Evening star., 1897-05-17
TALKS OF THE HARD TIMES
John Wanamaker Makes a. Significant
Speech to Business Men.
Indicates o Revolt Against "One-Man
Power" In POlitics-Speech At.
tracts Much Attention.

The address made by John Wanamaker
at the annual meeting of the Business
Mems League of Philadelphia has attracted
great deal of attention among local busi-
ness men and politicians. The general
opinion Is that the address deserves un-
usual Significance, in that 1t sounds the
keynote of new element to be henceforth
injected into Pennsylvania politics.
In the course of his address Mr.. Wana-
maker said:
The country is not prosperous. Since
the outset of the last presidential cam
paign the party press and political leaders
generally fixed the November election of
1896 as the date of the beginning of good
times. A full half Of the year has expired
since the will Of the republican party was
declared. Thus far but one of the import
ant issues OF the campaign is nearing Set
tiement, and hardly any noticeable i'm
provement OF the wretched times is mani
fest. The tide will soon set in strongly
against the republican party unless the de-
preston of business Is altered. IdIeness
and want breed a bitter discomfort, which
will never be overcome until there is am
pie employment"
Referring to state politics, Mr.. Wana-
maker ssid:
"Dismay and discontinue and dread ap-
prehension have followed the entire ses-
sion of the present legislature. A gallant
phalarx in the senate and not an inch
has been yielded by the valiant members
of the house. Those who have failed to
rise with the opportunity will soon come
to the day Of reckoning with their constitu-
ents, when a million of people will review
their acts.''
MIR. Wanamaker was asked whether he
had anything further TO say regarding the
promised era of prosperity which he stated
had not come since Mckinley's election
Il decline to discuss that phase of the
question:" answered Mr.. Wanamaker. Il
have made certain statements which are
true, and they may be taken Or rejected
Can you tell what will be the future
policy of the Business Mems League of this
state, and whether it is likely to take
more aggressive political stand in the irl-
mediate future?" he was asked
LAS to that 1 cannot answer. The league,
l should say, is in more united form than
1t has been before
Have you any idea of the means that
could have been taken to bring about finan-
cial and Industrial prosperity and which
were neglected? Do you think the time
since March 4 has been sufficient to make
many changes or established innovations?"
L have nothing to say on the matter"
replied Mr.. Wanamaker, except that j
abide by what 1 said in my address last
evening. Every one knows the condition
of affairs in Pennsylvania, and to a great
extent outside. 1 do not think that busi-
ness men in the past have taken enough
fact which is largely responsible for the
present undesirable condition of political
affairs. Among business men. however,
there Is growing up a sturdy sentiment Of
revolt against the prevalent system of one
man power. and I am perfectly confident
that 1t will give to this state eventually
far purer political system than it has ever
had before. The republican party must
would preserve the confidence of this state
and this nation"