Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1897-05-27
WANAMAKER
Remarks Made by the Big
Merchant That Created a
Political Sensation.
What the Country Needs in
the Way of Leaders
Short Criticism.

Short Criticism.
Predicts a Revolt and a Revo-
! lution-LaWs Disre.
garded.
AZ great many people have not seen
John Wsnnamskers sensational speech
at the Business Mems League in Phlla-
delphis Nay l6, the following part, re-
ferrlng TO matters not strictly local, -
reprinted:
The number and character Of the men
who have met here today, 10 at once .
witness to the dissatisfaction throughout
the state touching the existing political
conditions. It 10 also an evidence OF
your deep determination to do some
thing to give Pennsylvania better gov
ernment. l believe this gathering Of
this time, when the air is full Of patriot
ism, will stand as proof or pledge that
the battle begun nearly two years ago
is still in progress and going on without
limit Of time. Strength and money will
last until the foes OF good government
are compelled to ground their arms.
The country is not prosperous. Since
the outset of the last presidential CAM
paign the party, press and political lead
ers generally fixed the November cleo
tion of 1896 as the date Of the beginning
of good times. A full half OF the year
has expired since the will of the repub-
lican party was declared. Thus far but
one OF the important issues Of the CAM
palgn is nearing settlement. and hardly
any noticeable improvement OF the
wretched times is manifest. The tide
will soon set in strongly against the
republican party unless tile depression
Of business is altered. Idleness and
want breed bitter dieccntent which
will never be overcome until there are
ample employments.
| The foes America has to fear are not
the sullen, savage Turks, nor the lnsur-
rectionis,s Of Cuba, nor the territory
Rrasping British, but they are our own
patient and heart tired people, our own
suffering, much promised people. who,.
betrayed and disheartened, who no
longer have faith in their party and will
turn to any leadership that offers
promise OF better times, believing that
worse times can never come than those
now existing. It is a terrible thing to
observe public sentiments adrift end un-
captalned and the people sweeping away
from their affection to the old party.
The young men are growing up indif-
fereLt to republican principles, with no
respect for parties of broken platforms,
who use national and state patronage in
pay ment of election contracts. The
political religion of the nation is falling
lower and lower under insults to intell-
gence, violations of law and reckless
daring of INSCRIPTIONS Bosses There
are immeasuraDle depths of misfortune
for this nation and state if the con-
tinued use Of cooperation and public
moneys and the dlspensRtion of federal
and state patronage continues to be con-
trOlled in tie interest of ofticeholders to
hold offices for themselves and to benefit
those who desire to keep government
con tracts or MAINTAIN particular protec-
tiops through the money given by which
elections are decided.
There will most surely come day
/ ,,hx ,1-in ho iryhf fv n
resistance, resulting in revolution that
will give birth to new political party.
Laws continually despsed and disregard
ed, legislation conceived for black N ailipg
purposes, speculation by public officials
and other financial bills are pending,
must surely ana irrevocably ALLEVIATE the
people from their party and awaken
stitute almost any wild and untried
leadership with the hope of possible
relief
From some points of view it might
seem that there was not much to be done
except to suffer and wait. To see 6T
| counties play a stats convention to
make q platform and nominate candi-
dates for offices, while all the time it is
one man that constitutes himself con-
| vention. himself adopts platform, him
self adopts resoIu tions himself nomlnates
candidates and himself adjourns, it is a
pitiable and discouraging spectacle, even
il two generations OF our people have
| become accustomed to this condition OF
things The newspapers, with very few
exceptions, and these not in the metro
politan cities of the state, have accepted
the situation and are silent in the face
Of the gravest issues that have ever
confronted the people.
| 1t will be no easy task to undo the
shackles which have grown upon us
with the growth OF years. There 10 no
short cut across the field to victory. Al
next winters barns are to be filed only
by the blowing in th. winter, sowing in
the spring and resp,ne in the summer, 20
must the blowing and planting be done
for crop of better methods in public
affairs. In what has been done in tho