The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-20

not appointed merely ber4use be ~
active In the campaign. but the faci
thaf be was willing 70 enter actively
INTO the campaign Was taken ar cvs.
dence that he was willing TO enter
upon broader political work That
brought him into the political
range where he couid be considered
sTlth other eligible men. and he was
appointed upon the grounds which
should govern such choice. because
be xas peculiarly 1T; because bis
special abilities were desired because
PennsTivaDIa was recognized as en-.
titled 10 = representative. and because
the forces IN PENNSYLVANIA entitled 10
voice united upon him
den- Harrison earnestly desired
that men like Mr.. Wanaulaker and
his associates Should take a ssarf i'm the
campaign. He wanted the business
element actively enlisted. lie believed
that II would have q wholesome insiu-
ence upon the political organization
as r. did. Mr.. Wauamaker was hur
ode Of the advisory committee Ev-
erythIng he did was known 10 several
Of his colleagues. The men we have
named above were eouyerSant with all
the work. and does any fair-r1inded
person believe there was ANYTHING
open TO reproach In the work which
had the partici patton and approval OF
such group OF men, Mr.. Cornelius
y. Bliss was prominently mentioned
and discussed Is the New York men,
Der of the cabinet and everybody con-
cedeG that he would be verr fIt seiec-
ton. Nobody said that Il be were
chosen il would be simply because Of
his campaign work. Yet Ar. Bliss is
q business man like Mr. Wanamaker,
was his colleague on the committee
shared in the work and joined in the
determinations. Why apply one rule
10 Mr.. Bliss and another to Mr.. Wan
| armaker2 The advisory committee of
business men undoubtedly exercised q
| moral influence and toned up the
campaign; and If Gen. Harrison de-
sired their cooperation in the canvass
II was very natural that he should
look beyond and seek their represen-
tation in further work.
What Mr.. Wanamaker's part in the
campaign did was TO demonstrate his
capacity for political affairs as his pre-
yious career had attested his ability
for business and administration.
That fact may well have made an inn
| preston on the president, as it did
upon ali who we're familiar with the
work. 1t was not merely raising
! money it was counsel, energy, cour-
age. organization, inspiration. One OF
the abEest public men of New York.
after watching Mr.. Wananaker for
weeks, said: Eff this man we're TO de-
vote himself to politics he would be
the master of US all. !" A sagaclous
and long experienced member of the
national committee said: Every
great emergency develops some enc
figure who stands head and shoulders
above bis fellows; the development oil
this last campaign was John Wanna
| maker" The allegation that Mr.,
Wanamaker was appointed be-
cause ne joined with others in
raising campaign fund implies that
there was no other and sufficient rea-
son. The sufficient and conclusive
reason was his pre-eminent fitness for
the administration of the great bust
ness enterprise of the postal service.
True, he had not been in public life.
Neither had Gen. Noble: neither had
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Miller. But no man
! becomes the first merchant OF the
land, we may fairly say of the world,
without the executive capacity TO
| master and manage any business side
OF the government. We in Phiiadel-
phia know that Mr. Wanamaker has
| the mental range, the broad vision
and the supreme force which fit him
for the largest administration. We
find in these facts abundant reasons
for his appointment, while We know
that all the reflections upon him are
absolutely unfounded.