The Washington times., 1912-10-19

pioneering. I think I got here my first
giimmerfng idea OF real social service.
h, wanted to DO something for people
Set On Right Track.
That's the set of ideas which
brought with me into the Civil Service
Commission and the Police Commission.
And by that time was on the road to
a real understanding of social service.
1t was Jacob Riis who set me on the
right track. I had read his stories about
real conditions in New York; and I
said to him. Let's get In and work to-
gether. Let's do something to make
at was fight, fight all the time, that
police commission Job. But, after all
i was fighting only the professional
grafters-bloated, fat thieves who got
their money as they could. and spent
II In champagne baths and debauches
up the Hudson such as Tweed used to
hold. didn't have much support when
ever I struck out to do something new.
On the one side were those fellows, and
on the other a lot Of sappy idealists
Who couldn't be got to understand. !
on thinking that the grating profess
sional politician was the real menace Of
democracy. and that II We got a busi-
hess administration everything would be
back Of my head all the time. You see.
! had come out Of college with the edu-
Gated head. but / hadn't even yet the
educated heart.
After that. I went down to WASH
ington. ! was busy recognising the
Navy, which was business Job and
didn't bring me up against the real
question. Then II was the war and the
Rough Riders. There was a lot Of the
Jack Hazard stun still In mel see that
/ ran1amhar that wi a,rat
In Washington ! used to tell my New
York acquaintances with great enthus-
iasm about -" (here he mentioned the
name Of a rich and self-made piratical
politician OF the old SCHOOL, ''and Bob
La Toilette, in the same breath. I
praised them both equally as fine. virile
Western men who had come up from
the ranks by their own Aforts. That's
the subtle poiDt-I wonder II you see
II? They looked alike to me. I couldn't
draw any distinction-yet.
Began to See Light.
81 became governor OF New York.
There was where began to see light.
I ran against what We used to call tho
money power. You know. I'd heard
that. phrase all my life. and laughed at
It, When Bryan used II. l thought Of
II as the vaporing Of a windy dema-
gogue. Take the Lou Payn incident-I
can't remember exactly whether that or
the franchise tax bill was first In order.
was fighting Payn's appointment as
insurance commissioner. II was q Ques-
ton II l could yet any other appoint
ment through the Legislature. A re-
spectacle young gentleman came up
from New York. representing one Of
the insurance companies. He said:
Wed support some other man, II We
were sure you could put him through.
but we're afraid Of opposing Payn. for
fear he may take II out on us In case
he wins said. Legislature or no Leg
islature, I'll stick II out. II they don't
confirm my man. then I'll try another
and Il won't be Fayn.' He said. In that
case, wen support your appointee. We
can deliver four senators and three as
semblymen.' The next day the presi-
dent of that company gave out state
ment indorsing Payn. ! went down to
find out what II meant. He said, oh,
that's all right; we're only guarding
ourselves In case Payn should go in.
Wen deliver our senators and assembly
men just the same Do you get It?