The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1914-09-06


Sllivan a. party leader knew
kow to make cunning capital from.
the political ambitions cf others. a
man who aspired to office might
Confidc his ambitions y sullivan;
If sullivan liked the man, or thought
he might become politically useful
he would encourage him; or he
might send hip out to see what he
could do In the precinct, the ward
or The district II he brought back
evidence that he could make win
ming fight. Sulli"an might cncour-
ago him-mlght give him 500,
$500. or $1,000 for his campaign
fund, and might at the sara time
do some service for his opponent.
Thus whoever won was nader bonds,
as ho sat in Coancil or Legislature
or Congress, 10 come To Sullivan $
aid when sullivan needed aid.
Sullivan the Politician Appears
sullivan, too, buil5 his machine
upon . broad compla,sance. He sell
dom hogged things. Who was 1t
that said; Politics is the science
of getting ) per cent of the voters
with you?" Sullivan quotes that
today. He always kept his eve uron
the larger thing. Men might have
the small things OF the precinct IL
they would give him the larger con-
troll of the ward, and they might
have the honors Of the ward If they
would obey his nod in the Council
or the Legislature They might fish
in what ponds, cut bait with what
interests they would. they I1ight
stand to crafty all their private
likes and dislikes, until the hour
eame up when a Sullivan interest
was represented then they were ex-
pected TO forget all else and stand
with him
This, Of course, was no patent of
Roger Sullivan's. II Is the way Of
The boss everywhere. 1t is the
source of much bad government,
and it is the source of one Of the
eravcst charges against Sullivan.
His influence upon city politics
las been bad because he permitted
bad men to have their way in the
small things that he might have his
way in the large things. Some OF
he notorious Sullivan men were and
are notoriously bad men the gray
wolves and the black sheep OF
Council or Legislature
Az an individual, the man pcs
ressea an enormous self-couiidenee
and lays a large stress npcn the ago.
Ho Is Immensely proud Of his
achievements. and "T, Roger suit
yan," is a phrase which breaks fire.
Quently into his conversation. Yet,
as leader, Sullivan was neither
6omineering nor vindictive. Many
times he commanded when men did
not know they were commanded.
He did net always appear 10 plume
himself on leadership. A party con-
ference might talk and wrangle,
split hairs, and shake shillalahs by
he hour, with Sullivan merely an
cbservant spectator until he judged
the proper moment had come, when,
with the mild declaration. well,
Toys, think this Tor that is what
we'd better do" Roger would take
the helm.
When opposition arose he could
fight with animosity that seemed
implacablc. He could punish with
severity; but he could also forgive
and condone.
ooh, that young fellow made a
mistake this time. He'll be all
right. Try him again" he has been
known to urge when desorter
came UP for discipline.
Climbing the Rungs.
But we must go back now in our
narrative and start with Roger FIJI
his first political JOB as custodian
of property at the County Hospital
with its monthly warrant OF $40.
Two years passed and Cleveland
had been elected President In the
distribution of patronage Young
sullivan develoDed just enough pull
to land himself a Job as Govern
ment storekeeper at 81 per day In
four years he advanced on his
merits, Roger thinks--to be 9
gauger, and then deputy collector
He saved his money, too, and by the
time the election OF Harrison turned
Him out of office he had a little
teaning business going that Mas
bringing in 500 or $500 per month
and WIS fairly on his way 20 that
opulence at which he has now ar
rived.
From then on. too, his political
progress was amazingly rapid. In
1890 he was elected Probate Clerk
OF Cook County, The salary was
$4,000 q year. Roger has a notion
M he IL n,.tz. al