Chapter 3

Chapter 3Party Machines and the Immigrants

Any Political Organization, generally:Reflects the society out of which it develops

Insofar as participant actions imply willingness to abide by the terms of authoritative decisions, they give tacit approval to, and thereby help to sustain, the system.

In other wordsThe rise of the machine (and its boss) was a part of the political response to new modes of life and the political problems entailed by socioeconomic changes post Civil War.

David Eastons Model of Political Systems

Changes to Political SystemsUsually incremental modifications

Sometimes punctuations

The age of the bossesMachines are a distinctly North American political institution

Peak period: late nineteenth and mid-twentieth century

by 1890 virtually every sizable city had a political boss or was in the process of developing one

70 years of city-wide machines

Annual Prevalence of Machine Politics in Large American Cities by Type, 1870-1945 (N=30)

Research on Incidence

30 cities Half the cities had organized machine activity between 1865-1875Four joined between 1876-1885Another four joined between 1886-1895Seven had no machine activityMachine movement diffusion stopped 1892

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CharacteristicsMost of the oldest machines were factionalWard v. ward rather than citywideCitywide emerged in 1880s and afterReflected settlement/ethnic group patternsUsually one boss typically the mayorAldermen of wards 30-40 precinctsPrecinct captains of smaller areas 400-600 pop

Characteristics, continuedClientelism patron-client relationship

Market-like exchanges softened by warmer relations of trust, loyalty, solidarity

Hierarchical in nature

No real concern for immigrant groups collective long-term needs

Patron and Broker

ContractsRelief from legal limitationsFranchisesLimited regulationOccasional labor control

Where was the state?Kept in check by Boss ability to deliver a bloc of votes

Machines were taking care of a problemNo conceivable alternatives

Given the personal benefits, not an excessive arrangement

Also, rural domination in legislatures

The Local Utility of the MachineCity governments were fragmented and functioned poorly

Business elites busy making money

Machines filled the void of governance

Sources of powerRapid urbanization = Period of ImprovementsContracts rewards and kick-backsLicenses to operateFranchises RR and UtilityJobsProtection from police

ReturnsLoyal voters for self or selected leaderPersonal wealth kicks and bribes

Social ReturnsSocial stability among transitioning groupsAssimilation of immigrant groupsDefense of immigrant culture against the mainstream

Reform AttemptsNext Chapter

Boss Crump Memphis, TNMayor of Memphis for three two-year terms, beginning in 1909Ran as a reform candidateStayed on as boss until his death in 1954Had to keep support of over 600 saloon keepers and ward bosses

New Yorks Boss Wm. M. Tweed

Crump, continuedState was Democrat no Republican could winCame down to tight margins between DemsCrump controlled more than 25% of state votesDominated over 60 city and state elections, including governors officeAfrican American voters$2 poll tax paidBig public event cookoutsParks, individual help, etc.Loyal voters

Crump, continued1946 Time magazine stated: "Crump has given Memphis everything but a freely elected government."Efficient administratorLocal utilities upgraded to be envied across stateArguably best fire dept. in countryKept taxes lowFirst safety inspections of automobiles in South

Crump, continuedBUT - Capitalized on the desperation of people during Great DepressionForced political rivals from townCriticism and public opposition not allowedHad reporters beaten (election fraud)Unions were harassedKept Black leadership and CIO organizers intimidatedHad to purchase insurance from Crump Company to open shopMade money on auto inspections

How can this happen?Theoretical background of criminal group formationSocial structure theory (Product of social structure)Varying patterns of criminal behavior exist within the social structureNot biological or psychologicalResults from society itself

Social structureThe distribution of wealth, power, and prestige creates social classes segments of society with similar portions of material goodsAnd who share attitudes, values, norms, and lifestyle

Supports fragmentation among classes

Ecological, Social Disorganization Theory (Builds upon SS Theory)Forces among impoverished groups push some of its members in the direction of criminal behavior

Shaw and McKay studied court records from 1880s-1930s Chicago

Plotted addresses of criminals on mapCreated five zones

Zones - Chicago

ResultsMost arrestees lived in Zone II, the transitional zoneHeld true over time

Zone II CharacteristicsDowntown or industrial areasSubstandard, deteriorated housing blightLow levels of home ownershipLow incomePoorer health

Zone II Characteristics continuedHigh unemploymentHigh rates of crimeHigh levels of mobility, short and long termTurnover of ethnic groupsEthnic groups changed over time but crime rates remained high

Zone II characteristics continuedSuccessive waves of immigrants lived in Zone IIFirst generation was law-abiding hopefulBut their children had high likelihood of delinquencyHeld true over time, regardless of ethnic group

ConclusionsZone II neighborhoods produced high levels of crime and delinquencyAlthough specific ethnic groups took the blame at the time, crime was high regardless of ethnic group or cultureImmigration reforms of 1924 resultedBut Shaw and McKay argued that these areas put adolescents at risk because of community level social disorganization

ExtrapolationSocial factors included:PovertyAlienationFear of crime, suspicion of othersCompetition for limited jobsUnstable households due to limited and uncertain employmentDiscouraged employment

Extrapolation, continuedNeighborhood structure influences criminal behaviorArises in response to adverse conditions in slum areasCommunity members do not mobilize or help each other because of fear

Extrapolation, continuedStressed parents have less influence over childrenNeed assistance but thats not availableChildren grow up in the presence of adolescent gangs and adult criminalsCrime is an option and opportunity

Modern Crime-prone areasTransitional zonesLarge number single-parent familiesDeclining economic baseAdjoining neighborhoods also experience increase in crime

Strain Theory (individual response)Crime is the result of the frustration people experience when they are unable to achieve social and financial success

People respond in various ways to social and economic conditions, depending upon their goals and the resources available to them

Crime serves a Function

Modes of AdaptationGoalsMeansCrimeConformity++-Innovation+-+Ritualism-+-Retreat--+Rebellion+/-+/-+

Modes of AdaptationConformity: join the majority vision of successful societyInnovation: same goals, criminal meansRitualism: hard work, thrift but no expectation of successRetreat: rejection of vision vagrants, drug usersRebellion: change vision and distribution of meansReformers, rebellion, cults

Todays Ethnic Politics(The Challenge of Governance)Rising immigration and changing demographicsNew groups = new political voices?

Few face-to-face relationshipsPatronage and kick-backs not easily accomplishedMass media elections

Who represents and binds groups?