So the Governor treated him politely, and
only disagreed with him when the Boss proposed something actually
bad. For instance, there was a most important officer, the
Superintendent of Public Works, to be appointed. Senator Platt
informed Governor Roosevelt that a certain man had been chosen; he
showed him the telegram with the man's acceptance. Roosevelt said,
quietly, something like this:
"I think not, Senator. The Governor appoints that officer, and I
am the Governor."
Platt was very angry; Roosevelt refused to get angry, but stuck to
his decision, and made his own choice. Things like this happened
again and again, during the two years while Roosevelt was Governor
of New York.
Every honorable man in American politics has to fight against this
evil of the Boss. Officeholders, Presidents and Governors, come
and go, but the Bosses hold their power for a long time. So long
as they exist it is not wise for us to talk too much about Kings
and their tyranny. For a Boss is very like a King. Platt and
Croker thought that the people were not fit to rule; theirs was
much the same idea that King George the Third and the German
Kaiser had. The best and wisest men have had to admit the strength
of the Boss and try to deal with him as well as they could;
Abraham Lincoln even had to appoint one to his Cabinet. The Boss
creeps into power while the people are asleep.
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