The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-10-24

deputies to Cox and his ring, often
even the keys to his safe. Other cit
les, with not q quarter of the adyan-
tages or attractions. finally surpassed
Cincinnati in growth and in the larg-
er~civic spirit. The reason was not
far TO seek. Thuggi5m had ruled the
city: business men of Independence
found it hard to thrive; real citizen
; ship was outlawed: servile judgas
obeyed Cox's will.
The business of these bosses was
to rule their cities: but power en-
. boldened them. and :'iey reached ont
after the political control of their
States. Undistingnished for any
, dignity, usefulness or purpose except
that Of political heaGship, without
responsibility even to the people.
State conventions were wont to wait
! on their pleasure. The people, and
the representatives Of the people, had
turned over to them the prerogatives
tof their citizenship; and they ha l.
held these SO long that it was impos-
sible to recover them by anything
short of formal secession from their
power and their parties
They nominated Governors to 90
their bidding; they nominated Judges
to do the bidding Of the financial in
! terests which suppifeil ihem wft1 the
, sinews OF warfare; and they nomina-
ted comptrollers and taxing boards
who saw that the burdens of taxa
tion rested lightly on the powerful
and heavily on the weak and helpless.
The petty bosses N each county
seeing the prosperity of the man
higher up, emulated his exemple. IN
one county of New York State it was
discovered few years ago that the
county treasurer was in the habit Of
loaning the public money to the coun-
ty Judge; the superintendent of the
poor purchased blooded stock for h 5
! own use out Of the money of his de =
Dartment; another paid his priva ee
bills with checks drawn on the cour-
ty funds. One justice of the peace in
still another county collected fees
from his county for performing the
marriage rite. under a statute which
provided for fees for services in Grim
inal proceedings. In another coun-
ty our public officials was paid for
; 537 days work out of 365 days
: Prisoners in the penitentiary we're
furnished On an average of FIVE pairs
OF shoes annually. It helped the po-
. litical contractors. In one coua1y
; it took seventy-four days Of service II
! four dollars day 20 repair the gut
ter. pipes of the court house
This graft went on, until, in these
communities, man, especially any
man who pretended d be a politician,
was ashamed to be known as an hor-
est man. It was an evidence of inl-
becility SO low was and is the tone
of morals among public officials
Al American army officer once
said to me that the Spanish soldiers
in Cuba we're brave men, but they
were half starved, ana had no stom.
ach for fight. The graft in the ar
my consumed half the money provid-
ed for their rations. How pathetic
were the letters of those comma nd.
ers Of the Russian battieships on the
eve Of Vladivostock. bidding good
bye to their wives and families. say
ing they were going to defeat ant
death because Of the graft and red
tape at home. How long will Kmer
ica last under such conditions? Some
day the test may come, and We. too
: MAJ pay the penalty The creates
foe Of graft, and the greatest mora
; force today in this country, bar none
is the national leader ri the Progress
I've party.
But some will say: Did no
= Roosevelt accept the cid Of the boss
eS? And the reply is that be did
| 1t was the only way ole could rise t
power Governor Wilson accepte;
. the aid Of the Democratic bosses 0
New Jersey. was present at th
% convention which nominated him {.
5 the candidate for Governor Of Nry
. Jersey, and l saw two delegations 70
2 fused entrance to Il Q hall in Trento
l where the convention was held be
= cause they we're known TO be again
r, -~
9 Continued on Page Six.)