Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-24
Canals and Politics.

1t has been charged against the management
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal that OF late
years II has been little more than political
machine working for the benefit Of this or that
political clique with which it might be identified
for the time being, rather than for the interests
OF the stockholders. This charge would seem
to be confirmed by the present turmoil in the
democratic pot in AlegaDy county in conse-
quence of the late refusal of the Canal Board
to accede to the demand of the bostmen for a
reduction OF tolls. accompanied by the declsrs-
ton that the board "vilI not be governed or
controlled by any political considerations what
ever" This declaration of a purpose to wash
their hands Of politics is all very well if they
really mean IL; but IL wonld seem, if we may
rely upon the somewhat heated statements Of
the Cumberland Tins, the leading democratic
organ of the county, that the board is PLAYING
a little game OF its own in opposition 10 Mr
Walsh, the democratic nominee for Congress
The Times "gOes fOr' the board in this fero-
cious style
"NO southern state to-day is crushed with a
worse set OF characterless, unprincipled, cor
rupt, debauched set OF political renegsdes than
now manage the affairs of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal company. They cllirI to belong to
the democratic party. it IL true but that is only
- much the worse for the democratic party OF
these men German snd Bsnnon are the control
hne spints. . Let the people of Wash
gomery be made TO understand that German
and BsnnOn-the two men who have done more
to corrupt the politics of this state than any
other set OF men since the revOlutiOn-are inter-
esting themselves to defeat Walsh as means
Of saving their own heads and we predict such
an OLD fashioned democratic majority in this
district a. never was thought Of by the most
saDguIne. We shall set ourselves to this task at
once. To this end we commence by repudi-
atiDg, In the name OF the democracy of ALE.
ganyi All responsibility for the Official acts of
rme ~ hos FhaNN H.
without principles, and who control the canal
without reference TO any interest but their own.
We have TO part with them in their work and
hticsl overthrow"
On the other hand, the Cumberland Nsps,
republican, Gays that the rea facts In the case
are that the democratic political managers in
Allegany county were irving to use the canal
in the interest of Ar. WaIsh's election, but that
the plot failed, "hence these tears" The News
says;
cat the time OF the recent strike, which the
report Implies was Suggested to the boatmen
certain emisssTies Of Mr.. Walsh. democratic
candidate for Congress, went among the boat.
men heTe representing an advocacy of the de.
pressed interests of that hard worked and moor
ly-psio class and drew up petitions asking the
canal board TO reduce the tolls and abate the
trip-charge OF Si.Os per boat. These petitions
were very eleverly placed in Mr.. WsIsh's hands,
and by him carried before the canal board at
Annapolis and afterwards at Baltimore The
board was earnestly urged by Mr. Walsh and
his associates 20 grant the asked for reduction
MI. WalSh's friends well knew that upon the
success OF the application depended his popu-
larity with the bOstmen, no had been told that
IN the next election for congressman would
be found relief for them.
but the canal board would not be made tools
OF In this manner. They declared in their re-
port that although 'the canal IL a semi-oficisI
corporation and 10 was expected sat this par
toular time the president and directors would
relieve them (the bOatmen) of the toll on their
boats, the board in its official conduct will not
be governed or controlled by any political con-
sideTstiOrs whateyerr"
Now, whichever representation We may BE-
hevei 1t Is quite apparent from both that the
management OF the canal in the past has been
purely in political interests. The wrath OF the
democratic organ over the present refusal of
The canal board to come into the traces, shows
how entirely the canal property has been con-
sidered party machine. 10 be run In its inter-
ests. We have protested more than once in be-
half OF the stockholders, and the large number
OF business men interested in having the canal
properly managed, against this prostitution Of
II TO party uses; and we hope the board is sim
eere in its loud declaration of emancipation
from politics. But we have doubts