Putnam patriot., 1909-11-12

ing business with varied departments, an overseer is appointed to each de- partment, and when found unsuitea
 would be displaced and more capa- ble person madeoverseer. In the same way the manifold affairs of city can be administered-andi that is. stated
 simply, Is what is meant by .sgoyern- | ment by commission There is in a l city, as in large business establish
 ment, varied methods or plans used to deal with the main idea of commis- sion, 10 suit certain conditions or cir cumstances. Certain cities have entire | ly dispensed with the offices of Mayor
 and Council, while others retain each somewhat modified.
 The Galveston commission proving
 successful in better administration of public interests and in greater econo- my, it's example began to be followed, first in its own section, then gradually
 faster and faster each year. until final. ly the Eastern States began to appre- eiate the advantages of the commis- sion over the old efiete and unsatisfac- tory system of city government.
 What has mainly impeded It's faster adoption at the East is the power cf the political bosses-as the manipula- tors of party machinery are called men not always seeking to promote the public good, nor willing to relinquish the power that the party machinery enabled shrewd and ambitious men 10 acquire by combining together for that purpose. They managed 10 dictate who should be sent to the Legislature, who to Congress, and even who should be United States Senators. Do what they would the people could secure no redress, no matter how loudly they went to the convention, small or large, they found matters already decided for them, and they realized their utter helplessness to break through the im- pregnaole barriers of party machinery. Diseouragement followed, then indif- ference sueeeeded, and now the apathy of the pcopletbegins 10 be manifested throughout the East, with sad effect upon public welfare.
 We cite as an example Of this the State of New York. When Governor Hughes was first elected the lead CTS of his party did not appreciate the kind of man he was, nor the strength of his mental and moral powers, and did not organize fully enough Ia defeat the aroused enthusiasm of the people to make him their Governor-and they lriumphed
 Then began the struggle between the Governor and the bosses. When the first Legislature convened the former presented series of reform measures that should transfer the control Of the political power into the hands of the people from those who had usnrped it. His measures were received with deri- sion and rejected. as .reyosantieasry and destructive To party authority. The leading organ of the bosses joined in bitter attack on the Governor 10 des- troy his influence @lth the people. But the latter found tAey hai leader who was not unwilling To lead, with the vantage ground oi position, intellectual aad moral courage that raised him to l National dignity. War to the death 1 was declared agalnst him hy the bosses ! who said he mast not he Governor { again. But the latter wen. among the { n sopie and enlightened tlsesn as to the l real issue, and that he was fighting their:oai,le. The people became arous- ed from their apathy, and whsnsthe convention met, against the comhined strength and wiles of his