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George Washington Plunkitt was a senator in New York during the turn of the 19th Century to the 20th Century. He was very successful in politics, and at one time he held four offices at once and collected salaries from three of them. G. W. Plunkitt held any one (or more offices) in Tammany Hall for over forty years. He was a shady politician who took care of his constituents and his bank account. Plunkitt was never shy about becoming rich in politics because he did nothing illegal by the standards of the time. Moreover, Plunkitt never broke the penal code and therefore never spent a day in jail. However, Plunkitt had to defend himself against reformers by distinguishing between honest graft and dishonest graft. He would explain this difference as well as his wealth by saying, “I seen my opportunities and I took ‘em.” In Plunkitt’s own mind, as seen through his writings, he did not regret his actions because he did so much to help the Tammany supporters. Plunkitt’s main complaint was against civil service examinations, but in his talks he also instructed young men how to be successful in politics by examining human nature and doing as e had done. The curse of civil service reform to George W. Plunkitt was that patriotic young men could not get jobs without passing the civil service examinations. Plunkitt’s objections about civil service reform are two fold, not only could young men not get the jobs without passing examinations that did not pertain to their job, but it also made giving out jobs to supporters more difficult. Before civil service reform, elected officials could easily remove anti-Tammany city employees and replace them with Tammany supporters in return for their work during the campaign. This sort of “spoils system” encouraged young people to get involved with politics and to love their country. According to Plunkitt (and he gives many examples) after civil service examinations young men become anarchists or in the worst case one joins the Spanish army and actually fights against the same men he used to support and love. Not only did this “spoils system” encourage young people, it also helped hold the United States party system together. And that, according to Plunkitt, would all change if supporters were not rewarded with government jobs for their work. However, the Civil Service act of 1883 did more to instigate the merit system in politics than anything else. Plunkitt’s arguments against the civil service reforms are amusing but his generalities make his argument difficult to believe. One would assume that Plunkitt’s motivation for attacking civil service was because of his personal motivation not the reasons presented in his “Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics.” Plunkitt clearly was a politician for himself and his supporters, in all he cared very little about the welfare of New York City as a whole. Other than the “curse of civil service,” Plunkitt also instructed young men on the tactics and qualifications needed to be a politician. Aside from loving one’s country Plunkitt believed it was also necessary to understand human nature. Plunkitt said that the most important thing to hold a district was to “study human nature and act accordin’.” By this, Plunkitt means that a good politician goes among the people and gives them opportunities to show themselves off. One example Plunkitt gives of this technique is by directing a young man who can sing to the Tammany glee club. By directing young people to join organizations where they can perform to their potential he gains supporters. Another piece of advice Plunkitt gives is against reading books. In fact, Plunkitt believed that college and books were a hindrance when trying to understand people and attain votes. George W. Plunkitt also gained votes by helping the poor. He says that whenever there was fire he would beat the fire engines there and supply housing and food for the people until they could do it on their own. Plunkitt says, “The poor are the most grateful people in the world, and, let me tell you, they have more friends in their neighborhoods than the rich have in theirs.” Plunkitt certainly understood people and knew how to attract them to his ticket. The book Plunkitt of Tammany Hall is not only a monument to George W. Plunkitt’s 40 plus years as a senator, it is also a monument to his enormous ego. G. W. Plunkitt was a well-liked man among his supporters and Tammany men alike. He had opposition from reformers who accused Tammany Hall of illegal activities involving graft. But, according to Plunkitt he never engaged in, “blackmailin’, gamblin’ or disorderly people.” He said that “the politician that steals is worse than a thief. He is a fool.” Plunkitt made a fortune in politics, and he did it all through honest graft. He says that even if his worst enemy wrote his epitaph that he could not do more than write: “George W. Plunkitt. He Seen His Opportunities and He Took ‘Em.” Bibliography: plunkitt of Tammany Hall by William Riordin Word Count: 899
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