The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-03
Pennsylyania's Disgrace.

l triumph IN ISnISylNdlllA is taiC
y the political prostitution of the
second greatest commonwealth in the
| United States. 1t marks the deca-
dence of a community and brings out
in sharp and painful contrast the glor-
ious traditions Of her past when the
Keystone state was the mother of
sta tesmen. From Franklin. Morris.
Gallatin, Deane and Black to the Cam
erons, Penrose and Quay is a long call.
No state in the early years of the
republic played a nobler part in shap-
ing the destinies of the country, and
in the last 40 years, no other common
wealth of the Union has been such a
| thorough disgrace to republican insti-
| tutions.
| Pennsylvania's political degeneration
began with the Camerons, and in the
| saturnalia of corruption that started
with and followed the civil war, they
made their power absolute. Forty
years of spasmodic efforts at reform
have been fruitless and futile in the
attempt to losen the grip of the ma
chine. And to-day, with a numerous
volt, Quay's ipse dixit is law and the
machine appears, as shown in recent
events, to be stronger than ever.
Ringridden and boss-rued, Penn
| sylvania will prove rich ground for
| the historian Of the next century.
| A study of the economic conditions
which have prevailed in Pennsylvania
for the last half century explains to
a large extent the existence Of the
most corrupt machine the country has
ever known.
| With natural resources greater than
any other state, Pennsylvania was not
| content with the normal return from
her industrial Enterprises, but demand
ed and exacted. by means of the tariff,
tribute from every part Of the ceun-
| try, until enormous profits, 200 per
cent. in some instances, swelled the
bank accounts Of the iron and steel
barons. The coal magnates and rail-
roads held surrounding states In prac-
teal vassalage, and made legislatures
! complacent tools. The organization
of these vast interests as a political
|
constructive craftsmanship in Pennsyl-
vania. 1t made politics a business
| proposition. matter of dollars and
cents, and made possible the donli-
nance of the -Camerons and Quay.
The organization of political corrup-
ton makes it's influence felt in every
walk of life. 1t is virus that
| nh nf nial ofi wi w
1t makes subservient officials and a
debauched electorate, and it makes
possible the bestowal of a states high
est honor upon a man believed by
many to be an embeZzler.
Quay is an interesting study In
hardly any respect does he correspond
with the reformers' stock picture OF
terry of practical politics and strategy
In that he has few equals. He is the
silent man of the senate. His voice
is seldom raised in debate: it is in the
committee room where his influence is
felt and where the republicans
knuckle to his demands. Among his
recreations is his liking for old and rare
|
, sionate fondness for fishing. An abii
, ity for making warm friends and keep
ing their loyalty has aided him enor
. mously in his fight to retain control o.
the Pennsylvania machine.
J The attempts of the independent re
| publicans to throw off the incubus o.
} | machine rule and Quay bossism have
| ee~1xf
4 against Quay instead of against tn,
conditions which make Quay the die
t tator Until the grip of the grea
e iron and Steel coal and railroad trust
is broken Pennsylvania will remain
boss-ruled state. The republican
e made the conditions and fashione
: their own yoke, and the great major
ity of them show no desire to cast
off Only by return to it's old allie
glance. only through the democrac
of the state can Pennsylvania expec
; to redeem herself and take up tina
leadership in craftsmanship whic
makes the early days of her histor
famous and enduring.
And what Is true Of this state ap
plies as well to the nation. Re2ubl:
canism is identified with bossisn
| Hanna, Plat and Quay dominate tn
, | party and dictate it's policy, and a
long as they have pull at the rein
of power a public trust will eontinu
to be private snap. Government ur
der the dictation Of this triology mean
, public pelf for private purses.
More Troubles.