reform movements
In 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 ticket which is supposed to
be better than either of the oldline
party tickets. Sometimes an indie
pendent movement means this. Some.
times it means that a Democrat or
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
lettering of conditions, and there.
fore arguing a reform, politically.
Then there is usually the Prohibi-
ton 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 NAV
be adopted in The platform of either
OF the parties. with a view to secure
votes for the whole ticket. Politics
is largely game of eXpedients, and
as the only things that count, in the
last analysis, arr the votes. it follows.
therefore, as the night the day, that
votes are the prime necessities, and
any eXpedient to catch votes is consid.
cred justifiablc.
Other phases OF reform politics NAV
enter particularly into national cam.
paigns, and may influence local condi-
tons enough 70 swing victory to a
side which may be weaker on naner
than its antagonist.
In every large city and noticeably
IN my own city. found two we'll de-
fined types of the political reformers
with a smatterMg also of what were
known as "cranks," "dreamers" and
Missionaries" One of the two tynes |
referred to Was the hard.headed citi.
zen who, regardless of ridicule and dis. |
enlargement, 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 unfit candidates and
supported and encouraged good candi.
dates for all Offices, whether state
county or municipal.
This class CT men ACCOMPLISHED
with the aid Of decent politicians
great deal Of good la the begfnning
Ike all men a"tuated by really high
motives, they we're derided and lam.
pooned, and their lot, like the Dolice.
mans was not happy one But as
time went on they became a force
which had to 1e reckoned with evan
by the most ha~dened Of the bosses "
excepting in what may be CIassed az
strictly saloon wards"
In the saloon wards, where the al.
dermen for instance, were saIoonkeep.
ers, or where the saloon influence nra.
dominated overwhelmingly, the boss.
rs" did not mind reform politics anv
more than rhinoceros would mind
he bite of mosquito. never could
understand. knowing the absolute
Of it, why the reformers
would sometimes try to break into"
uch ward in an aldermanic cam.
'aign. remember very well the oc.
aston of gentleman calling on me
nd endeaVorins to enlist my services
s q speaker in campaign of this
ort.
you know the disgraceful condi-