The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-02

The decision Of the Republican leaders
Of the Assembly to accept Governor
HuGHksS plan for 4 directly elected
State committee - not important of
itself. nor does II mean any material
change in the political control IT the
PARTY machinery. Had this system been
in pgaCtiCc during the last ten wears u
would not have made any appreCIable
change in the controlling influences Of
the partv.
When the people of a party are dis
satisfied with a party boss they will get
nd If him No machinery has vet been
devised by the nrai'ie-t of professional
politicians which will survive the attack
Of thoroughly discontinued party
membership. ntil the people are thor
oughly DISCONTINUED and aroused no
system Of party machinery will prevent
tho control of political organizations by
men who make business of politics and
live by the trade.
The particular detail of the Hughes
plan now accepted by the Republican
bosses has the merit. not possessed by
certain other parts of his whole scheme.
Of being harIuses=. or at least measur-
ably 80. IL does not give the bosses
more power and less responsibility as
does the scheme for State committee
nomination of executive officers. IL
merely offers an alternative way for the
bosses 10 exercise the power they now
have and always will have So long as
the people of the state are not angry
enough ar disguised enough to he pre-
pared 10 do their pnhtioal work for
themselves
II the plan. however. accepted nv tho
Republican leaders at IN" Assembly j.
harmless. II - also equally futile boss
under our political system j. a profess
sional politician who exercises the proxy
81 the people Of hr, constituency II is
always ravOsall,' Whenever the people !
rs~llv dcslr, 10 act a. their own agents !
or 90 change their political hired men |
What n gen.tally lacking j. the de-ir', |
on the part OF the people. ~ long as
thar desire - wanting, committees Of
thirty eight nr one hundred and fifty !
will be equally manageable hy the men |
who are willing 'o TAX" IN" time and !
trouble to manage them
For more than ten wears the Rspub-
hcans 0f this state have neglected their
party management They have been |
satisfied to permit the bosses and boss I
lets - run u. Now 'h"S" same Repub- !
hcans find an excuse for themselves An I
explanation for their own guilt. IN the
declaration that they have not done their .
public duty hrca,l-e bad machinerv
made their effective activity impossible .
This il interesting plausible. satisfies p
many reproaChful con~"l"nc'--. but n -
not in any sons an accurate eNplana- /
ton. The politics IT M" R"publIcan .
party in this state hay" been corrupt !
because ths Republicans hay" been law. !
careless. n",ie' mi
When ~ tins country majority 81 n 1
party ar ~ the people ~ community I
decide that th"y must It" something. /
machinery DOES not help pr hinder them. !
IL il the effective. persistent and peren- 4
NAL desire 10 act that fails We are .
Good citizens only when "" get mad. |
when We get angry enough To he willing I
10 sacrifice all personal interests 10 the /
accomplishment OF "A single definite and .
concrete thing.
In the present proposition there - no ]
great harm and less real good All
decent men will rejoice bccaiIse u indi-
Gates that a group of Inciiablv corrupt .
and nasty politicians are scared, Terri
fed 10 the point 81 sacrificing all pre-
viously announced positions and fleeing
before the storm