Republicans dominated Philadelphia politics from the civil war to the early 1950’s. The corruption started to occur in the 1910’s and 1920’s. Don’t think of this as a conservative thing. There were and still are “progressive” Republicans.
Corruption afflicts any entrenched power structure. Republicans and Democrats reward themselves and their supporters if they can. I wasnt aware of a Tamanny hall type machine of Republicans in Philly, the kind that perpetuates its rule through patronage and vote fraud. If there was one, I have learned something new.
Youse guys might find this of interest.
From http://exhibitions.library.temple.edu/exhibits/prohibition/smedley.jsp
Smedley Butler’s attempts to clean up Philadelphia’s speak easies