The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1906-12-28

Pouticiat - ne Frotits or an All
Around "servant Of the People, Who
Seen His Opportunities and Took
EN-"
Honest graft" will reach its highest
level when. rs predicted by the en-
thusiasts. the principles of municipal
ownership are accepted by New York
and the city controls the trolley lines.
the electric light and gas works and
all the ferries as well as the water
works and the police. the fire and tho
street departments.
Then such patriots as George Wash
ington Plmkitt. Tor many years or
ganlzatiol leader of the Fifteenth dis
trict In New York. will reap rewards OF
greater magnitude than they have ever
been able 20 gather under the present
order OF things.
Perhaps you have never heard about
Mr.. Plunkitt's honest graft schemes.
He told about them himself in book
published last year. which was intro
duced 10y paragraph indorslng him as
a veteran leader Of the organization"
signed by its greatest chief.
Plunkltt was sore because there were
some objections 10 graft being made
out OF the city by men like him. and In
the first chapter Of his book he uttered
vigorous protest. "Blackmailln' gam
blers. saloon keepers. disorderly peo-
pie. ETC." he admitted TO be wrong.
That was dishonest graft"
But" he added. there's nm honest
graft and I'm an example OF how IL
works seen my opportunities and I
took 'em."
Mr.. Tlunkitt's explanation OF how he
did these things will illuminate the
possibilities OF future municipal owner
ship days. II they ever come.
After calculating the ways he was
clipped or at various times by mem
bers OF his party-the party In power
when new bridges. new parks. new
streets were 10 he opened. so that he
might invest In real estate likely TO
rise In price from the improvements
contemplated. he adds: 81 haven't con
fined myself TO land. Anything that
pays Is In my line" Then he gives n
specific instance:
Learning that the city was about to
repave n certain street and so would
have several hundred thousand old
paving blocks 10 sell. he was ION hand
to buy" and he knew just what they
were worth" But n newspaper tried
TO do him" and got some outside men
from Brooklyn and New Jersey TO bid
against him. Mr.. Plunkitt's own words
tell the story best
"Was donef Not much. | went
10 each OF the men and said, How
many OF those 100000 stones do you
wantr One said 10000. and another
wanted 1900. and another wanted TO-
600. I said. All right; let me bid for
the lot. and I'll give each OF you all
you want for nothin'.'
"They agreed. OF course. Then the
auctioneer yelled. How much am bid
Tor these fine pawn stonesr
1.-TWO dollars and fifty cents says |.
1.-TWO dollars and fifty cents"
screamed the auctioneer. oh. that's n
Joke. Give me a real bid
ale found the bid was real enough
My rivals stood silent. | got the lot Tor
$3.50 and gave them their share. That's
how the attempt 10 do Plunkitt ended.
and that's how all such attempts end
It Is hardly necessary, I'm the light OF
this authentic statement OF honest
gratis" workings. 10 enlarge upon the
extended opportunities that would
come 10 the men of the Plunkitt stamp
were the dream OF municipal owner
ship 10 come true. Plunkitt says most
politicians who are accused Of robbin
the city get rich the same way he did.
They didn't steal a dollar from the
city. They Just seen their opportunities
and took them"
While In the legislature Plunkitt In
troduced the bills that provided for the
outlying parks OF New York. the Har-
Iem river speedway. the Washington
bridge. the One Hundred and FIFTY
fifth street viaduct, additions to the
Museum of Natural History and many
other important public improvements.
He is now millionaire. Under the
proposed order Of things, with city con-
troll of everything, he might become a
Millionaire.
Under municipal ownership OF all
public utilities In New York-and In
most other cities in fact-politicians
like Plunkitt, who at different times
has been elected state senator. assem-
blyman, county supervisor and alder
man by his fellow citizens, besides
serving us police magistrate for one
term, and who boasts Of his record In
alling four public offices in one year
and drawing salaries from three 81
them ut the same time, would flourish
like a whole grove of green bay trees.