An Honest Con Artist

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Recommended: Political corruption issue

In “Honest Graft Hall”, the words of George Washington Plunkitt are recorded so that the historical observer can directly observe the ideals of a very opinionated American Politician. Considered “the most thoroughly practical politician of the day” (Riordon , Preface), William Riordon records Plunkitt’s opinion on everything political from honest and dishonest graft to civil service issues. In this book, Plunkitt is able to show us how he has been so successful in politics for forty years and will continue to be. In this paper, I will be taking a look at his stance on several issues such as honest and dishonest graft, liquor and politics, political party bosses, patriotism, and civil service reformers.
At various times throughout the publication Plunkitt leads us to believe that he is only interested in what is good for the community and nothing else. He often mentions the well-educated man who flaunts his education in the political realm as if it were something that validates him being a politician. Even though men may have a good education, Plunkitt believes that education is merely one area of political relations and should not be used in every facet of politics as it may turn voters away from the party itself. He calls these types of people “fancy”. These guys are thought of as the “ornaments” of the organization and are good for special ceremonies, but not necessarily useful for directing city government. Plunkitt portrays his approach as more of a behind the scenes approach when it comes to actual politics and what it all entails. He is the one knocking on doors to get the vote, finding jobs for community members, buying wedding gifts and helping poor families buy their next meal. Despite his philanthropy though, there see...

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...t to be successful. According to Plunkitt, there is a lot of training that is required of a politician before getting in office, and even after. Reformers have no training for this type of work and should stick to their grocery store.
In my final analysis, I have no doubt in my mind that George Washington Plunkitt was a very smart man, but I have doubts that he was an honest man. For instance, he was a man who took part in attending funerals, and weddings for the sake of getting a vote. I do not regard this behavior as patriotic, nor do I regard it as honest. While he was indeed very intelligent in politics, he was in fact unethical in his ways to obtain wealth. I will always regard Plunkitt as a great man, but I will also see him as a political con artist.

Works Cited

Riordon, William L. Honest Graft Hall. Trans. Andy Blunden. The Project Gutenberg, 1963.

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