The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-20
JOHN WANAMAKER
BECOMES ELOQUENT
Al the Home Of Governors and Ex.
Governors, lie Speaks.
THE WOES or PENNSYLVANIA
Republican Party Under Leadership
of MIR. Quay, lie Intimates, H.
PIunEing Ouward at "a Furious Rate
Toward the open Switches orBank.
ruptcy--The Press and Telegraph
Companies Also Attacked.


Companies Also Attacked.
Bellefonte, Pa, April 19.-John Wana-
maker tonight addressed a mass meet
ing at this place. He began his speech
by referring to Bellefonte as the home
of Governor Hastings, and eX-Gover-
nors Beaver and Curtin. In calling at
tention to the fact that today was the
anniversary of the battle of Lexington.
Mr.. Wanamaker aroused the patriotic
feelings of the audience. He then ex-
tended his remarks to political issues.
He likened the Republican party as it
now Is in the state to a train "plung-
ing onward at furious rate toward
the open switches Of bankruptcy and
ruin" Continuing, he said:
Engineer quay. mad with power
utterly disregarding danger signals
and red signals has opened wide
the throttle and determined to risk
the magnificent train upon the quick.
sand roadbed of political abuses and
corruption lie hopes that the trains
great speed will enable it to keep the
rail until after next January, and uu-
load him for another SIX years term
at the United States senate station.
Ills political FCnChmen act ns train-
men and conductors. They are TAX
hng from you many times your honest
fares. But though you know sou are
being wror ged and robbed, most of
you pay without a murmur and with
the mere belief that it is only party
loyalty. and Commcndablc obedience.
NEWSPAPERS ATTACKED
Mr.. Wanamaker then referred TO the
newspapers of the state. saying:
There was time when we could
boast of a free press. but today i'm
pennsylvania, to Il great extent. it
exists only in name. The same polit-
ical influences that have poisoned the
springs of public integrity that have
corrupted the politics, that have de-
bauched the councils Of legislation,
that have wrecked banks, trust and
insurance companies, have COntami-
mated and blocked the course Of public
news.
He charged that news favorable to
the machine" was manufactured. and
news unfavorabe suppressed and that
scores of editors throughout the state
are candidates for postoffices and many
more have relations who expect ap-
pOintments
Continuing he charged that some
of the great telegraph systems are no
longer safe conductors Of private mes
sages" and that the superintendent
of one great company sits in the secret
councils of the machine" Referring to
IA Philadelphian's visit to a prominent
western politician he said the Phila-
delphian was surprised to find half a
dozen reporters waiting his arrival.
one of whom gave him the exact lam
Euage Of the despatch sent two days
before. Upon reaching his friends Of
flee, the Philadelphian found the dis
patch unopened, having not been re-
ceived by his friend.
THE papers in Pennsylvania that do
not belong to the syndicate Of which
! sneak he continued. "are in the
minority Many counties have not IA
single papcr that will critiCise the
wrong dOings Of the machine. vet trey
are the supposed educators of the peo-
pie"
REFERRING TO AN AMENDMENT.
Referring to an amendment made bv
Senator Quay on April (, to the sun
dry civil appropriation bill to acquire
a structure in Washington. known as
the Union building, for $3.50. 900. Mr..
Wanamaker said:
1t is alleged in Washmgton thar The
property belongs to cX-l'uitCd States
Senator Don Cameron. This fact was
once circulated throughout the senate
ana Senator quay made an app,al To
ms colleagues for the passage OF the
amendment on the grounds Of pcr-
Sonal ana senatorial courtesy. The
highest estimate placed upon the value
OF the building was SioOOiO, while real
estate men said II was really worth
much less. Yet Senator quay in the
hours OF the nations financial cmcr-
G"ncN sought to make the govern
menl pay an extra quarter ul a million
dollars. The proposition was % mon
Strous that the attempted ovorcharge
was attacked by Senators Gallinucr
and FlkinS and of all the members of
IN" United SuatcS senate Senator
quay, with the aid of the great corpor-
ate interests that back him. could
muster but fourteen votes for his
amendment. But the ncWspaDers
could see nothing Of interest to their
readers in Pennsylvania in this as
sault upon the United States treaS-
ury. But within the next few days il
rs telegraphcd over the entire state
that Pennsylvania CONGRESSMAN had
called colleague a liar and that
Senator QUAY had asked President
Mckinley FOR another place for
henchman.