The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-12-28
BUSINESS MEN IN POLITICS.
Some Terse Comment From Presidential
Elcctor william NJ. Taggart.

Some Terse Comment From Presidential .
Elcctor william NJ. Taggart.
William NJ. Taggart Of Philadelphia, F.
one Of the Mckinley presidential electors
in the late campaign, thus speaks of the
Wanomakcr boom in Taggarts' Times;
If any Intelligent citizen Of Philadelphia
is in doubt as to the side upon which his
sympathies ought to be enlisted in this
senatorial fight, let him take a look over
the field ana make note of tho elements
which constitute the opposing forces.
And, i'm the first place, let him give his at
tention to the forces which are fighting
under the golden standard Of Wana-
maker
To begin with, there is the so called
Business Mems League This is an or
ganilation of men, some of whom seem to
think they see a chance to put money In
their pockets by cultiyating Wanamakers
friendship and promoting the attainment
of his ambition 1t is an aggregation of
jealousies, Of enmities and of appetites.
A few days ago, under the lash Of Senator
Quays criticism, it gave out an unsigned
communication, in which was made the
belatod explanation that by business
mem was meant farmers, clerks, artisans,
labOrers-evury body.
That be blowod for a talel This league
is just what everyone understands il to be,
II combination of capitalists in the inter
est Of one of their number and, incident
Hlly-not too incidentally-of themselves.
1t watchword is Business men in poll
tics, but God help the Philadelphia tax
payer if the particular business men who
are engineering this movement succeed in
getting any moro into politics or in get
f at
ent.
Business men IN politics, indeedl On
yes, to he sure. and how about the stink
ing, eye destroying water gas Of which the
city is buying nearly millions dollars
worth year from the United Gas I'm
prOvcnient ca company
How about the nearly $500. 600 which we
nre paying annually to the electric light
tust and 80 per cent. of which is probably
profty
What Of the street car franchises which
have been freely given away, and out Of
which business men in politics. have
become multi-millionaires2 And the au-
tomato telephone matter, and the tlltra-
ton project and the water supply scheme
with its eminently respectable hackers,
and the gus works sale? For all these
blessings, accomplished or attempted, we
have to thank the influence of the "busi-
men in politics. Who are now bursting
their buttons trying to boost Wanny into
the senatcY
Wunamaker himself, tho illustrious
superintendent of the Bethany Sunday
school, who breaches sermons about the
impossbilty of contemporaneously serv-
ing God and Mummon, is, as we all know,
pious man, while his senatorial boom in
its entirety presents an impressive assem-
blage-Tom Dolan, Chris Magee and Rudy
Blnnkenburg
Every feature, however, is included in
this great three ring caravan of business,
politics and religion, and there is place
upon the program for what is left of the
Philadelphia and Pittsburg combines
Dave Martin is in it, not as chipper as he
used to be, nothing like us confident, but
in other respects the same old Dave; and
isn't he just hoping and hunEering for the
rcvenges and opportunities which Wana-
maker election ibly-atford?
We don't profess to be able to explain just
how it happens that a movement of such
IA superiine character as this Wanamaker
boom, with so much religion in it, and
such a large amount of unadulterated
business, is mixed up with the fortunes of
that particular faction which the people
have almost destroyed, but so it is, and
those who like to answer conundrums
can puzzle the reason out.
Consider for "a moment, ON the other
hand, the position of Mr.. PenrOse. Per
sonally u man of good character, brilliant
ability and high standing in the com
Inunity hu IS receiving the disinterested
support of the very best elements of our
people He represents the party which is
fighting tho battle of reform, and is labor
ing to raise our state and city politics to a
higher level. He has every kind Of fitness
for the place-education, experience, hon
esty and freedom from any selfish mer-
rnntile bias. He Is II staunch Republican
an out and out protectionist, an eloquent
and convincing speaker, and fearless
upright man.
1t is true that he has no barl. His sup
porters have no corruption fund where
with TO debauch the Legislative virtue
hut we believe he can he elected without
it. 1t would be dishonor to Pennsyl