The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-31
NEW YORK HAS BEEN FORTY YEARS UNDER
 THUMB OF THE BOSS
From Floor of Convention Root Pleads for Emancipa- tiOn From the Invisible
 Government"

Albany. August 30.--From the floor of the constitutiunaf convention today President Elihu Root condemned the system of "bossism' and invisible government" which, he said, to his Knowledge had dominated New York for 40 years He pleaded that the peo- pie be armed with the short ballot that they might establish their own rule.
 This domination, MT. Root declared, mas caused a deep and sullen and long continued resentment among the peo- ple at being governed by men not of ,heir choosing. They demand change. The short ballot plan is solution, or at least, it may be the first step that will work out a solution"
 The short ballot and departmental reorganization proposal have had the support of the so-called federal crowd" lii the convention, put have been op- posed by members of the "old guard After discussing the proposals specif- ieally, MT. Root said:
 ''We talk about the government of the constitution. What is the govern ment of this state? What has it been during the 10 years f my acquaint- ance with it? The @> ernment, of the constitution? No; ;-M half the time, or half way. When ! ske4 what did the people find wrong car state govern ment, my nina goes back to those perl odic fits of public rage In which the people arose and tore down the politi cai leader. first of one party and then of tie other.
 Invisible Government Condemned
 'I am talking about the system From the days of Fenton and Conkling and Arthur and Cornell and Platt, from tine days of David B. Hill. down to the present time. the government of the state has presented two different lines of activity. one of the constitutional and statutory offices of the state, and the other of the party -leaders--they call them party bosses
 They are called the system--the invisible government for, I don't re- member how many years, MT. Conkling was the supreme ruler in this state: the governor did not count. legislatures cid not count And in a great burst of public rage he was pulled down.
 Then MT. Platt ruled the state for nigh upon 20 years And the capital was not here, 1t was at 49 Broadway, with Mir Platt and his lieutenants
 And there Is today throughout this state a deep and suilen resentment at being governed thus by men not of the .eoples choosing.
 "The party leader is selected by no one. accountable to no one, bound by no oath of office removable by no one.
 .I don't criticize the men of the .invis- ible government. How can |? have known them all. and among them have been some of my dearest friends But it is all wrong that government not authorized by the people should be con tinued superior to the government that is authorized by the people.
 Both Parties Alike
 Both parties are alike. All parties are alike. The system extends through all
 What the unerring instinct of the democracy of our state has seen in this of morality Is applied to the conduct Of affairs of state than that which is ap- piled in private affairs
 q deny that we cannot change 1t. assert that this perversion of democracy can be changed as truly as the atmos- phere which made the credit scandal possible in the Congress of the United public opinion.
 We can take this one step toward not robbing the people of their part =; the government. but toward ropbing an irre- sponsble autocracy of It's indefensible and unjust and undemocratic control of government and restoring 1t to the peo- pie to be exercised by the men of their choice and their control.''
 The contention that there was no popu- lar demand for the short ballot and that what demand there was ''created in the dark MT. Root said was not well founded. It was one of the Inducements. he declared. held out by the republicans, after the biz defeat in 1912,'' to cause
 (Cs.tiausa sn Pare Twelvs)