The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-29
THE DEATH OF PHILADEL-
PHIA'S LOCAL BOSS.

Israel W. Durham, Republican boss
Of Philadelphia, is dead His end came
very suddenly, doubtless precipitated
by the severe weather of the last fort
night. He was only fifty-two years
old, and in recent years had been
gradually passing over the reins OF Re
publican control to James P. McNichol
his colleague in the State senate and
co-boss in the city.
Durham Is described as a remarkable
sort Of boss; yet study OF him indicates
that in fact be was quite an ordinary
one. Rather a more attractive type of
man personally than Cox or Croker.
he bossed in much the same way and
for much the same ends-the profits of
It. He began, ike almost every city
boss, in the lowest ranks. I.orimer
was a street car conductor and pack
ing house laborer; Croker was a
pugiEst; Cox was saloon keeper. and
Durham was a bricklayer. It Is not
difficult to understand why such men
as these, from such beginnings. rise to
control politics in great cities. They
rise because they are able; and in the
process Of rising, their knowledge OF
the people, through every stratum from
lowest TO highest, always stands them
IN good stead. These men know that
after all the votes are mainly cast by
the people who are never in the news
papers, whose views OF civil duty con
stitute curious complexity Of per
sonal sentiment, of imagined interest,
and of political prejudice.
Like almost all bosses who rise to
the first rank, it is agreed Of Durham
that he never lied or lodged He made
his word good with everybody; slow
in giving it or in otherwise committing
himself, he was determined in making
il good. He was wonderfully loyal to
his friends, which ordinarily is also
characteristic of the successful boss.
This stock of human qualities Dur
ham capitalized into the control Of
politics in his city. He was a fighter.
and he had many an opportunity to
display his metal and his generalship.
The prize of it all was the franchises.
the contracts, the Jobs, the power. the
ability to make and unmake. He made
Penrose and never wavered in loyalty
to him. Philadelphia paid tremen-
dous price in taxes and In all the evils
OF bad government for Durham's privi-
iege of bossing it, and Of making mag
nifeent fortunes out of exploitation
Of its contracts and its public service
rights. The shame Of Philadelphia. the
city of homes and churches, and, puta-
lively at least, of more OF the simpler
virtues than usually may be found in
= great city, is a peculiar condition.
Philadelphia would seem at first blush
10 be the very city in which appeals in
behalf Of good government would most
surely bring response; yet it has been
the most shsmeIessly exploited.
Durham was a corruptionist. In pri-
maries and at elections, the ballot was
no more sacred TO him than is the
suckers interest to the operator Of a
shell game. Utterly cynical he ruled
in the interest OF his machine alone
So firmly did he establish his power.
and so far did be carry his work of
transferring it to a chosen successor.
that it may be doubted whether his
passing will much change conditions
for the better. Philadelphia, in civic
sense, is the lotus eater of the cities.