The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-06-20
THURSDAY. JUNE 90, 1901.
HIS Respectable EMlNENcE.


HIS RESPECTABLE EMINENCE.
Discussion of the Wanamaker incident
in the Philadelphia rapid transit contest,
raises this question: Is the Wanamaker
grade of eminent responsibility based
on fact or fiction-is there real worth
behind it, or is it only bubble of repp-
tation;
The facts MS they develop suggest
reputable bubble only. They justify our
conclusion, of a few days ago, that the
sensational proffer Of s2,5CO,O0O for the
street franchise recently awarded by the
Philadelphia City Council, was iic-
ton so far rs any intention or eNpecta-
ton Of its acceptance is CONCERNED Mr..
"4iminently Respectable Wanamaker
did not want the street franchises for
which he bid, hut he did want to he adj
yertiscd, the country over, rs 4 very rich
and very public spirited rich man. Why:
1t is shown that the scheme was de-
liberatcly planned for country wide ad-
yertisCment. North, South, East and
West, newspapers We're employed to
sound the praises of this Mr.. Eminent
Responsibility" Does anybody suppose
that editorial commentator from news
papers iii New York City, Atlanta, Ga,
st. Paul Mimi: Kansas >lty, Mo; Cleve
land, Ohio; Omaha. Neb; New Orleans,
La; Boston, Mass; Baltimore, Md, and
in other cities, were sought merely to es-
tabish the fact that John Wanamaker
had achieved the distinction Of ''eminent
responsibility? The circumstances prove
the proller of $2,5C0.OO0 10 have been in
sincere. The money had Il very strong
string fast to it, But Mr.. Wanamaker
was sincere in going for something. Did
he got it, Or is he still after il? Is his
egotist.c NAV filled to replction by the
editorial booming, or is il sill hurgcring
and thirsting after testimony us to its
owners eminent responsibility Was
he after assuring himself, or somebody
else Of his eminent respectabilityE'
This is not the first. second or third in
cdrnt OF the kind III the career Of Mr.
Wanhmaker. This repetition is suggcs
tive. rhcy prove planning. They prove
continuous planning. They have appar
entity succeeded. The plans have beer
so large, 50 continuous. ana 50 APPARENT,
successful as to indicate an early be
ginning; and that the apparent success,
i'll attaining eminent responsibility il
all the roles in which this gentleman ha'
chosen to appear in public, has been til,
result of judicous advertising. NOT o
hlS wares, hut Of John Wanamalrr
is Il Suggestive and We think is Sutlicirn
comment, at this point III thc diScussio
to cal! attention 10 the fact, that i'll til
sincere advocates of moral and politca
reforms, who figure As eminent rcSpect3
blitrs" in history, have achieved thI
distinction IN spite of newspaper oppC
Sition, ANA without its mandatory aIve
tiscments. Generally they 'havc bee
men who We're content to he made of Il
reputation, willing To rely upon the fore,
of truth rs they We're. and moi upon VIII;
people might think or say about then
selves Mr. Eminent Responsibility
Wanamakcr is evidently not that XII
Of rcformer. They were sincere. l.
is-wcll, "cnlincntly respectable"
BY this method Of analysis the Wan
maker grade Of eminent respectable,
appears to lir very largely Il fiction
matter Of reputation only. What prol
believe about il is shown TO BE- more il
portant, to its owner and inventor til;
what it really is. The public importan
of this arises from the fact that NJ
WHnHmakcr h,ls chosen 10 he pub
character, u phiIanthropic politician. wi
an object in view, or as il said Of or
nary political folk, with bee in
bonnet" What order of bee il it, and
what station does he aspire. and hope
be lifted by his carefully pl,inned, &C
tiHrnt-widr scheme of advertising Il
editorial booming? There il method. il
must be motive, in his madness He
poets 10 land somewhere to his liking
the wings of his ''emiurnt respectable
what il th,. size of the 'bep in his b,
nett