A man
named Croker was the Boss of the Democratic Party; a man named
Platt, the Boss of the Republicans. Men called the Boss of their
own party the "Leader," but they referred to the "Leader" of the
other party as the Boss, without wasting any politeness. Most men
do not pay much attention to politics; a Boss is a man who pays
too much attention to them. He exists because the average citizen
thinks he has done his whole duty if he votes on election day. A
Boss works at his business, which is politics, night and day, all
the year round. He might be very useful if he could be kept
honest. He manages to get a great deal of power, in ways that are
shady, if not actually criminal. Then, if he is one kind of a
Boss, greedy for money, he sells this power to the highest bidder.
Men are nominated for office, because the Boss has picked them
out, as a poultryman might select a fat goose. Usually he selects
a man who will obey orders. But another kind of Boss does not
especially care for money. He likes the power which his position
gives him, he likes to be able to move men about as if they were
toy-soldiers.
Such apparently was Senator Platt, the Republican Boss of New
York. People had so neglected their duty of managing their own
affairs in politics, that he had seized the reins, and could say
who should be nominated. In the same way Croker was the ruler of
the Democratic party in New York, and could say who should be
nominated in his party.
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