A Defense of Political Graft (1905)
George W. Plunkitt
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. There's all the difference in the world between the two. Yes, many of our men have grown rich in politics. I have myself. I've made a big fortune out of the game, and I'm gettin' richer every day, but I've not gone in for dishonest graft-blackmailin' gamblers, saloonkeepers, disorderly people, etc.-and neither has any of the men who have made big fortunes in politics. . . .
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."
Just let me explain by examples. My party's in power in the city, and it's goin' to undertake a lot of public improvements. Well, I'm tipped off, say, that they're going to lay out a park at a certain place.
I see my opportunity and I take it. I go to that place and I buy up all the land I can in the neighborhood. Then the board of this or that makes its plan public, and there is a rush to get my land, which nobody cared particular for before.
Ain't it perfectly honest to charge a good price and make a profit on my investment and foresight? Of course, it is. Well, that's honest graft.
-As a result of the rampant graft described in this passage, many cities and states

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The passage highlights the concept of "honest graft" in political corruption. However, this idea of political corruption led to outrage among the public and resulted in the creation of new rules such as the recalls, initiatives, and referendums to make the political system more transparent and accountable to the public. The passage does not indicate that the qualifications for participation in local politics were changed or that violence was directed against the rich. The option of being overtaken by federal regulators is also not mentioned in the passage.