The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-30
A NEW MODE OF CLOTHING THE NAKED, OR
HOW III Is DONE IN KANSAS

Last year the kind-hearted and charitable were
appealed to for assistance TO aid in clothing the
naked in Kansas, and preparing the poor and needy
for the incemency of winter. Thousands of dollars
were contributed for this purpose, some portion Of
which was drawn from the pockets of the poor
among the republicans acceptable offering upon
the altar Of the party. Those who conhded in the
fidelity of the leaders of the party never even sus-
peced that their contributions might not be applied
to the objects for which they solicited. Not
of Mr. L. G. Delevan, the great and sincere temper
ance man Of New York. lie subscribed, thou
sand dollars, but regardless of all solicitations by
politicians to obtain from him, by doubtful par
tisans, the money like sensible man, he invested
the amount in clothing at wholesale price and for
warded it to Kansas for distribution. An assault
upon him by the Lawrence (Kansas) Republican, re-
iterated through the New York Tribune, has led TO
development of the use TO which clothing sent to
Kansas is applied. 1t seems that w. +. NJ Arney is
Kansas agent to receive these contributions. That
large quantities of clothing reached Kansas last fall
and winter, so to be distributed, we presume is
true. The whole quantity sent may be inferred from
Mr. Arneys letter, dated Bloomington, Illinois, Feb
ruafy US 1901, III WHICH ne says
II am engaged in shipping from here this week $50
of clothing and will proceed at to ST. Louis
and have all goods belonging TO committee shipped
from that point which, with the articles here will make
over 800 cases.
..By d resolution Of he NATIONAL COMMITTEE,
MEETING IN New YORK The cohag Of committee IS 10 be
ruue and sold on time The proceeds 70 Be appropriated de
deaptoa Of He protection find scrip.
~ desire instruction from you as to whether shall
do the with the clothing you sent and appropriate
-
in this event. hsnotes w be PAYABLE at he order Of e treas
uer Of he national conue shall distribute them
g,at and account 10 you and committee to how
is done and to whom they are given
So it seems that national committee who meet in
New York have the control and disposition of arti-
ces sent to Kansas to relieve the poor and clothe
the naked, and that there are now over three hun
bred lodged at two places by the way of cloth
ing, which, instead Of being distributed, this com
mtiee in New York have ordered to be sold to re-
deem protection fund scrip that is to say, to pay
debts contracted by somebody promising to pay
somebody. Who contracted these debts, aud by
what authority and under what law scrip was issued
and for what purpose is not disclosed One thing
is certainand that is, that the contributions sent to
Kansas to benefit the needy and clothe the naked
have been diverted from the purposes intended by
the donors, and by those who had no authority to
do so.
Mr. Delevan has wisely controlled his liberal con-
trbution and in reply to Mr.. Arney required 1T to
be distributed to the needy, without regard to color
or party We hope soon to learn what this 'protec-
tionfund scrip issued for, and by what author
ity when payable the amount issued, and who
the holders !; its market value before the clothing
was ordered to be sold and applied to its redemp
ton There is mystery about this scrip Was it
issued by or under the authority of the Topeka
ganization to pay the expenses of that mock govcrn
ment including the salaries of its officers, members
of Congress- and senators or from what funds and
howwere all these expenses paid and what debts have
been contracted? Are the salaries of the Topeka of
fcias still running, and when and how are they to
be paid
We confess to strong suspicion that the scrip in
question was issued under the authority of the To-
peka State government to pay its expenses, past and
accruing and that the clothing sent to cover the
naked has been sold and the proceeds diverted from
its legitimate object to feeding hungry republican
politicians, and rewardng them for their obging eff
forts to aid their political friends in the northern
and western States by keeping up difficulties in Kan
sas, extending to arson, robbery, and murder Money
collected for Kansas was doubtless used in the same
way. All this is rendered the more probable, as the
proceedings ordering the illegal sales and wrongful
application of the funds occurred in New York, and
over which the people Of Kansas had no control,
and probably, except the leaders, had no knowl-
edge.
The Kansas contributors cannot fail to see that
they have been imposed upon, and that their gifts
have been illegally diverted to purpose, and TO an
extent unknown yet, to objects never contem-
plated by them. The evidence warrants the sus
picion that those con6ding in the party have been
swindcd to the amount of thousands under pretence
of charity for the destitute but really to reward hired
political agtators. We trust that vigilant men, hav-
ing opportunities TO do will probe these things to
the bottom and let the public know the whole truth
concerning them.
THE PROSPECT IN KENTUCKY.
The Lexington kentucky Statesman, in abiding
to the Cincinnati Enquirer estimate of six demo