The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-09-30
THE WAGES
Or FRAUD.
How Paid By Benz. Harrison:
Legislation Sold "ShOrt" to Secure
Doodle for Benny'S Election.
4 Nice Example Set For the Young
By the BEST Families"

WAsHINGToN, Sept. 23.-The men VIII
contributed the Doodle for the republican
campaign of 1888 knew perfectly wei
what thew were about, and that Harrison
would reward them amply if their cor
rupt schemes m~aterialiZed.
Their understanding of the use t.
which their money was put in that cam
paign was afterwards made clear by tn,
boast OF their organ, the Philadelphia
Manufacturer, uttered soon after the
nomination of Wanamaker at their de
mand to the office they had bought fol
him. That journal said:
1t is to the men that give the casl
that a large, if not the largest, share oil
success is due. We make the assertion
that the money contributed by this
Wanamaker) club last year had more
influence upon the result of the national
election than all the skill, the ingenuity,
the labor and the wire pulling of all the
professional politicians in Philadelphia.
We believe this proposition to be capable
of positive proof.
II. therefore. control Of patronage is
rightly the reward of victorious effort,
the right of this club to name the fed
eral Office holders of Philadelphia rests
upon solid ground.
The performance of that club under
Wanamaker's direction is another part
of the story to be related hereafter. The
citation from the Manufacturer is made
here simply to show how frankly the
monopolists who contributed the money
understood that they were furnishing a
corruption fund.
Ihat the money was actually used in
that way there is ample proof to con-
vince any honest mind. That proof will
be presented in another of these dis
patches. We have O to deal with a
different phase Of the subject.
SALE OF LEGISLATION AND OFFICES.
The sale of legislation for future de-
livery was the means by which the enor-
NOUS campaign fund of that year was
secured for Quay and Dudley to use.
We have said that other influences
equally corrupt were brought into play.
AS legislation was offered and sold to the
monopolists for money, SO administra-
tive favor was offered and sold short to a
much poorer class Of men for votes.
1t was the plan of the campaign man.
ayers to make the most of the free.
trade scare in localities where there
were operatives to be frightened or
manufacturers to be bled, and to keep
the tariff issue as much out of sight as
possible wherA the people felt the OPP
preston of the wal taxes in time of
peace. In the northwest. where tariff
reduction could not be depended upon
to brighten anybody, there was a large
''old soldier" element, and a still larger
body of men indirectly but strongly in
terested in the enlargement of the pen
sion lists.
The treasury was full enough to stand
a strain, and the men concerned had
heard that the government was embar-
raised by a surplus. 1t was decided to
make the strongest possible appeal and
the most extravagant promises 10 these
men by way Of winning their votes.
1t was given out that Corporal Tanner
was to be pension commissioner in the
event of Harrison's election, and Corpor-
al Tanner was sent. with that mouth
his which he afterward boosted had
made Harrison president, first into Indi
ana and afterward into other northwest
ern states. to explain to pension seekers
of every kind and degree his plan of get
ting rid of the surplus. He went to all
~ AeiN DICSiuCu dt Ill lIlt
Grand Army camptires. and everywhere
Ignoring the limitations which
the law places upon the powers OF a pen
sion commissioner, he made promises
with a truly oriental splendor Of lavish
ness, leaving behind him everywhere the
Impression that to make Harrison presi-
lent and Tanner commissioner of pen
,ions was equivalent TO the immediate
1.cf rth,,fion ~ tho ,,,,l,,; - -on:,. -
practically everybody who had ever been |
n any way connected with the volunteer
and to all their near relatives.
TANNERS PERFORMANCE.
1t must be eaid to Tanners credit that |
when Mr.. Harrison redeemed his part OF
.hese promises by making Tanner CON- |
missioner, Tanner did quite all that the
aw would permit him to do toward
making good his own. With his rerating
and his method OF dealing with
;laims he was speedily rendering appro-
pirate his prayer, "God help the sur
when his unbridled boastfulness
'evealed the tendencies OF his reckless
ness and compelled his retirement for
he safety o. the administration.
This pension performance was as plain
4 sale Of administrative favor for votes
IS the other was a sale of legislation for
,ompaign funds. Both were corrupt in
purpose. Both were corrupting in et-
ect.
With the proceeds of these two sales
he presidency was purchased for MIR. |
Harrison, and a majority in the Fifty
irst congress for his party.
The question whether or not power
.hus secured is to be continued is what
he people will have to decide in No