Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-17
PHILADELPHIANS
ARE AROUSED.
Wanamaker-Marti Combine En-
gagged in Another LEGAL
Campaign.
TAXPAYERS IRE VERY Indignant.

Insurgents i'm Their Desperate Tac-
ties Are Defaming the City Govern
paign, and Loyal Citizens Are Ar
raycd Against Them.
Especial Correspondence.)
Philadelphia, Jan. 15.-An attempt is
being made to overthrow the Republi-
can organization in this city by men
who have been identified with the in
surgent movement in the state John
Wanamaker is the head and front of
one Of the most desperate attempts to
make political capital out of cam
paign which is ostensibly waged for the
suppression of vice.
Wanamakers name has not figured in
any of the committee lists, nor does he
appear in any Of the official publica-
tions as identified with the movement.
But behind the scenes he is revealed
as the main spring of the movement,
the directing and controlling force, and
the aim and purpose of it all is to
defeat nominees of the Republican
party in this city who will owe their
nominations to the support of the stall
wart Republican leaders who have for
years thwarted John Wanamaker's am
bition to go to the United States SEN
ate.
THAT POTTER MEETING.
There was a mass meeting held in
the Academy Of Music last Wednesday
night, to which Bishop Potter, of New
York, was invited. This distinguished
divine has been waging an anti-vice
crusade against the Tammany rule in
New York, and it was thought by the
insurgent political manipulators in this
city that if he could be gotten to make
an address here people not familiar
with the facts would imagine that all
manner of wickedness is rampant in
Philadelphia.
Well, the Bishop Potter meeting was
held. While several Of the local pro-
fessional reformers made speeches de-
flaming the city and her officials Bishop
Potter was careful not to attempt to
substantiate or endorse anything they
said. He simply made a speech on
general reform work, and in that re-
spect his remarks were sore disap-
latest political move.
WANAMAKER'S QUIET WORK.
The excitement occasioned by the
agitation for this meeting has subsid-
ed, but Wanamaker and his associates
are now perfecting their plans for the
campaign which Is to be waged against
the Republican candidates at the cleo
tion next month. They cannot succeed,
however, as the people are becoming
acquainted with the details of the en-
tire scheme. They know that Wana-
maker dined Bishop Potter and after
wards sat in proscenium box watch
ing the meeting at the academy work
out Its mud singing. unpatriotic pro-
gram. When the man who had the
resolutions calling for the appointment
of a committee to engineer the political
campaign was requested for an ad
vance copy he politely informed
newspaper man that he could not give
him one until he saw Mr.. Wanamaker.
The Wanamaker newspapers are
taking up the crusade. but they are
meeting with indignant protests from
manufacturers and merchants, who de-
ny their allegations and say their in
famous work Is doing irreparable harm
to the business interests of the city.
The consensus of opinion of the Of
ficers of the Christian League is that
the moral and physical condition of
the city have never been better than
at present, and that the city authori-
ties are cooperating in every way
with the earnest men and women who
are working for the city's welfare on
effective IL not sensational lines.
hn Hrfn tov, \ hnu naf httpt
ed vice with brass band, but for five
years. week in and week out its agents
have made personal tours of suspected
districts. The information in the
hands of the league Is. therefore. based
on fact and not on imagination.
Rev. Kerr Boyce Tupper, d. D., pas
tor of the First Baptist church, Sew
enteenth street, below Chestnut. is to
deliver an address at Williamsport,
Pa. on the evening of Feb. 5, his sub
ject being THE Elevation of Our
Cities" DR.. Tupper Is keen observer
of conditions In Philadelphia, and is
always studied in his expression of
opinion.
II have been shocked recently" he
said yesterday. "in reading statements,
especially in newspapers beyond the
limits Of our city. respecting municipal
conditions among u.s.
IL am convinced that II all good cit
izens would unite hands for the uplift-
Ing of the city to purer atmosphere
we should have less occasion to COM
plain. Hardly night In the week
goes by that l am not on the street.
except Saturday, fulfilling engagements
of different kinds. and as l go about
! am not impressed with the immorali-
ty Of our city as others are presenting
II at present l am gratified to know
that the testimony of the Christian
League. which body has every opportu-
nifty OF knowing existing conditions,
is to the effect that II has never made
an appeal to the police or other city
authorities which has gone unheeded."
Business men are unit In declaring