The daily critic., 1890-07-22
A SECRET OUT
H0W JOHN WANANAEER BECAME
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
1t Was Not Through MS Money, Bat
tho Money OF His Friends-Custo-
dian Of the Corruption Fund.


tho Money OF His Frfends-Custo-
dian Of the Corruption Fund
UaRHo'oa ColFaDoodeoe or ne Ntc Yort
World.
An interesting recital Of biz of Ire.
cent history was heard yesterday. If
news is, however, the primary publ.
cation of events Of contemporaneous
interest, the story is as fresh as a daisy
It involves the making Of Cabinet
Minister. It also goes back to the days
Of the last Presidential campaign. The
scene Is Pennsylvania, and two Of the
principal characters are the noted states
man Of Beaver Matthew Stanley Quay.
and the thrifty haberdasher, John
Wauamaker
The fomiliar fact that Sl0o COZ was
raised by business men Of the Quaker
City and elsewhere TO swell the cam
paipn fund of the Republican National
Committee is generally known to news.
paper readers. The prime mover in
securing contributions to the fund was
Thomas Dolan, the wealthy Philadel
phia manufacturer A committee, Of
which be was the chairman, fried the
fat and
TRIED THE LARD
They collected in all sum something
in excess Of s400, GOO for the purpose Of
throwing the weight Of gold In the bal
ance when the critical hours of the
Presidential canvass were reached.
The committee decided to employ an
agent Of their own to disburse the fund.
They had great confidence in the bril-
liant political genius Of the Junior Penn
sylvania Senator, but the plain practi-
cal business men preferred to have one
Of their own ilk to spend the money.
Csnny John Wanamaker was selected.
The impression prevails in the land
that Wanamaker personally contributed
largely to the great corruption fund
This idea Is erroneous. His individual
subscription, so far as the wisest know.
was $4,000. The money was placed
subject TO his individual check Dur.
ing the latter hours OF the campaign
Cauny John made frequent pilgrimages
10 New York. The 500, goo was safely
in bank, ready for his call The jour.
ney between the Chestnutstreet empO
rum and the National Republican head
quarters was a short one, and to aud
fro went the custodian Of
THE GREAT CORRUPTION FUND.
lie carefully noted all the vouchers,
and al checks were signed by the eau
tiOus Treasurer.
The statesman Of Beaver, at the head
Of the committee, was obliged to show
cause for every item that required a
money payment. That the corruption
fund was placed where Il did the most
good FOR the Republican party the re-
suits Of the election In New York city
and Brooklyn demonstrated
When II appeared that the Ho1sier
lawyer was beyond question elected
President Of the United States the Phil
adelphia promoters Of the corruption
fund, especially Mr. Thomas Doau,
were in "high jinks" over the success
of their venture. A. meeting Of the
committee, with Mr.. Dolan In the chair
the several gentlemen present felicltated
themselves over the triumph Of their
candidate. Chairman Dolan was dis
posed TO congratulate himself aud every
body else lie informed the committee
that the success Of the Republican
party was due 10 their liberality aud
zeal, and that they-or TO take broader
view the State of pennsylvania--were
entitled al least 10 one place In the Cab
met. one and all echoed the chairman.
Who shall II bey Mr.. Dolan said he
had name TO propose. He hoped,
nay, he felt confident that every gentle
man present would agree with him
Finally he named our own Wanamaker
StTaigbtway the makers Of statesmen
cheered. and exclaimed that It was
altogether the proper caper 20 convert
the successful spender Of the campaign
Doodle into a full-ledged
MINISTER or STATE.
"IIe Is the man for Postmaster Gen
eTal OF, for that matter, Secretary Of
State. and all the other Cabinet officers
rolled into one, cried the enthusiastic
Mr. Dolau.
Then he said I'VE had best send for
Quay"
That silent statesman was resting
serene amid the laurels Of victory az
his home by the turbid Ohio. He re-
paired 10 Philadelphia soon after he
received a letter from Mr. Dolan re-
quesliDg his presence at an adjourned
meeting Of the committee. OF course
Quay believed that Pennsylvania ought
10 have a place In the Cabinet. So far
as he was concerned he would like TO
fill every Office in the Government with
PennsylFanians. Dir. Dolan informed
Mr.. Quay that he had a name 10 offer.
He, too. had eandidate-one whom
he could use and through whom he
could ill up the Department with his
own favorites. Finally Chairman Do
Ian named WanamakeF. Quay BIT his
lip, maintained his reputation for ST.
lence and agreed 10 submit the wishes
~ tha Poodle Committee n General