Evening journal., 1910-04-19
Peoples Column
CROZIER LAUDS
GOVERNOR HUGHES

demanding a fun and unsparing probe
of all legislative and political cor
ruption is a mighty milestone in his
tory. II viii also serve as tomb
stone over the newly made grave Of
machine methods in politics and party
management.
There never has been any party lines
In graft. Recent startling disclosures
help TO confirm this well known fact.
Party machines ever have deceived the
people with burlesque fights I'm public
on election day and then betrayed them
In secret all the balance Of the year
by dividing between the bosses Of both
parties the corrupt spoils of criminal
sales Of legislation and offices.
Pittsburg, with l16 under indictment
or serving prison terms. including %
former councilmen, society leaders,
prominent bankers and millionaircs.
part Of them Democrats and the rest
Republicans. is but the victim OF
machine rule. II is reaping the logical
fruit of a popular government in which
the people have little real power A
system where the party machine is
King san Francisco. ST. Louis. Grand
Rapids. Chicago, Los Angeles, New
corruption has been exposed tell tho
same story.
Under the party machine system the
bosses usually nominate their under
linss or tools as the candidates Of both
parties The people are given only
the choice Of two evils when they
should have the choice Of two good
sets Of candidates It is immatorial
to the bosses and the corrupting special
interests which party wins. The "in-
terests" decide on the legislation they
want iassed or suppressed AMI the
price they will pay for the same. The
money is given 10 the bosses OF both
parties who give little Of IL 10 their
retainers and TO sworn public servants,
together with orders respecting the
legislation in question OF course the
orders are obeyed because the boss
nominated and elected the alleged pub
lie 90 servant under express or i'm
piled agreement that he would obey
the boss instead Of the people. More
over. the Interests" desiring the
| legislative action or inaction secretly
supplied the money which the boss
used to elect such public servant. What
more natural thing then, that such Of
ficial should forget his oath. because
| Of direct money bribery or the indirect
bribery Of improper political obligation
/ and sell out the public welfare 20 en-.
able his party bass to pay political ol
/ party debts?
Organization is wise and necessary
| Parties arc essential. But the whole
boss system is wrong and vicious
II betrays the interests of the people
/ II belittles and degrades and humiliatei
good men who would like to serve thu
people honestly and honorably while Il
ofhce. II discredits and endanger
popular government. It crushes tn
pride Of the people and weakens thei
moral power. Il contains nothing tina
is good and all that is bad
Happily. conditions are changin
rapidly. The recognized general spirl
of unrest and dissatisfaction is
healthy sign. Even "reactionaries
are planning the nomination OF pre-
gressive and popular candidates IN
cause that is the only possible road
party success this year. The poop
are at last coming into their own b'
cause they are going after II. The
are mindful Of the colored man WI
got no turkey by praying for it unit
finally he prayed the Good Lord
send him after one.
Governor Hughes Is leading the igf
on the biggest issue I'm American pol
tics. He seeks TO make this tru
republic by giving TO the people res
power and control over their own al
fairs. This means the downfall Of IN
bosses and the complete overthrow q
party machines with them will large
" disappear legislative and politica
corruption. The rank and file in eac
party then viii have something TO sa
in party affairs. The people wi
rule.
The fight I'm Congress on Cannon
ism is the same struggle. II is III
determination Of the people to reorgar
ize legislative methods so that IN
voice Of the people may he effectiV
and thus abolish the artificial shelte
in Congress behind which Wall stree
and all its various special interest
have intrenched themselves at the ~
pense Of the people Of the Unite
states. When said in your valuab
columns last year that Cannonism wa
doomed and that the Republican part
must rid itself Of control by the 'ol
man Of the sea. it was simply pointin
out the only way i'm which the part
could retain public confidence and SUI
port
The Republican party will emerf
from the prevailing turmoil chastene
stronger and more useful than ever
the country provided II faithfully 70
lows the precepts and high ideals
Lincoln. II must. as he said, mai
this "a government Of the people. I
the people and for the people" In ever
state and in Congress. otherwise u
nartv will deserve the ignomonious d.
feat and disgrace toward which unmi
takably Il has been drifting. II car
not stand still. II must go forwai
or il will 60 backward. There is r
time TO be lost in choosing. The rar
and file must assert itself and assun
command and select its own leadershi
The people have absolute power TO d
stroy all self-constituted bosses AZ
smash machines at will This is pro-
ing true in New York. II is the san
everywhere. with people who ha'
patriotism and courage. II Is not
feht against men but against DANCE
ous system that imperils parties ar
even the safety Of Republican institl
tions
An irrepressable struggle Is on
state and nation designed TO resto
10 the people the power intended
the Declaration Of Independence, ar
the Constitution hope our par
will he the one to take up the people