Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-13
"Bribed by the Rich to
Rob the Poor"

Dolan is the president of this COM
pany; Wanamaker one of it's stockhold-
ers. Indeed, Mr.. Wanamaker urged
councils to make the lease to his COM
pany. Then comes Rudolph Blanken-
burg, who made a speech favoring the
lease, and finally E. A. Van Valkenberg
and Frank Willing Leach. Leach is a
man who in his brief lifetime has been
on every side of the political fence. He
has been against Quay, for Quay and
then against Quay. He deserted the
senator about two years ago because
the Beaver statesman refused to make
him chairman of the RepuLacan state
committee. Then he took charge of
Wanamaker's campaign, and the result
was Wanamaker's overwhelming oe-
feat Leach has failed in every political
move he has made since he left Quay.
1t is we'll for the people of the state to
know who are the conspicuous mem
bers, leaders and attaches of this bogus
reform concern. In order that the real
feeling of the people may be known it
Will be interesting to quote from e6ito-
rials that have appeared in the Phila-
delphia papers within the last dayor so.
The Inquirer, which is regarded as the
leading Republican paper in Pennsyl-
vania says:
I'VE read in a combine newspaper
that the so-called Business Mems
League Of this city has held another
meeting. 1t is noted that the most con-
spicuous members present We're the fol-
lowing:
Rudolph Blankenburg, chairman of
the executive committee and advocate
of the gas grab. Mr.. Blankenburg ap-
peared before the councilmanic COM
mittee and made an address in favor of
the practical gift of the works to the
United Gas Improvement company, un-
der the terms of which we are saddled
for thirty years with high priced gas.
Thomas Dolan, president of the con-
Germ, who will line his pockets with the
vast profits which should go into the
city treasury, and thus keep down the
tax rate.
"E. A. Van Valkenberg, of Van Val
kenberg unsavoriness.
Such combination in politics ought
to appeal to the patriotism of the peo-
pie of Philadelphia in this terse but ex-
pressive platform:
What will be left worth having after
we get through?"
The Philadelphia Times, which has
been one of the main supporters of this
fake organization, says:
THE Business Mems League of this
city may not find in the anti-com bine
organization it's political ideal, but when
it assails only that side of the factional
disturbancein Philadelphia, and throws
it's whole power in favor of the lobby
leaders who use the contributions of
the very men who are in the Business
Mems League to betr2y Republican
candidates for congress and other po-
sitions when it is the interest of polit-
cal masters to do so, it confesses it's
want of fidelity to it's professions. and
must fail to make itself felt in guiding
The Republican party of city and state
20 better political conditions.
"These are not pleasant truths to
state to the Republicans who are
onnected with the Business Mem
eague of this city. but it is the truth.
I'D they should look it in the face and
lily understand 1t. They have great
opportunity. There is great need for
ne action of just such men as are
1rgely prominent in the organization,