It's philanthropy, but it's politics, too--mighty good politics.

Who can tell how many votes one of these fires bring me?
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.
If there's a family in my district in want I know it before the charitable societies do, and me and my men are first on the ground.

I have a special corps to look up such cases.

The consequence is that the poor look up to George W.Plunkitt as a father, come to him in trouble--and don't forget him on election day.
Another thing, I can always get a job for a deservin' man.

I make it a point to keep on the track of jobs, and it seldom happens that I don't have a few up my sleeve ready for use.