The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-07
cAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Concerning President Harrison the New
York Times says:
SO far as concerns Mr.. Harrison no one Will
throw any doubt on his private life or accuse him
of having made improper gains In his great Office,
or hesitate to acknowledge his fidelity 10 nigh
standard of public conduct in certain depart
ments of his administration.
The Times proceeds to compare Mr.. Har-
rison's official record with that Of Mr.. Cleve-
land. Admitting that the personal charac-
tiers OF both men are unimpeachable that
journal finds fault " 18th President Harrison's
official acts. The charge il considers the
most grave is the appointment of Mr.. Wan
amaker as POstmaster-General. "Mr. Wan
amaker's appointment it says, was the
first in the history of the Government that
could reasonably be believed to have been
obtained by raising large sums of money for
the election of the President making it"
While no one will defend an appointment
made as COMPENSATION for campaign contrl-
buttons. it is useless to deny that such con-
tributiOns have had undue weight with both
parties. One of the arguments in support
Of Mr.. Tilden's nomination to the Presi-
dency in 1876, and again in 1880. was the fact
that the party could rely upon the expend-
iture of any sum of money which w9uld
insure success. Mr.. Tilden himself. in rec
0mmending a successor. considered ability
to conduct an effective campaign one Of the
essentials in a candidate. For this reason
he thought Senator Payne of Ohio would
make a proper candidate. 1t may be said
that Mir. Tilden'S money was but a second
cOnsideratiOn-that he was entitled to
nomination On his personal qualities. May
not the same be said with considerable
truth in support Of Mr. Wanamaker's APP
pointment as Postmaster General? That
branch Of government is purely
business department., and Mr. WSnamaker
was eminently successful business man.
People have asked that politicians be dis
regarded and business men be placed in
charge of public affairs 1t was in recog-
milton Of this demand that Mr.. Wanamaker
was named for PoStmaster-General. It is
an Office which requires business training
and an absolute disregard of what may be
considered political claims. 1t is essentially
the peoples department. A man might
handle a political convention and fail 70
handle the PoStoffice Department. There
is no evidence that the appointment of Mr.
Wanamaker was the result of bargain.
Very likely the fact that Eir. Wanamaker
had raised large sum to contribute to the
success Of the party was not disregarded.
II the President had said to advisers who
urged Nj. Wanamsker's appointment that
Wanamaker was ineligible because of his
activity in raising campaign money. the
President certainly would have given little
encouragement to other men who might be
inclined TO help the party along in the only
way in their power. That more money is
used by both parties than is good for the
people will be admitted; but President
who should set his face against rewardiug
in any way contributions to the campaign
fund Of the party with which he acted
would soon be regarded as a Jonah to be
gotten rid Of