Quote#Money & Wealth
Ought these good people be subjected to the immoral influence of…
Quote byGeorge Washington Plunkitt · 1842–1924
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Chapter 21, Concerning Excise.
English (original)
Ought these good people be subjected to the immoral influence of money taken from the saloon tainted money? Out of respect for the tender consciences of these pious people, the Raines law ought to exempt them from all contamination from the plunder that comes from the saloon traffic. Say, mark that sarcastic. Some people who ain’t used to fine sarcasm might think I meant it. p. 85
— George Washington Plunkitt
More from George Washington Plunkitt
If I have a good thing to hand out in private life, I give it to a friend. Why shouldn’t I do the same in public life? p.6
Another kind of honest graft. Tammany has raised a good many salaries. There was an awful howl by the reformers, but don’t you know that Tammany gains ten votes for every one it lost by salary raisin’? p. 6
There’s an honest graft, and I’m an example of how it works. I might sum up the whole thing by sayin’: “I seen my opportunities and I took ’em.” p. 3
Everybody is talkin’ these days about Tammany men growin’ rich on graft, but nobody thinks of drawin’ the distinction between honest graft and dishonest graft. p. 3, first line
Every good man looks after his friends, and any man who doesn’t isn’t likely to be popular. p. 5
The Wall Street banker thinks it shameful to raise a department clerk’s salary from $1500 to $1800 a year, but every man who draws a salary himself says: “That’s all right. I wish it was me.” And he feels very much like votin’ the Tammany …