The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-04-20
John Wanamaker's Canvass.

tue H6du Vi AmtTlCu STSdI uleT'
chants. In that field he has made q
complete success. He is easily the
boss. He brooks no rival But bis
ambition does not stop here. He
would like to be the leading polite
ian OF the State also, and perhaps af.
ter that of the Nation. He is a hrainy
man, and possesses courage and au-
dacity, Bot his dreams of political
power are not likely to be realized,
because hv misiudges men. 10 his
business as a merchant he has learned
to believe that men are influenced by
cupidity, that they are easily duped,
and that the leading traits of human
character are peuuriousuess and self.
interest. He is therefore prepared to
offer rare bargains in honest states.
manship, and great reduction in tax.
es. He has the shop keepers trick
of belittling opposition, and impress.
ing customer with the idea that his
own intellectual dome is headquarters
for everything that is desirable in the
way of genuine, all wool reform.
We admire John Wanamaker, and
are proud that Pennsylvania has pro.
duced the greatest merchant of the
century, distinction that should GER.
tainly be great enough to satisfy any
man whose talents run in that direc.
ton.
But Mr.. Wanamaker misjudges
men. Stinginess is not the chief char.
acteristic of Pennsylvapiaus. They
do not admire hyperbole aud self.
iaudation. They may applaud exag.
geration and elimination, but in their
calmer moments they will resent it as
an attempt to trick them, and fool
them into perpetrating an injustice.
They want straightforward manliness.
They will not knowingly assist one
man to build bis political fortunes up
on the ruins ofanother, whom be him.
self is endeavoriDg to tear down. They
distrust man who processes undying
loyalty to party which he is doing
his best to discredit. They would
rather be told ofthe good things their
party has accomplished than to be
told its leaders are robbers and cor
ruptionists.
Mr.. Wanamaker tells his hearers
everywhere that an attempt was made
at the last session of the legislature to
reduce the school appropriation one
million dollars, and that the seventy.
six members who voted for him pre-.
vented it. If he really believes that,
he has been shamefully deceived.
Every man who knew anything of the
plans and purposes of the majority
faction in this legislature, knows that
there never was, for single nom.
ent, any serious thought of cutting
the school appropriation one cent.
The minority faction, which was
straining every nerve to discredit and
disgrace those who did not vote fer
Mr.. Wanamaker for Senator, was
anxious that the legislature should
adjourn without providing the neces.
sary revenues to pay the usual appro.
priations. Knowing the unanimous
feeling Of the members against any
reduction in the school appropriation
the leaders of the majority faction
threatened to reduce the school ap.
preparation one million dollars. Then
they said to the leaders of the minor,
ity faction, "If you will vote for the
revenue bills, we will moi reduce the
school appropriation. If you want
the schools to have $1l,000,000, you
must help us to provide the revenues.
The seventy.six were thus thwarteC
in their attempt to defeat necessary
revenue legislation, and the schoo
appropriation was left intact. IfMr
Wanamaker does not know that, h,
has made little effort to post himself
and he should not attempt to convey
information about matters of whicl
be knows so little.
This is but a sample of the who'll
web of shoddy he is attempting t,
palm off on the voters of this State a
superior brand Of goods, aud it i
not surprising that it does not NEE
with ready market.
We have no fault to find with MI
Wanamaker as a gentleman and
man of remarkable talents and ener
gy, but we do not admire his bargain
counter political methods.