The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-31
Blee dlir~S ethe Octopu>s.


 supply. and, once begun, 1t is prosecuted I up to the eve of election. The republican managers feel this year that 1t will be un- necessary to collect as large a fund as l was done in the last two campaigns, but | their abilities at those times could possi- ply be repeated if the emergency exist l ed
 When In 1900, through the subordination | of the silver plank in the democratic plat
 form, the republican managers got a scare account of the popularity of 1 Bryans warfare on trusts. Senator Han na utilized these fears to the benefit of the republican war chest with unprece- dented success. A concerted attack was made all along the line. with the redoubt- l able Hanna in the van setting an ex- ample that all admired and few could fol- 1 low
 Wall street bore the brunt of the gold hunters. of course, and after Cornelius N. Bliss and the late national committeeman Fred s. Gibbs, had won a cold million and similar success had met the efforts , of the western headquarters managers l the second onslaught began. At this time the fund was low expenses had been high and the business interests were beginning to lose their fear of Bryan and apathy had succeeded to enthusiasm. Then it was that Senator Hanna fell upon the scene and in whirlwind cam paign that took him from New York to Boston, to Philadelphia and to 1 Chicago drew forth nearly two million dollars of the recultant gold from the coffers of the corporations
 How he did it no one knows unless it was by the virility which made the Cleveland iron monger a national char acter in three brief years To manufac- turers he probably promised a continu- ance of the high tariff; to the railroads non-interference with interstate rates; to the trusts-well, that is a good place to stop. Events since the senator's death speak for themselves. No trusts have teen broken.
 Next to the financial circles as a means of keeping the ball rolling the party managers rely upon the army of office holders for large share of the sinews of war, Civil service laws forbid in theory at least, the assessment rof government employees for political purposes. This prohibition is the best means to the ac- compishment of the other end in prac- tice however, and while contributions are exacted, it is done in such way as to leave nothing to the imagination of the pecson importuned and yet not of fend against existing statutes.
 The possibilities of money wringing tactics of the administration are best ex- empliied by a case in the local post
 
 servation during the first few months of Mir. McKinleyss second term.
 Sealed His Own Doom.
 The sufferer was a man who had entered the federal service nearly twenty years ago under the spolis system as democrat. Placed in the civil service by the new order of things he Lad retained his place and had advanced until he was receiving S2,20o year. Year by year he had contributed to the campaign fund of his own party and had aided his politi- cal foes by acquiescing when called upon for money. In 1900, however he became imbued with the idea that Bryan was due to win, and when the call from the republican manager reached him through the customary wireless system he re- belled.
 Not centw was his reply, abrupt and decisive.
 No threats were made, no warning ut tered; no importantly was repeated. His refusal had sealed his doom, and 1t was a sudden one. Election day had hardly passed when he received word from Washington that he had been reduced in grade and his salary declined to s1,sO0 though for years he had proved his eff ficiency for his post The ground was