The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-30
POLITICAL ENGINEERING.

The conservative Baltimore Sun of
Friday publishes statement to the eff
feet that Mark Hanna assessed the na-
tional banks of Baltimore eighty thous-
and dollars for the Republican cam
paign fund, that the Clearing House
decided it was prudent to meet the as
sessment, apportioned it among the
banks, and all went well until one
bank director raised kick against the
misappropriation of funds belonging
to stockholders. He made it so hot
it was dropped at that bank, but the
Sun of yesterday says the plan in the
main was probably accomplished.
One financier, according to the Sun,
created quite a chill among the collec-
tors of the doodle" by saying that
bi-metallism would not put him out
of the banking business and if free
silver did come it would not take
away his occupation" He even sug-
gested that there were banks in free
silver countries. The Hanna bankers
ed to preserving the national honor
1t was charged when the Republican
cans incorporated special privileges
to national banks in their bill ito es-
tablish the gold Standard that it was
: expected that that anchor to wind
ward would result in giving them an
immense campaign fund from the na-
tional banks. Those who made that
prediction were true prophets. Ii
Hanna assessed Baltimore eighty
thousand dollars he doubtless assessed
the other large cities in proportion,
and most of the bank directors will
come down with the dough though
it is plain misrepresentation of trust
money Bank directors have no more
right to appropriate their surplus to
corruption funds than they have to
put it in their pockets, and it was q
wholesome lesson that the manly Bal
timore director brought forcibly to
the attention of his associates. There
are many bankers, particularly those
in smaller communities, who will join
with that director in protesting
against this new departure from safe
banking to political buccaneering.
The most serious side to this ques-
Doodle will have in effecting the result
of elections. 1t is notorious that Nc
kinley bought his election in 1896 and
obtained the money by the same
method Hanna is now employing
Then his agents promised special
privileges in legislation to those who
put up the Doodle. For every dollar the
trusts and syndicates put up to elect
Mckinley in 1896 they have been en-
abled through special laws or protec-
ton of unlawful enterprises to take
ten dollars out of the pockets of the
people. 1t is reasonable to suppose
that the same promises are made
again this year. If it should succeed,
is there any hope for legislation de
sired and demanded by the masses of
the people? Have we not here at home
an oligarchy of money that is as dam
gerous to our liberties as foreign
policy of Imperialism? How long
will men who are honest in their per-
sonal dealings continue to support
party that makes merchandise of leg
islation?
To show that contributions to a cam
paign fund, such as are being demand
eded ofthe Baltimore bankers, are OBJ
tanned by the promise or hope of gain,
the Sun points out that many of the
subscribers to the $4,000 corruption
fund raised in Baltimore in 1896 were
on the lucky side of some of the big
financial deals during the past few,
years and it adds that for this rea-
son they feel in a more generous
mood toward the present attempt to