The Washington herald., 1910-01-09

voting for the free candidates OF their
choice. the boss viii vanish. and in his
stead will be the leader. not self-chosen
but proclaimed and accepted by reason
of his ability. wisdom. and character.
Notwithstanding his vices" Gov De
neen went on To say, "the boss IS ar
interesting. although 10 some abhorrent
human study. 1t is not generally real
lied that he is always engaged in a Ire
and death struggle TO retain his power
and position. Usually he has fought his
way up from his precinct, through his
ward, TO the political dictatorship of his
city. After once gaining control. he has
to keep II, and TO keep It by any method
that may prove effective-illegal voting
for instance. or grating.
All Have Retainers.
Behind each boss there is a crowd OF
mutinous. avarlcious. and suspicious re-
tanners. Pirates by occupation. faithIess
by instinct, they will change overnight to
q new master Immediately the slate OF
the Old boss fails at some convention
a village is competent to lead his men
to their cave in the mountains, the po-
nticaI boss must inspire respect and fear,
II he hopes for support, and that can
only be done by hard. competent, and in
cessant fighting.
IF he ceases to fight. he Is sneered
at for his weakness and his rule is over.
Thus he IS a mixture OF self-making and
the making of others. Hailed as king
by a band OF political freeboOters. he
adjusts himself. if any adjustment Is
necessary, 20 the temper OF his subjects
he stuffs ballot boxes. he bargains with
special interests, he does anything and
everything to keep his rotten throne from
falling"
You have attempted TO end bossism
In Illinois," I said, 'by getting a law
that will change the method OF nominat-
ing men for public Officer"
we have had three primary laws in
this State, but each was declared 20 be
unconstitutional. However. nominations
had been made In every instance before
the decision was rendered. The people,
therefore. have had an opportunity of
judging the matter for themselves. They
are hostile to conventions, and are de-
manding the right to make their own
nominations. When the people are per-
mitted to choose their candidates for
public Office, the boss necessarily and
inevitably loses his power and his occu-
patton. He can control a convention Of
his party, a compact mass OF his own
creatures. but he cannot control an out
pouring of intelligent, independent, and
unpurchasable voters"
But doesn't such an outpouring," I
asked. cost the candidates considerable
money in the way of proper and requi-
site campaign expenses? p"
Il would limit the sum Of money that
could be spent" Gov Deneen answered.
1T is said" he continued, that a pri-
mary practically amounts to an election
within the party. and that It IS expen-
sive in time and trouble, but the advan-
tages of such a system of making noml-
nations are so many that the cost ought
not TO be considered seriously. Boss rule
would be stopped. for one thing. Fur
thermore, the people would know exactly
what each candidate stood for. because
he would be compelled to declare him
self either on the stump or on paper.
And when he got into Office finally he
would not be under obligations to any
man Or any interest: he would be a free
agent and responsible to no one but the
people,
In your opinion, whet is the para
mount question before the country?'
Respect for the law-by everybody.