Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-09-25
PENNS YLvANlA'S SHAME
The Secrets Of the Cameron Ring
,anl.,er@ Laid Bare. -, ssl
The Evidence Of a Trustworthy and
''e22. Fully Informed Witness.

sheep-..How the State Funds are Misappropri
ated.-,siartns Revelation Of Official Mafsssance
A correspondent of the New Yorli
Sun lately sought out General Irwin
late State Treasurer, at his home neai
Brighton, in Beaver county, and re-
cites the following as the result of IN
q interview with him Speaking OF the
election for United States Senator in
the spring of 1869, he says:
GENERAL IRwIS's EXPERIENCE.
"Just before the Legislature assem-.
bled some time during tho holidays,
was in Harrisburg, and whilc at the
depot messenger from General Cam
eron found me, aud said i was wanted
up in the railroad Office very much.
went'up to Don Camerons rooms,
over the depot, aud there found Simon
and Don. The old man opened the
conversation by saying that they
wanted to make some arrangement
with me about tho State moneys. II
would dismiss Mr.. Taggart, my
cashier and take a man he would
name, and give his three banks con
troll of the money in the Treasury
they would not oppose my reelection.
They had senatorial fight on hand,
and they would rather be on good
terms with me, if II was possible |
replied that had always treated them
as had other citizens Of the Com
monwealth; that their banks had re-
ceived all tina. | considered them on
titled to- was not disposed to dis
miss Mr.. Taggart, who proved him
self capable and honest man, to take
ono OF his creatures, and thought'he
was demanding rather too much for
his friendship, Cameron replied that
they could use a great deal Of money
in ,heir railroad and their iron works
| that they always had that aceommo-
dation from the Treasurer, and thoy
must have it in the future. They
could make me moro money in one
year, than ] could out of the Treas
uryship in ten. If / was sensible and
would take his advice / would have
nothing TO fear. They would ALWAYS
stand by me and my friends. To all
this l replied, that did not intend ia
change my policy to suit their conve-
) niences, but to go'on as ] commenced
was the servant of the people, and
, had no right to make any such ar
rangemcnt with them. "All right,
said Cameron, "then you don't intend
TO accommodate your friends" | re
piled that | could not see where the
friendship came in. | was elected IL
1868, when they had done everything
they could do to defeat nc, and
knew it was for no particular love
that they entertained toward me thai
induced them 10 make this proposi
tion. This ended the interview
knew what had 70 expect, but go
rather moro than bargained Tor.
"They then had TO take. up Bol
Mackey, Vice President of the ALE
gheny National Bank OF Pittsburg, {
man Of no reputation whatever
who wasn't known throughout til,
State; who had served Cameron be
fore, and is wilhal a sharp, shrewC
fellow, INSCRIPTIONS, and just the kline
of man the Camerons want as q ser
want. With such aman State Treas
f urer they knew they could call upoI
tho Treasury for all they wanted
AT the same time, as | said before,
United States Senator was to b,
| elected.
TUE NOTORIOUS BILL KEMBLE,
who had preceded me as State Treas
urer and amassed a great fortune by
manipulating the surplus fund and il
engineering the new State loan, wa
candidate for United States Senator
, He openly declared that Simon Cam
cron had bought his way to th,
United States Senate twice, and, by
God, he could do the same Tn,
/. Camcrons had picked upon James l.
Graham, Of Allegheny county, as thei
candidate.
"Graham is renegade Methods
preacher, a smooth, oily, unscrupu
ous fellow, who had always serveC
them well while in tho State Senate
Mr.. Cameron, Sr., short time befor,
had made pilgrimage to Philadcl
phia to confer with Mr. Thompson
president of the Pennsylvania Contra
railroad. His object was to obtuii
the support of that corporation to ai(
! In the election Of Graham, but Mr.
Thompson wouldn't como into the ar
rangcment. lie was in favor OF JohI
Scott, of Huntingdon, who had long
: been the solicitor Of the Pennsylvania
railroad and served them well ant
} faithfully, and aspired to sonatoria
honors. If the road was To use its in
fluence, which was well known TO b,
! all powerful, they wonld use il fol
Scott. Cameron knew very well i
was no use TO attompt to run Graham
against Scott, when tho latter wa
backed by the Pennsylvania Central
, Ho therefore determined to drop hi
. man aud 70 for Scott. But befor,
, leaving Philadelphia he called upor
Thomas A. Scott, vice president of th,
road, and told him that he had had {
conference with Thompson, who wa,
inclined TO 90 for john Scott, but h,
thought that they (meaning Scott anC
I himsel) ought to take hold of Graham
,, and put him through. Scott replied
that he was not going to be in tb,
fight at all that his preference wal
for $. X Moorhead, of Piltsburg, but
Mr.. Thomas was friendly to Scott anc
wanted to see him elected, and there
fore he was not going TO do anything
at all. Camemn replied that he was
satisfied to take Scott, but something
would have to be done In order to put
him through. Bill Kemble was q