Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-12-12
A Change Needed.
(Continued from last eeek-)

A Change NeedeO-
(ContinHed from last reek)
Hariur then considered the defect IN the
National Constitution, that made the evil
| possible. and given brief account OF the
NAUTICAL career of the man who originated
and perfected this system of politics for
| Pennsylvania, let Us inquire into its
| elements.
What are the elements Of the power Of
the machine" over menf
Money, position and promise of position.
Simon Cameron accumulated wealth by
speculation, and was at least suspected,
particularly in the Senatorial election OF
1857. when the three Democrats voted for
him. of using some of it to advance his
political interests, and on the other hand,
when Congress passed vote of eensure
! upon him, it must have had reasons Tor be-
lieying that he himself was making money
out of the Army contracts.
And coming down to recent events;
few weeks before the late election it was
heralded all over this State that Senator
Don Cameron had become dissatisfied with
the Quay and Andrews management of the
campaign, 50 far as the Legislature was
concerned, and that he had placed slOO, 900
in Ex-Chairman Cooper's hands for special
use in doubtful legislative districts; and
taking it for granted that this statement
was true; What did it meant
Bribery .and nothing but bribery; the
very thing that met with our determined
opposition in this Congressional district
this Fall, and cost us a Congressman.
That action or alleged action on the part
of Senator Cameron was an insult to every
honest Republican in the State, and was or
ought to have been particularly offensive
to every Republican candidate for the
Legislature; for it meant that he was buy
ing his reelection by buying their cleo
tions.
Senator Cameron has yet to deny this
statement publicly and until he does SO no
honorable man can vote for his reelection.
The second and by far the greater ele-
ment Of power in machine politics is
patronage, and let US see what the Federal
patronage in this State amounts to. +.
First, there are one hundred and ninety
three Presidential postofices in this State,
that is, offices whose incumbents are ap-
pointed by the President and confirmed By
the Senate, and each of these Offices has
employees, ranging from ten in town Of
a. - II 4n alsnut Urn fhnnGaUd
in Philadelphia, the largest town; and then
there are some four thousand smaller post
Offices.
Second, the several districts of the In
ternal Revenue service in the State, and
the appointments under it; and the
Marshals and District Attorneys, and other
officers connected with the Federal
Judiciary in the State.
And besides the Federal patronage, there
are the numerous positions to be filed
about the State Capitol building and De-
partment buildings, and if you add them
all up you will find that there is quite an
army OF them, and they all, for years, have
been controlled by the machine" in this
State.
We do not wish to be understood. as in
sinuating that single Republican Office
holder in this State would violate his con-
science for the purpose of retaining his
Office, but there is not an appointment in
the gift Of those in power in the State but
has it's influence, and this influence
has, in this State, since the days OF Simon
Cameron, been used to dictate State
nominations and control, as far az possible,
those Of the counties and districts, par
ticnlarly as to Representative offices, and
it has also been used TO defeat party nomi-
nees In county and district who would not
submit to the dictation Of the bosses, when
such dictation was contrary 10 their ideas
Of right and wrong, and contrary to the
best interests Of the public.
Your manhood or your head has always
been the rule Of the machine" in this
State.
Another great evil of machine" rule in
the Republican party Of this State has
been the keeping out Of high Office Of the
best men who offered their services.
We have referred TO the defeat Of Thad-
deus Stevens, in caucus, by Simon Cam
eron, and there arc other instances.
William D. Kelly, "the father Of the
House" at Washington, and one of the best
advocates Of Protection in the country,
wished seat in the Senate but the Cam
erons said No.
Galushs A. Grow, ex-speaker Of the
House at Washington, and one Of the best
fnanciers In the country. tried TO gain
seat in the Senate time and again, and
always met the opposition Of the Camerons
and their machine"
A man like Don Cameron would not
want statesman from this State sitting
alongside him In the Senate, for in that
case be (Cameron) would be still more
insignificant member Of that body than he
IN now.
The last time Mr.. Grow tried for the
Senate, Don. had selected Harry Oliver, a
Pittsburg millionaire, Tor the place, some
Of the members OF the Legislature, includ-
ing one from this county, objected 10 both
the man and the dictation, and defeated
him, and compromise was made on an
other man.
Our member came home his course was
approved Of by the majority Of his con
stituents aud he was renominated, but
when election day came around he was de-
fcated by the secret society within the
party, and Democrat, an old tool Of the
Camcrons, was elected In his stead.
In regard TO Presidential nominations,
also, tho Republicans Of this State have
beer imposed npon.
James q. Blaine, q native Of this State,
and the foremost statesman Ct the country,
has been our choice for years, and yet Don
Cameron. at the head Of tho Pennsylvania
delegation, and with the aid Of the unit
rule, straw candidates and premature
State conventions. not only prevented us
from aiding in his nomination, but used the
- af