The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-12-15

Wanamahsr ss "a Free Trader.
From Taggarts Times (Philadelphia)
In adopting resolutions opposing the
election Of John Wanamaker to the United
States senate-resolutions not one word OF
which was permitted to find its way into
the columns of any Philadelphia daily
newspaper-the United Mine Workers OF
America, representing 10000 men, un.
doubtedly expressed the sentiment OF
much the larger portion of the commu-
nifty. There can be no question that Wan
amaker candidacy is regarded with dis
favor by an overwhelming majority of his
fellow citizens and especially by the hard
working men and women who form the
most considerable and the most valuable
element of this or any other civilized So
ciety. In view of all that John Wana.
maker IS and all that he stands for, of the
methods whereby his prominence has been
achieved and Of the means that are being
employed TO promote the attainment of
his ambition, how could it be otherwisei
If Wanamaker were poor man, If he
were no more literally endowed with this
worlds goods than his principal rival, nc
one supposes for "A moment that his name
would be seriously considered in connec
ton with an office of so dignifled and re.
States senator. He has none Of the quail.
flcations of a statesman, neither the abil.
ity, nor the experience, nor the education,
nor the breadth of view, nor the liberality
of spirit. Until at the instance of Mr..
Quay and as u reward for his substantial
services as Il money raiser during the cam
paign he was made postmaster general in
Benjamin Harrison's cabinet, he had never
figured to any extent in public beyond his
much beputfed ministrations in Bethany
Sunday school; and the New York Sun.
day papers, all silent now under tho So
ductive influence of Wanamaker adver.
tising, greeted his appointment to cabi-
net position with shouts of derisive and
protesting comment. In this senatorial
fight it is nothing but his wealth that
gives Wanamaker any standing, and that
circumstance alone is sufficient to justify
the opposition of thOs who object to the
influence of money bags in politics and
who think that the United States senate
is altogether too much of a millionaires'
club already.
But the manner in which Wanamakers
wealth has been acquired tells even more
heavily against him than the sufficiently
damning fact that such wealth constitutes
the sole foundation of his candidacy.
things to which the working people OF
/ Philadelphia of Pennsylvania and of the
United States are with good reason most
bitterly and irreoonoilahly opposed II
represents free trade; it represents cheap
/ labor and it represents that concentration
| of fcapital for the stamping out of competl.
ton which is one of the worst abuses Of
the day. OF course Wanamaker would
/ deny that he Is free trader. but his busl-
| ness interests are such that he cannot help
leaning toward free trade or a tariff fol
revenue only which is practically the
same thing and away from the effective
! protection championed by the Republican
| party and represented by President-elect
| Mckinley. Wanamaker Is an importer
of foreign goods, of goods that are sold in
competition with those of home produc-
ton, and he wants to get his imported
wares through the custom house rs cheaply
as possible. Indeed, he has had frequent
suits in which he has contested the claims
of the government on account of import
duties, and some times with good success.
He could not consistently stand upon the
ST. Louis platform. His record and the
requirements of his business forbid it.
Then as to cheap labor, Wanamaker
gets the last cent worth out of his work.
| ing people, and, when he cannot satisfy
himself, he endeavors to import cheap
contract labor from abroad As the mine
workers mention in their resolutions, he
or his flrm---it is immaterial whioh-was
convicted April 20, 1896, of an offense
against the contract labor law of the
United States, and fined $1,000 penalty on
account of it. The idea of sending to the
United States senate such man is an
affront to all working people.
The pitiable attitude of the daily news
papers, both of Philadelphia and New
York, whore by a striking coincidence he
has lately extended his operations, fur.
nishes another strong argument against
his election. 1t is unsafe to place in high
public Office any man whom the newspa.
pers are afraid to oriticise Wanamaker'
control of the Saily press alone suflices to
make his candidacy public peril.