Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-09
WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST DISCUSSES
BOSSES AND THE POLITICAL SITUATION
ect0rdI Reforms Needed to Complete the De-
structiOn of the 'Mdchine' System

Certainly the Tammany machine which exists through
toron and misrepresentation of political funds through the
criminal Of political corruption money should be the last
institution to bring proceedings against OF its members
for the common crime of most Of its members
The things that terrified the Tammany machine and stmu
lated 1t to extreme active retaliation the poss1bn
ties system of direct nominations which would deprive
the machine of its opportunities for extoon and oppression
OF its power to determine and dominate its agents IN office
and pedde their influence and activity for its own financial
and political advantage.
The intensity the opposition of the machine the prn
cpe of direct nominations should to the people the
necessity for the immediate adoption of this principle
Under certain conditions the bosses have power Of direct
nominations Mr. Murphy nominate whoever he peases
the Democratic ticket and he pleases to nominate
that he not control
present conditions power recall and
the agent Of the machine in public life proves unry the
boss assemblies his other agents legislative and judicial and
expes the unruly member from office
Surely the power of direct nominations be safely
posed the hands of the people than be the fat and
foul hands of political boss.
Surely the power recall unfathful should be
posed in the people to recall servants who unatful to
them rather than with the corrupt boss to recall his agents
who refuse to execute his criminal will
With the to nominate public officials in the hands
OF the people the disposition of the public official will be to
the people But this disposition should be accentuated
through complete control by the people of the acts of their
representatives in office This control secured through
initiative and referendum the initiative compel the consd
Grafton OF certain definite measures by the peoples repre-
SentaVes in office and the referendum to compel submission
Of certain definite to the people for their approval
before these measures can become law.
And further and final by people over their rep
resenaves in office be secured through the recall which
is nothing less than power to dismiss an unfaith
full or incompetent public employee power which every
business concern possesses in its private business and
which the people must order proper
mlnstration of their public offices.
There is no why incompetent unfaith
fu agent should continue in public employment than there
why an incompetent unfahu employee should be retained
In private enterprise.
There Is nothing revolutionary nothing radical nothing
unsound nothing even novel in the program here outlined
Tor reposn the power of government the hands the peo
pie 1t is in full accordance with the intention the founders
OF TINS Government and in harmony with the professions
pohtca parties 1t is IN successful operation in differ
ent States under many varying conditions
rms program of principles has proven effective to
Tree poc from the corruption of political machines has
done more has given the citizens added interest in public
affairs 1t has liberated public officials from state of slavery
TO sordd boss It has improved the personnel of public life
and elevated the aims and objects of public men
The recent victory the Tammany machine will be
merely temporary and unavaing if is ACCOMPLISHED
than the dposa of boss and the installation of another if
the machine system politics left and ntrenched to
return to power hereafter and restore the evil conditions of its
corrupt rule.
1t Napoleon who said of the victory of one of his gen.
erals What did he do the day? The action of the
day after victory important the victory itself The
enemy must be pursued and routed victory is to be made
complete. ~
The people have fought long year struggle against
the political boss and the political machine The forces Of cor
rupcn have been routed They not be allowed to re-
form merely under General They must be pursued and
destroyed and the forress that they occupied must be RACED
10 the ground In their place should ronghod of POM
lar rights TO protect the peoples liberties and to perpeuate
the peoples power. WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST