Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-05-28
THE PARTY BOSS,


 viding time with the weather as pop ular topic, with this difference: The weather is seldom made the subject of indiscriminate denuIciation. It is en- tirely probable that the party boss will have to be reckoned with so long as popular government endures. This fore cast is made on the ground that organ ization will always require leadership, which naturally pre- supposes singls directing hand.
 In party politics the chosen leader must accept grave responsibility, with tho understanding that the hardest part of his task requires many sacrifice of personal dignity; snd this is why the average man with decent instincts shurs the doubtful honor. But present ly there looms up big, strong person ality who proves to be a great organizer and not overscrupuious as to morals and the preservation of his party's in- tegrity. He, becomes ''boss" in pol, itics in sense that may or may not justify the offensive Or hippant meaning intended.
 And what follows? The party, being under efficient control, wins at the polls, unless the opposing party has an equally well managed machine" organization, in which event the result must be deter mined by "fair count" But, as a matter of fact, the masterful party boss Is as rare in our politics as any other directing genius. And, mark you, tho real boss in politics Is skilled as much in the art of concilliation as he is in holding the mastery over chronic in subordinates. He never tolerates fac tions. How does he manage them? By winning over their leaders and thus de- moralizing the rebelliors rank and file. In time all the forceful characters in the local organization are in his service pushing tho cause along. Mutinous dem onstratiors seldom interrupt the steady march of the party organization. This is the perfect party machine.
 Meantimc, the boss, in the interest of "good government, which is the only kind to insure popular approval, sees that most of his officials elected are rep utable men. His accredited henchmen must be satisfied with positions of nom. inal trust in the organization CT deputy slips in the county and city offices. oc- cssionally one of them is advanced to an elective position, to reach which he must be on his good behavior in order to secure the majority of the popular vote. If he proves to be bad official, the boss shows him no mercy-unless he succeeds in baftiing the grand jury.
 Wien the boss is in the zenith of his power there comes the real test of his integrity with the temptation to abuse his influence. Thenceforth he must be watchedl and held strictly to account, and his finish is at any time irnmi- nent.
 The fact remains that without a forceful and intelligent leadership no political organization can produce re- suits satisfactory to the electorate. His. tory demonstrates this. At the head of the southern confederacy was Jefferson Davis. oposing him on behalf of thu federal government stood the benign figure of Abraham Lincoln. Napoleon Bonaparte is the most conspicuous po- htical boss in French history. The great leaders have been as rare as gems on the beaches of the seas. Yet it is they who have moved the masses and nodded the politics of thu nations. And so it will be to the endof time.
 The term "boss'' in American poll tics was invented to be used ss an epi, thet and designed to cast reproach. The stigma is too often deserved. Never theless, the "boss'' will be in evidence while popular government lasts, and we can only pray Heaven to hasten the day when the name will ceass to be an cpl thet ard will be applied by common con- sent as decoration of honor.