Like Great-Grandfather, Like Great-Grandson

"The cause and mainspring of most of our political woes."

I’m not the first in my family to weigh in on public policy.

One of my great-grandfathers, John Fletcher Kingwill, was expressing his own thoughts on policy over one hundred and twenty years ago:

Chicago Tribune, November 24, 1901, page 14:

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

How to fight the "Bosses."

Chicago, Nov. 21.---(Editor of the Tribune.)---The altogether too common practice of sending men who are drawing public money to nominating conventions is certainly the cause and mainspring of most of our political woes. Such men are, in nine case (sic) out of ten, the political slaves of some other man or set of men, and invariably do their bidding, instead of that which is best for the general good. Hence it is that bad men are so frequently nominated and "bossism" prevails.

Both great parties are addicted to the same vice, so that the independent voter or "kicker," as he is sometimes called, has little to gain by scratching. This state of affairs can be changed if the reputable citizens in each primary district will get out to the primaries and caucuses and highly resolve that they will not under any circumstances vote for any man as delegate to any nominating convention or any officer of any ward club who is drawing public money. Leaders and a properly constructed machine are necessary to success, but bosses are not wanted.

The writer of this has quietly preached this doctrine amongst his friends in the Sixth Ward for a long time, and many of them are now beginning to see that this is the proper thing to do if we ever hope to escape the disgraceful conditions now existing. J.F. KINGWILL.