The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-26
.p,ors.our. AND THE KEYSTONE.


Postmaster @ eneral wanamaker says tnat
tho 2.625 shares Of the Keystone BANK s'o"A
found by the Bardsley investigating commit
tee entered on the banks books IN his name
belonged 10 John G. Lucas president, anu
that he had turned them over TO inc bucn'
estate when he found they were on over
issue He further claims that the STOCK Delng
in his name was the result of careless BOOK
keeping, and that he was not respohsioie io'
il. 1T is possible" remarks Mr. "ana-
maker. THAT if the bank could oyer-issue
stock il could do some queer things III DOCK
keeping"
II is certainly exceedingly unfortunate Tor
MI. Wanamaker that his name has been so
intimately mixed up with the fraudulent
transactions of the bank officials; and 1t
is particularly unfortunate for him that
rs fast as he explains away one charge
another presents itself. He may be, as
he and his friends claim, entirely
guiltless Of any connection whatever with the
frauds which have been perpetratcd, but the
links of circumstancial evidence constantly
being manifested against him most certainly
tend 10 create strong impression IN the pup
lie mind that if he was not absolutely par
tceps crimlnis he was suspiciously intimate
with the criminals. To say the least therefore,
MI Wanamaker's reputation must suner' loI
there Will be many, even in his own state ana
Of his own political faith, who Will believe
that he has too often touched the Keystone
Bank pitch not to be defled thereby.
There are two circumstances which tend
very greatly toincrease the misfortunes which
surround Mr. Wanamaker in this particular
case for which he is either indirectly or d.
rectly responsible. He is indirectly response
bic for the general record Of frauds and cor
ruption OF which the Republican party OF
Pennsylvania has been guilty for the last
quarter of q century, because he has,
despite these frauds. persisted IN act
ing with and voting with that party
and has lent his whole personal in
fluence TO maintaining Republican control.
He is also directly responsible for much
of this corruption. because it WAS he who
raised the large sum of 100000 10 he added
to the Republican campaign fund to enable
Harrison 10 be elected, and it was because he
did 80 that he was afterwards rewarded with
the Office of Postmaster-Gener
This is why the people Of the whole country
and of all parties are SO ready to believe Mr..
Wanamaker to be suspiciously connected with
the keystone Bank frauds. Although posing
as a man of eminent pety be has not only
been the political friend and ally Of the
Delamaters and Quays of Pennsylvania, and
has given his active approval to the question
able political methods for which they have
become notorious. but he has himself per-
sonally INDUCED in the same practices. This
the people know. and even if Mr. Wanamake-
is as innocent as q baby Of these
Keystone Bank frauds, he will be judged
by the company he has been in the habit Of
keeping, as we'll as by his own record. The
public feel that even if lie did not personally
engage with Marsh, Bardsley d Co. in rob-
bling the keystone Bank he was none too
good to have done so. and he will, therefore,
have to bear the odium necessarily attached
to his own unsavory political reputation.