The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-01-14
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81. 1870.

WAsH1NeroN, Dec. 81, 1870.
With the counting Of the electoral
votes that declared General Grant
President of the United States COM
menced the intrigues for the succession
then four years distant The republi-
can nomination is now scarcely eigh-
teen months away. There are polite
ians in this city and elsewhere who
have thought of little else for this two
and half years past. and will think of
little else for the next eighteen months
to come. The great field of intrigue
during the last session of Congress was
Of course this city. With the adjourn
ment 1t was transferred 10 our principal
watering places, to return here again
with the reassembling Of Congress.
Surprising as it may seem at first
glance it is nevertheless well estab-
lished fact that the man who stands the
very best chance ut the present time Of
getting the next republican nomination
Is our adrelt friend
His case is better and far more adroit-
~ managed than that of any other can
didate. His celebrated letter, declin-
ing further political honor and declar-
ing his unalterable determination to re-
tire to private life, was, though the
cheapest piece Of political clap trap,
very generally believed to be really in
earnest. 1t Was apparently so sincere
that astute politicians we're deceived BY
it and his most dangerous rivals com
pletely thrown off their guard. They
will now for the first time learn the fact
that Mr.. Colfax is
SIN THE HANDS OF HIS FRIENDS"
who were too successful in getting him
into his present position to relax any
effort to put him just one notch high
er.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEES
of the Fortieth Congress were arranged
by Speaker Colfax apparently fair and
right, but really SO as not, in any way,
to disturb any powerful monopoly.
The Committee on Banking and
Currency had on it three men-good
men. sound and true; but care was TAX
en- to have a large majority who would
see that no efforts should be made by
Congress to remove or even puncture
that
NATIONAL ULCER,
the national banking system. As q
matter of course the national bank and
Treasury ring worked for Mr.. Colfax' 8
nomination to the first Office in the gift
of the nation but, falling in that, man
aged to secure the second, and are now
waiting their turn to try again.
Not only was the Banking md Cur
rencY Committee packed with national
bank partisians, but friends OF the
monopoly were stationed as sentinels in
all the other important House commit
tees One national bank president was
made chairman of the Committee on
Manufactures another was put at the
head of the Pacific Railroad Commit
tee. One prominent national bank par
tisan and special pleader was placed on
the Judiciary Committee and another
on the Ways and Means.
In short all the House committees
were arranged so that no currency bill
in the interest fthe people could have
a ghost of chance. Rest assured that
the national bank ring managers have
worked for Mr.. Colfax, and will con-
tinue in that direction during the term
Of his natural life. They want no bet
ter man for their.purposes. He has been
tried and not found wanting.
THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
was arranged so as to suit the high tar
if league and the American Iron and
Steel Association, and Mt the same time
choke off two or three of Mr.. Collars
rivals in the race.
Turn to the Herald of May Is, 1868,
page and S. and you will find mention
made of a confidential circular issued
by the secretary of the high tariff "In-
dustrial League" to members of its ex-
ecutive council. In that precious doc
ument the managing officers of the
"League" boast of having largely in
huenced the selection of the Commit
tees Of Congress. They also stated that
the result Of those manipulstions was
quite satisfactory, nearly equal in value
to the cost OF the entire organization,
and recommended the raising of more
money. So much for the tariff league.
Is it any wonder that they support Mr..
Colfax?
THE AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL AssoCIA-
TON.
In Philadel phia the electioneering
headquarters Of Mr.. Colfax's especial
friends was at the spacious rooms Of
he American Iron and Steel Associa.
ion, on Walnut street, near Fourth.
This association, though the wealth.
'st in the country, is very little known,
wen in Pennsylvania. II numbers
Imong its numbers nearly all the veal
by iron and steel manufacturers in the
United States, each of whom pays in.
o the treasury of the organization a
ertain fixed sum on each ton of iron or
teel he manufactures, 1t is not, there
pre-, left with each member to contrib
to what he plesses, as is usual with
milar organizations, but all are regu. |
lrly taxed according to capacity 1t
not strictly speaking a secret society, i
Ike the Boston Cloth Manufacturer I