The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-31
INVISIBLE RULE
CONTINUED From First Pase.)

lying around loose, accountable to no.
body. spending all the money they
can get, violate every principle OF
economy. OF efficiency. of the proper
transaction of business. Every one
can see that all around US are po-
iitical organizations carrying on the
business Of government. that have
learned their leasop from the great
business organizations which have
been so phenominally successful in
recent years.
Goes Back to Early Days.
II am going 70 discuss subject
that goes back to the beginning of
the political life of the oldest man in
this convention and one to which we
cannot close our eyes. II we keep the
obligations Of our oath. We talk
about the government OF the consti-
tuition. We have spent many days in
discussing the power OF this and that
and the other officer. What is the
government of this state? What has
II been during the forty years OF my
acauaintance with IL? When / asked
what did the people find wrong In
our State government my mind goes
back to those periodic fits of public
rage In which the people rouse up
and tear down the political leader.
first of one party and then OF the
other party. 1t goes on to the public
feeling Of resentment against the con-
troll Of government by party organiza-
lions, of both parties and OF all
parties.
Now. treat this subject In my own
-
any man. am talking about the
system from the days Of Fenton, and
Confifn and Arthur and Cornell and
Plat, from the days of David p. Kill,
down to the present time the govern
mont of the Etate has presented two
different lines Of activity. one OF tho
constitutional and statutory officers
OF the State and the other OF the party
leaders; they call them party bosses.
They call the gystem--I don't coin
the phrase. I adopt II because 1t car
ries its own meaning--the system
they call invisible government For
I don't remember how many years.
Mr.. Conkiing was the supreme ruler
count; Legislatures did not count:
ComptroIlers and Secretaries OF State
and what not. did not count It was
what Mr.. Conkiing said. and In a
great outburHt OF public rage he was
pulled down.
when Mr.. Plat ruled the State
for nigh on twenty years he ruled tt
Il was not the Governor; II was not
the Legislatures: II was not any elect
ed of11cer: 1t was Mr.. Plat. And the
capital was not here: It was at ~
where Mr.. Platt and his
held forth. It makes no
49, &fUA
whether you call II Fenton or Conk-
ling or Cornell or Arthur or Plat. or
by the names OF men now living. The
ruler OF the state during the greater
part Of the forty years Of my ac-
anaintance with the State government
has not been any man authorised BY
the constitution or by the law. The
party leader IL elected by no one. ac-
countab BILE to no one. bound by no
oath of ONCE, removable by no one.
1t Is An Wrong.
s.It is all wrong. II Ia all WRONG
that a government not authorised oy
the people should continue superior
10 the government that Ia authorized
by the people.
..What does the boss have to do?
He has to urge the appointment OF 2
man whose appointment will consoh-
date his power and preserve the or
ganiyation.. There has hardly been q
day for the last sixteen years when
/ haven't seen these two principles
come in conflict. The invisible gov
eminent proceeds to build up and
maintain It's power by reversal OF
the fundamental principle OF good
which IL that men should
be selected to perform. The duties OF
the once are to substitute the idea
that man should be appointed to OF
Ace for the preservation and en-
Of the power OF the po-
iifical leader. The one. the true one.
looks upon appointment to office with
q view to the service that can be
given to the public. The other. the
false one. looks upon appointment TO
once with a view to what can be got
ten ont Of 1t. Gentlemen Of the con-
vent.on, / appeal to your knowledge
: = : shout the use OF patronage under
the system Of invisible government =
true