Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-14
NO. v-THE ALLIES

TTNHE disadvantages of closing all the
Il crevices of a room against the entrance
of air include the certain suffocation of
every living thing within Ventilation can
not be obtained by merely disturbing the
thick contaminated atmosphere, but a new
supply of air must come in from the outside.
The Mayors office is a single room in the
house of government. In a figurative sense,
there are rooms in the local structure which
have not been aired in the public veal since
the Civil War
vigorous opposition to those in Office Is
the oxygen of better government 1t vitalizes.
Government with no we'll organized outs
is like a pond the waters of which become
dirtier every time they are stirred up. The
absence of an opposition produces degenera-
ton for those held continually in power
come to represent interests instead of prin
ciples.
France is lurid example Of a whole
country devitalized because of the absence
of a strong opposition party to the one con-
stituting the government in perpetuity.
Cabinet positions In this so-called republic
across the ocean are hawked around like
bribes among the leaders of the small fac
tions before these factions have attained the
size of a threatening opposition. Instead of
the healthy play of two strong parties of
relative strength one against the other, as
in American national affairs, there is a dis
gusting play of intrigue; government grow
ing steadily worse instead of better
II ambitious to occupy pocket in the
coat of bureaucracy, Frenchman first sets
up frightful howl. Rather than join an
existing party, he forms new party He is
the party. Let his roar be loud enough, the
'ins' send tor him, and he gets something
In finance we call this practice blacSmail;
in the business Of government unfortunately
1t frequently passes for reform. true re-
former will not compromise with public
enemy.
Philadelphia, politically. is a miniature
France. There is but one party, and that
party has become a business. Government is
expressed by "Thc Organization" and is op-
Grated, as we all know from an inner ring.
Jim McNichol and the Wares comprise this
hub from which orders run like cart-wheel
spokes. They did not create this centre of
centres. 1t was there, and they achieved 1t.
Years ago 1.-The Organization took away
from the people the choice of parties. When
any opposition develops, sops distributed
among the noise makers. Look over the
Manual of Councils" the little yellow book
of government and you will be aghast at the
number of yesterdays wave-makers in the
sea of public opinion today nicely tucked
away in soft berths. Not a splash do we
hear from these expert swimmers, and some
even glory in their shame.
"Yes, but there are the Democrats" says
the guileless young citizen To him we gray
haired men of experience reply: Then you
did not know the cat got the canary?" It
happened so long ago 1t would be strange if
the knowledge were common property with
the present generation.
Democracy as a local organization died In
Philadelphia. with Lewis C. Cassidy, Samuel
]. Randall, Robert e Pattison and William
F, Harrity. Repubcanism as local organ
ization was killed about the same time The
parties of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham
Lincoln have nothing in common with this
thing" in stolen livery named "The Organ
ization." Tammany calls itself Democratic.
THE Organization" says it is Republican.
We know they neither.
In New York, however, there were enough
upright Republicans sufficiently hardy TO beat
off the attempt of Tammany TO capture their
party machinery. Here in the American
city where the old-fashioned Sabbath is
rigdly preserved, The Organization" stole
the entire machinery of the minority party,
horse foot and Dragons" without a
whimper going up from any Democrats but
few, including Postmaster John A, Thorn
ton. Why did the Democrats let them do 1t?
Because most of their local leaders were
bribed with jobs, and the rank and file, seeing
the rank and file Of the majority party in
the same control, said, "oh, well! We are
no worse off than they"
Ward leaders of the minority party are we'll
cared for. THE Organization" looks out for
them There was a time when these allies
were dealt with secretly, through the famous
firm Of Donnelly & Ryan, political contract
c and agents. But ex-City Commissioner
Thomas ]. Ryan is dead, and eX-Magtstrate
Charles P. Donnelly, who also became city
says he has retired from busi-
ness.
When everybody knew that effective or
ganized opposition to THE Organization" was
blotted out, there was no longer need to hide
the truth. Occasionally some new party
might come along and capture stray ward