February 16, 1972

Requiem To A Political "Boss"

Where now the American two-party political system?

This question has nagged me these last few days following the sudden death at age 70 of my good friend Marion Graven.

Marion was a genuine, old style "political boss" in the best sense of the word.

He held the title of chairman of the Wayne County Republican, Executive Committee - more familiarly just county chairman.  He held the post for 38 years, certainly longer than any chairman in Ohio and maybe of the entire country.

What he said, generally, was what his party did.  He had an authority that came only from unquestioned integrity.  His honesty was even a little painful to his party associates who thought he did not take advantages of the proper opportunities that came his way.  Marion was so afraid of a reflection on his reputation that he refused political appointments he could have filled with distinction.

Yet, this steadfast refusal to profit from his position was precisely his strength as a political boss.  Monies and confidences entrusted to him on behalf of the party never strayed from their intended purposes.

Marion was the dean of the Ohio county chairmen.  He conferred "favors" in the expectation they would be returned someday to the general welfare of the party.  Those favors, let it be known, were simple acts of helpfulness - such as endorsement of a candidate, or an introduction to important people, or assistance in filling out a nominating petition.  He didn't like to handle money and insisted that donations be funneled to the party treasurer.

Marion began his long and distinguished career as a 9-year-old newsboy for a Democratic paper in Wooster, Ohio.  He hung around the editors and reporters as much .as possible to pick up Democratic party gossip and report it to his father, a prominent Republican leader.

In those days, party loyalty was paramount.  You fought fiercely for your candidates and, as in war, all tactics were fair.  It was the party that was responsible for running our governments, and the party was held accountable.

The prize for winning was - everything.  "To the victor belongs the spoils."  Patronage glued the parties together.  The dispensation of this patronage, in proportion to service rendered the party, was the authority that made political bosses.

Contrary to popular belief, the bosses were in nearly all cases men of highest character and sense of fairness - to their own party members.  Only the trust of party members enabled them to maintain their position at the hub of political affairs.

There were, of course, some scoundrels in both parties - particularly in such cities as New York, Boston and Chicago.  But these were the exceptions under constant attack by rank and file party members and opposing newspapers.

The thousands of other county chairmen throughout the nation were close to the grass roots and performed their duties with a dedication that helped make the United States politically viable.

Today, party loyalty is in decline.  "I vote the man, not the party," is a common boast.  It all sounds very lofty and objective, but in reality such loose political affiliation threatens the two-party American system.

Candidates, themselves, now raise large sums of money for their own campaigns.  They build up large, and sometimes fanatical, followings.  Demagoguery and "charisma" is essential to attracting workers and contributors.

Under these circumstances the cost of campaigning has gone up astronomically.  There is no longer the effective weeding out process once performed by the wards and counties.

Special interest groups are courted regardless of their party.  Each office holder is out-promised in each succeeding campaign by his challenger.  Paying off these promises - even in the usual small part - has brought the country into dire financial straits.

Only millionaires, celebrities and demagogues - it seems - can run for the highest offices.

Thank goodness, political "bosses" like Marion still exist and work quietly in most U.S. counties to keep the parties sensitive to the needs of both the nation and the voters.

It is fashionable these days, unfortunately, to denigrate politics - to equate it with graft and greed for a special few.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In reality, politics is an ancient art of reconciling the differences of individuals within society and focusing energy on the highest goals.  Because it is so human, so close to the people, it suffers from all the shortcomings of human nature.  Politics will not be perfect until people are perfect.

My friend, Marion, understood and forgave the failings of people.  In addition, he maintained harmony within the party so that strong-willed, convinced people could work together.  He did all this while demonstrating that his own interest was to a cause higher than his personal fortune and prestige.

His reward was only that accruing to most of the nation's unsung county chairman - the satisfaction on that comes from an important job well done.

Certainly we don't want to return completely to the spoils system.  But the nation could benefit greatly from a renaissance of two-party - in contrast to multi-candidate - politics as exemplified by Marion Graven.

Author: Lindsey Williams