The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-01-19
CURRENT COMMENT
The progressives and the Bosses.


long Progressive leader of prominence,
formally announced yesterday his with
drawal from the Progressive party, in
order TO Join the Democrats. He does
this because of adherence of boss rule.
In the words of his letter, the Pro-
gressive party has failed OF its purpose
lin Massachusetts because OF the per-
nicious activities OF those men who con-
troll its destinies.r Such desertion
emphasizes anew the peculiar situation
now existing in the legislature, created
by the controversy at the time of its or
ganization. Although some days have
since passed, the principle involved
are so sure to persist in our legislature
that they are worthy of little analysis.
A party of highly idealistie purposes
has recently forged TO the front in Mass
achusetts on the issue of declared hos
tility to the bosses. To remove them
from the political landscape has been
the main object OF existence. OF course
it is understood that this applies only to
bosses of the old parties.
| The Herald had, however, supposed
that the Progressiyes, proclaiming their
hostility to the boss as type, would
exemplify this in their attitude toward
those of the old and discredited parties.
What was our CONSERVATION to find, at
the opening of the recent legislative SEES
sion, that the Progressives proceeded to
deal with Lomasney, who is a real boss
! if there ever was one in this world. In
| justice TO him, it should be said that he
acknowledges this. without humbug or
pretence. His purpose is to get posses
sion of all the places in the public
service which can be brought within
reach. If he cannot get them by de-
| feating the Republican party in open
contest, he is prepared to enter into
deal with any fraction of his opponents
that may be willing to do so. And so he
engineered such an alliance with the
Progressives No principles We're in
volved. 1t was simply deal in offices.
And Lomasney's course was entirely
consistent.
But what shall we say OF those Pro-
gressive leaders. OF declared hostilities
to the boss idea, who entered, with all
the clouds of glory enveloping them, into
such an alliance. Six of their represent
tatiyes refused 10 be thus bound. The
trade falls, and they are prosecuted re-
lentlessly And the persecution still
persists on Beacon Hill. With the old
parties the bosses have always, in theory
and practice, held a man responsible
for failure to stand by his party's action,
candidates and measures. But never,
under the old order in Satan's kingdom,
has any mans party standing been az
fected by his refusal to follow a boss of
an opposition party. 1t is one thing to
punish Progressives for not standing
with their party, but quite another to
punish them for not going with Mr..
Iomasney.
Thus party which started out to
extirpate bosses and bossship, carries
the boss idea to a new high level. How
queer it all is! And a party whose
leaders are too good to associate with
Republicans--fo which nobody blames
them-and too good to vote for Graf
ton Cushing, do not hesitate to join
hands with Mr. Curley. Though the
rank and fle of the Progressiyes voted
last Tuesday, as worthy citizens of Bos-
ton, it is now an open secret that their
professed leaders and journalistic ex-
ponents, stood hand in hand with Cur
ley. They asked the public to watch the
bestowal of committee places by Grafton
Gushing, for evidence of the improper
motives of the legislators who had |
broken ranks with Lomasney. By the |!
same token, il might be interesting to |
notice the new mayors recognition of /
the Progressive leaders as evidence of I
their attitude in the latest contest.
All this accounts for the growing I'M
rest among the rank and file of the 1
party under its present leadership. This I
unrest is creditable in the extreme to 4
their good purposes and high civic spirit.
1t shows that their ideals are so high
that it does not lie within the power of I
any self-assumed leaders of a day to
turn their influence to unworthy ends. /
Down with the bossesi Boston Herald. Il