The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-07-02
ROTTEN TO THE CORE.
Pious John wanamaker Involved in
the Keystone Bank Scandal.
The Present Investigation Mere Farce
But Developments May BE Expected
When the Next Congress Takes Hold.
(Plaln Dealer Specially


| WASHINGTON, June 28.-When the true
story of the wrecking of the keystone
bank of Philadelphia, In which 2,OOOOOO
OF the public funds of Pennsylvania were
| swamped, shall have been written, this
| administration will be In position TO be-
queath to posterity the greatest political
scandal in the history of the country.
Every day the magnitude of the affair i'm
creases and the feet of more public DILL
cials become entaugled in the net which Is
to be hauled in by the next congress. 4,
The public might as well understand
| now at the outset that the investigation In
progressin Philadelphia is not for the pur-
| pose eofrevealing, but of concealing the true
facts. If, as a result of that investigation,
the prison gates clank behind any OF the
persons involved IL will be an accident,
pure and simple. The next congress Is
predestined to conduct the investigation,
when there will be no friends to shield and
no,hred officials to battle. The investi-
CATION will not be conducted on the co:
operative plan. 1t will be vigorous and
sharp and go straight to the heart 1t
promises TO be the feature OF the next
congress. Nothing so extensive in its ram
iflcations has ever attracted the attention
of congress. The investigation OF the OLD
credit mobilier, the star route scandal, the
whisky ring, will pale before this gigantic
conspiracy. Already half score OF prom
inent public officials seem TO be standing
on the ragged euge. Their names are in
everybody's mouth, their connec-
ton with the wrecked banks the
subject of constant speculation and
gossip here. They are Postmaster
General Wanamaker, Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury Nettleton, Second Con-
troller Gilkison, Controller OF the Cur
rency Lacey, Bank Examiner Drew and
ex-Congressinan Yardley, the receiver OF
the bank. They are all Republicans and
Republicans of prominence. In fact
everybody connected with the affair seems
to have been Republican. II Is for this
reason that little Is to be expected from
the investigation now going on.
An investigation of Republicans con-
Quoted by Republicans, will neces-
sarily fail. Party ties are too
strong to be broken for the
sake OF justice. The principal reason,
however,, why the investigation will come
to nought Is the attitude of the Philadel-
phia newspapers. They carry the post
master generals advertisements and they
speak In whispers when they mention his
name. They are deaf, dumb and blind
where he is concerned. With that state
of affairs existing in the city where TIE
evidence is, and the administration will
ing to sacrifice all else to save the honor
Of one of it's most prominent members II
is not probable that the truth will come
out.
On general principles man like Wana-
maker will bear watching. Previous to the
advent Of the Harrison administration
Mr.. Wanamaker was unknown in the po--
litical world. He was known far and
wide, however, as the proprietor OF
breeches-makinvesta in Phila-
delphia. In those days he was famed for
two things-he was Christian and he paid
cash. Since he has entered politics, and
has had a financial chase with Jay Gould,
he has been backslider on cash.
Whether this is true of his religion it is i'm
possible to determine. But one thing is
certain. Mr.. Wanamaker never allowed
his religion to interfere with his business.
He has never lost money by it, and there
are those uucharitable enough TO insinuate
that he has used the borrowed plumage Of
religion to advertise his wares