The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-02
THREE OF A KIND.

If the announcement contained in
the telegram from Indianapolis day
or two ago in reference to General Har-
rison's Cabinet was authorized, as al
legged, the wisest and best friends of the
President elect will grieVe. 1t was
said that four members of the
Cabinet had been definitely chosen, as
follows: Secretary of State, James G.
Blaine; Secretary of the Treasury,
William B. Allison; Secretary of War,
Russell A. Alger; Postmaster-General,
John Wanamaker. Three OF these men
represent the dishonest and corrupt in
party politics; only one is such man
as we might have expected General
Harrison would take into his executive
family, considering the popular sentl-
msnt of the times in the matter of po-
litical honesty, party purity and ad-
ministraave reform. Senator Allison
is an able man, and an honest one 1t is
believed. HIS reputation is first class,
and with him at the head of the 6nan-
cial department of the nation, there
will be q feeling of public confidence
and trustfulness. But all that is bad
in party politics is represented IN the
persons of the three others. The fact
that they have been chosen will be &C
cepted by the masses as notice that
General HARRISON has not been
able to escape from the bad at
mosphere which has surrounded
his party with scandals, and
also that he proposes to run the ma
chine in the same old corrupt grooves
against which the masses have been
protesting. John Wauamaker gave his
personal check for $l0O. 600 to the Re-
publican Campaign Committee, and by
personal efforts fried the "fat" out Of
other Republicans to the tune of over
q million dollars. In this Is found the
only recommendation and q1slidca-
ton for the Office. In plain words, he
bought the place for cold cash, and
General Harrison is going to recognize
the validity of the purchase and deliver
the goods, though he must know that
to do so is simply soandalous. Ii
Wanamaker had not been thus extrsv-
agantly generous in his contribution to
a fund which was little less than cor
ruption fund. would Harrison or any
body else ever thought of him in con-
nection with a Cabinet position? Not
much. If public Office is not to be con-
sidsred public trust, but thing to be
bought and sold. then Wanamaker is
entitled to the Postm ester-Generalship.
or any other Office he may name, for
that matter, for he paid more than any
body else.
1t is everywhere understood and con-
ceded by all that General Alger never
entertained any more exalted opinion
of public Office than that it was thing
to be obtained by purchase like the
merchandise and lumber in which he
deals. At the Chicago convention he
bid publicly for the Presidential nom
ination, and John Sherman says he
bought some of the negro delegates on
which be (Sherman) held a mortgage.
Ayers barrel was openly on tap, and
all who were vulnerable were invited to
partake. There was more honor among |
the delegates than he had expected 80
encounter, or others bid higher than
he; at any rate, all he got for his ex-
penditure of money was disgraceful
scandal. Then he set out to buy his
way into the Cabinet. just as Wanama
ker did. And it seems he succeeded in
the same way.
As to Blaine, Republicans and Demo-
Gratis sgrse that whatever is crooked
and bad in politics always finds an
earnest champion in the man from
Msine, provided the crockedness will
result in benefit Or power to his party.
His idea of politics is that it is the bus
mess and duty of him and his party to
win, end to have no scruples as to the
means employed.
With these three men in his Cabinet
General Harrison will be strong and
lucky man if he does not fail ignomin-
iousIy, and give Us an administration
that will not only bs weak intellectually,
but full of scandals. Harrison's friends
have reason to feel apprehensiye.