Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-05
BOSSES AND PROVIDENCE
RULE AMERICAN AFFAIRS
Why Do We Disregard In Peace the
Great Principles for Which
We Make War;

we NdNC "dl
A MERICANS have fought time and
\ again in white passion for the
principles of self government. Cheer
fully they have thrown their lives and
their property into every struggle. In
periods of emergency they war for the
democratic ideal as If they were in quest
of holy thing. grail. Whoever open
ly questioned them was annihilated.
Whoever openly questions them will al
ways be annihilated.
1t is after each of our victories that
we have been most mysterious. Having
achieved sacred thing, and having
achieved il. otter enough at staggering
cost. we promptly lose interest in 1t.
For we in the United States are not ac-
tually self governing. We are governed
by Providence and politicians.
The circumstances or Mr. Hoover's
candidacy serve to concentrate new
revealing light on this odd trait of ours.
Mr.. Hoover may be desirable or unde-
SrabIc. That is not the question now.
1t is the nature of the argument most
generally made against him in the high
councils Of both parties that invites at
tention.
There is no attempt to analyze Mr..
Hoover. to consider his motives, his vir-
tues or his possible defects. The bosses,
big and little. consider such exercise
of lively intelligence altogether super
fluous.
What" they say with genuine in
dignation. has Hoover ever done for
the Republicans? What has he ever
done for the Democrats? Where has he
been all these years when party organi-
zationS had to be held together-when
eI""tions had to be won?
Did he ever help the crowd TO
political victory? He didn't. We did
the work. and if anything is to be got
this year we will get it. Now Hoover
comes around and wants us to make him
President. lie has nerve; you can say
that for him, anyway :"
Hoover, in other words. never carried
a division for the clans. lie never car
ried Il banner. He never carried a
torch. He never wore the elephants
breath beaver of the marching clubs and
he never was glamOurOus in an oilcloth
cape. Moreover, he hasn't surrendered
his mind. He isn't branded The high
sign is unknown to him. So, he isn't
acceptable to the >elf-upponted guard
ians Of the political trough.
The interesting thing to remember is
that this general taboo is not on Hoover
alone. 1t is upon any man who neglects
to answer questions and have his pass
ports viSecd by III" proper authorities for
any sort of excursion into American
politics.
The presidential election of 1916
brought out 100. 600 votes. all told.
Yet there were ther about - J,OOO. 900
qualified electors in the United States.
There were, in fact. not less than 30.
OOO,Ow people morally and intellectual
iy qualified 10 participate in the cleo
zion. But half of these were debarred
from the polls because We werc not
ready formally to admit that women
are capable Of thought.
Great elections, therefore. are decided
by about one third of the voting pop.
ulation. The arrangement is ideal for
the political ringmasterS, who have
been IL deadly fear Of the suffrage
amendment. whirh would bring into pol
irics new factor that cannot b" easily
managed or measured. 4 wocfully be .
fuddIcd Assembly in Delaware, incapa D.
bic of clear vision, has been sticking
to the shelter Of familiar tradition and
helping 10 continue the lamertablc
order of affairs for a while longer.
In Dover and at Albany the erratic
Legislatures ar" not even dcluded By
a belief that they are guardians Of a
sacred institution. They have merely
reacted to that instinct Of cxClusiyCuc,>
which is natural among men who are
not quite sur" Of themselves or of their
ability successfully to meet Intelligent
competition.
The old line party bosses, in word,
do not want to be disturbed Hoover is
about as welcome to them as burglar
in the house. They wouldn't be per
mittrd to do Hoover's thinking for him,
And II i seriously tb1 be doubted
whether they would be n. rmitted to Dc
tho thinking for the new millions oi
women voters. Tie professional poll
ticiun Of today i thinking not of the
country, not Of the future, not of til,
now and bewildoring problems that fac
the nation.
lie is thinking Of his party organi.
zation-the agency which distribute.
patronagc-the bund Of the jobholders
This was plain when the leaders fO,
both parties in the House and the Sen
ate were recently asked to discuss
Hoover's tentative candidacy. AlnOs
without exception thy dissembled auC
hustled for shelter. They were not fO
/ Hoover because, like prudent men, the!
were not ready 10 disturb the founda
tions upon which their own pOitica
fortunes rest. Almost any man VIII,
enters office by the usual route will b
! DISPOSED TO consider his party before h
considers its candidate.
This instinct of self preservation doe
queer things 10 the minds of inhu
ontial party men. The routine politica
boss of the old school will entrust hi
home and the education Of his children
and most Of his own hopes TO woman
Bur be shrinks when it is suggested tha
this same woman ought TO have VOiC
in the business Of government.
Women may write books, practic
law and medicine and prove their abilit
in all lines of business and virtual
all professions, but men who live by tn
old political traditions still deny thei
right to vote.
/ ,nn,y1,arI bn