The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-07
AHirh Tariff Cnhlnef Ring.

Fpum The N. Y Herald
The wire-pullers aud ring men at Washing
ton, although bafIled in their most ingenious
plans for lsssoiug aud leading General Grant,
ave not relaxed in their efforts to secure the
control Of affairs under the next admiuistra-
ton. They early took time by the forelock
So long ago as May last the Herald noticed
the secret circular which was issued by the
secretary of the high tariff league to the mem
bers OF the executive council. In that circular
the secretary urged the necessity OF raising
more money, and gave summary OF what
the league had already accomplished, partiou-
laIly in influencing the making up of the COM
nittees of Congress. The hocus- pocus which
had been at work was soon manifest in the
selection of the chairmen of several of these
committees. Thus a new member from one
of the Pennsylvania districts, but a national
bank president and superintendent of large
iron mill, and also vice president of the high
tariff league, was made chairman OF the Com
mittee on Manufactures. Another reliable
Treasury and high tariff ring man was made
chairman of the Committee ON Accounts-the
most important committee of the House except
that on Ways and Means, inas.nuch as the
Committee on Accounts has power to get all
sorts of election expenses through In the
shape of legitimate House expenses.
All these ring men and their friends worked
like beavers previous to the Chicago COuveu-
tion to make Coltax President, if possible, or
at least Vice President. One OF them was
heard to declare that che was in favor OF Col
fax and Grant, in the order named''-COlfAx
for President and General Grant for Vice
Prejdent-but he supposed THAT the Conven-
ton would give General Grant the first posi-
ton" The secretary of the Iron and Steel
Association said he was in favor of Colfax for
President. One leader of the combination,
who was a candidate for Secretary of the Trea-
sury in case Mr.. Wade should bs made Presi-
dent, openly expressed in public speech his
want of confidence III the nominee OF the Chi
cago Convention.
1t is said that this high tariff ring, not con-
tent with selecting their own candidate for
Vice President and with making up the COM
mittees, actually attempted to control Cou-
gIessional nominations. Thus men were
asked to work against prominent Republi-
can candidate for Congress in Indiana on the
ground that he was ga free trader" and "not
sound on the finance question:" and to work
for another Republican who was in favor of
''the highest kind OF tariff and immediate
return to specie payments and what was
'far better, good friend of Mr.. Colfax I"
The auti-high tayif, anu-Treasury ring, and
anti COlfaX Republican got, however, the
nomination, and will take his seat in Congress
next March.
Now, this high tariff ring fears General
Grant. They know that he is honest aud firm.
They know that the only show their schemes
will have during his administration will b. by
intrigue. They hope to prevent repeal of
the Tenure OF Office law, and to get man
popularly supposed to be honest, but really
under their coatrol, made the next Secretary
of the Treasury. If they can do this they
may possibly make few millions after the
4th of March. They both hate and fear the
Herold. They know that the Herald was the
first to bring General Grant forward as Presi-
dent and tor Presdent-not to play second
fiddle to Mr.. COlfax under the Tenure of Office
law, but to be the First Magistrate of the ma
tion. They also hate and fear all the honest
men whom they suspect of having any inhu-
enoe with General Grant. 1t remains to be
seen whether the high tariff and Treasury
rlpg, even with Mr.. Colfax as their tower Of
strength, can successfully carry out their
schemes. Meanwhile it will be the duty of
the press and of the public to watch closely
the "wheels within wheels'' of this and every
other Washington ring.