People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1897 — A Model Political Boss. [ARTICLE]

A Model Political Boss.

The political boss confirms the doctrine of evolution. His origin was humble and despised. The primeval habitat of the original specimen was in the back room of a third rate side street saloon, and his jurisdiction comprehended only the impecunious customers of the gin mill. He evolved by slow gradation to places more pretentious, and the area of his authority was proportionately extended. In time the boundaries of the ward, and all the booze shops within the same beosme the province of the “heeler” and his deputies. Then whole towns and cities were acquired, and the “boss” had evolved to a figuije of political dignity and importance. The process finally developed into the state dictator, and from that to the Hanna stage of national political boss evolution. In the earlier periods the antetypes of the species were retiring in disposition, presumably because of their fewness in number, and the absence of popular enthusiasm which attached to either their presence or calling. Social lines were drawn against them, and their garb and breath obnoxious to the higher grades of animals. The “sinews of war” were also minimized, and almost altogether liquid in character,and deadly as the lightning in execution. In this respect, also, a wonderful evolution bas gone forward. The beginning was marked by the bribe stealthily offered in the shadows of the night from the flask of bug juice, and is in striking contrast to the million dollar slush fund, and open negotiation for train loads of voters which characterized the operations of Mark Aurelius in the late campaign.—Leader Democrat.