Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-08
"NoBLEsSE oBLIcE"
AS A POLITICAL MOTIVE
Until More Men Like John c. Win.
ston Recognize It's Force I'm
proyement viii BE Slow

OPINIONS will differ as to the abili-
~ ties and public service Of the late
John G. Winston, whose life came to an
end while he was holding the post of
director of public works in the cabinet
of Mayor Moore.
Mr.. Winston had many admirers who
regarded him as one Of the ablest men
in the city. and there were many others
who we're in the habit Of belittling him
as a seeker for notoriety. ill-equipped
for any public service. Indeed, he was
charged with political ambition, as
though political ambition were crime.
But Mr.. Winston rose to such public
distinction as he achieved through his
willingness to do that which other men
refused to trouble themselves with.
When he was made chairman OF the
committee of seventy, fifteen years ago,
he was personally known to few Of his
associates. But he was a successful
business man Of the type desired for the
craftsmanship, and he was willing to
devote his time and energies to the work
of the committee. Under his direction
the movement was started which six
years later resulted in the election Of
Mayor Blankenburg.
1t must be put in the record that Mr.
Winston was one Of the group OF cour-
ageous men who protested against the
disgraceful political conditions here
fifteen years ago, and that he was not
content with mere protest. He be-
stirred himself to bring about an i'm
provement. And he did not grow weary,
as so many citizens do after their first
few attempts to break the hold OF pro-
fessional politicians upon the city gov
ernment. He never lost heart. He was
a leader in the campaign last year which
resulted in the revision Of the charter
and in the election of Mayor Moore.
Mr.. Winston was a good citizen,
serving the public interests all his life
to the best of his lights.
The city would be better of II there
were more men willing to do as much.
There are many such and they were
active in the last mayoralty campaign.
But there are not enough Of them.
There were a lot OF them on the
committee Of one hundred last year, but
for every business man who served on
| that committee there are ten who speak
with scorn Of politics when asked why
they do not bestir themselves 10 secure
the election Of higher grade &C men to
public Office. Some of them will boast
that they have never voted at local
| election.
They 20 about their business as
though government were matter with
which they had no concern, and they
leave the management Of the great cor =
poration which directs the local govern
mept to men who make politics bust
ness and presume to tell the rest Of us
who may or may not be nominated to
public office.
AS result there are men In office
today whom no private corporation
would trust for an hour to direct the
affairs of any of its departments or
represent 1t in any business transac
ton. A committee Of the Council is al
the present moment seeking to discover
what justification there is for the wide
spread suspicion against some Of them.
These conditions will continue unit
there is more lively sense OF public
responsibility in the minds OF the lead
ers in business and the professions. The
level Of political morality and govern
mental efficiency will be raised wher
these leaders become willing to devote &
little of their time and ability to poll
tics. When they decide to do this the!
can force the professional politicians t
submit to their own terms.
John w. Weeks did this in Massa
chusetts. He was educated at the An
napolis Naval Academy and served thre
rears in the navy. Then he resigned
and went into business, but the sense o
obligation to his country which induced
him to enter the navy in the first plac
did not die. When he made his fortun
he announced his candidacy for tn
House Of Representatives and wa
elected. He served there for severa
years. when he "as promoted TO tn
Senate. He devoted to public affair
rho ability which won him success il
business and became a leader in bot
houses of Congress. Before he loft tn
Senate his fitness for the presidcnc,
was generally admitted.
In Theodore Roosevelt We have
of independpnt means devoting his tim
and his talents to public service. Th
; strength Of Roosevelt always lay in hi
financial independence. II was no
, possibIe for any boss to force him int
, limo by tho threat to defeat him 70
ro. election to q salaried office. ItOOS"
/ wolf worked consistently with tho or
panization until the great bolt of 1912
but he had force enough to compel tn
bosses to deal with him on his owl
forms He never took orders, but coun
seIed with others in fixing party poll
cies. During the height of his powP
he was an inspiration TO thousands o
young men. many of whom are in publ
life now because Of his example.
, The late Seth Low, Of New York, wa
= another man Of independent means VIII
devoted himself to politics. He demon
stratcd his political skill by organizin
Young Republican club in the CARTEL
campaign. and then he was nominate
for the mayOralty of Brooklyn agains
., tho candidate Of one Of the StrOnges
noIitical bosses in tho country and wor
. Then when Brooklyn was consolidate
with New York he was elected mayo
of the enlarged city when the peop
= grow weary with the kind of a mayo
u thc organized conspiracy against goo
u Government, commonly known as Tam
many Hall, was in the habit of givin
to the city.
Rudolph Blankenburg. Of this cit!
embodied in his person the qualiti,