Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-22
Aancdstrr tt,tci!.genrer.
Business Men as Politicians

Business Men as Politicians
That Philadelphia committee of One
Hundred Republicans found itself at a
loss to answer the persistent query of one
of its members as to whether or no it was
a partisan body. Some said yes and some
no, but the final conclusion was that it
must be partisan since it was wholly Re-
publican. The members had not up to
this time appreciated their position; and
when they afterwards went on to nomi-
nate ticket, they showed themselves
utterly unconscious Of the logical
consequence of their confession of part
isanship. AS Republican partisans,
when they had once determined this to
be their character, they should next
have resolved to control the candidates
of the Republican party; and the only
way to do this manifestly was and is
through the Republican organization.
That exists for the purpose OF nominating
the party candidates. This committee
of one hundred volunteer Republican
councillors do not expect it to do 50 :;
but they do expect that the regular party
convention will he so impressed by their
desire and their power, that they will
come down as the coon did to Captain
Smith, realizing the folly of resistance.
But is there anything in the situation
to give these Hundred Republicans and
their adherents its control? That tie
pends, of course. upon their numbers ::
and those numbers depend upon other
things of future happening. As the
matter now stands the Hundred repre-
sent the reform element in the Repub!i-
can party; and indeed Il part only CT it.
since AL influential portion of them re-
fuse to he seduced and conciliatcd to the
support of such an aged Pilgrim rooster
rs Mayor Stokley 10y his !roluse promises
that he will never do 50 any more, and
his abundant pledges of future coed
ness.
1t must be assumed that the regular
Republican ticket will command tie
strength of the l,arty vote. y sufficiently
decent ticket will be nominated. in case
the reform ticket is put aside. and
will receive the party support. The
Democratic convention will then prob
ably present All excellent ticket that will
command the Democratic vote. In this
situation, the ticket of the One Hundre
will drop between the two stools and the
only effect of its presentation will he t.
make the contest exciting between the
regular partisan tickets.
The ticket of the One Hundred li:ts, Of
course, no claim whatever upon Demo.
cratic support, being distinctly presented
as partisan. 1t has no claim either. upon
party support. not being the ticket of tho
party. And the support of Tony DreXe
and other rich and lusty fellows, who arc
very honest, as one of them suggested in
the meeting, because they have no temp
tatiOn to he otherwise, will hardly suffice
in default of votes. to elect Their excel
lent ticket.
1t is surprising how impractically and
foolishly ypractical business men do behave
when they undertake a hand at state.
craft. These hundred evidently are per.
vaded with the impression that theil
good intentions, reinforced hy their casl
make them an irresistible power. Cash
is undoubtedly Il strong influence and
ought to make philanthropy strong; but
in politics cash and goodness do not pul
well together. being as naturally rcpel
liant rs the negative and positive electri
cal force. And there is great danger tlia!
the pretty effort of the Republican busi.
ness men of Philadelphia to reform the
party within the party lines will lie {:
signal failure. II won't reform that
way with such methods and through
such men.
The Pittsburgh Republican business
men do not seem tn have greater k,Iack
at handling the political elements with.
in the party" than their Philadelphia
brethren. They haze been pouring theil
recommendations of Moorhcad fol
United States senator with a free hand
upon their representatives in the LcSis-
lature, with the net result that he did
not get single vote in tie caucus
Probably they did not use the money, OF
which they hat! SO much in their pockets
But you see they couldn't. being re.
formers. They were handicapped by
their principles, and notwithstanding
their financial stoutncss, could not take
up the running. Our rich friends in the
Republican party, who would like to be
decent and whose sensibilities are of.
Tended 10y the party's rottenness, have
our sympathy. But we see no help fo1
them. They are not smart enough to
reform their party within the party
lines, rs they are ambitious to do; and
we fear they are too stingy, or moral, to
employ the agencies that are really com-
petent to the task.
A COUPLE Ui eXcitable congressman
almost came to blows on the floor of the