National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-01-14
MIR. pAwRg EXPLANATION.

The explanation Of Mr.. Dawes In regard to
his share In the credit mobiler transaction,
printed in other columns this morning, Is a
manly, straightforward statement, and bears
upon II the impress Of the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth. The story Of his con-
nectlon with the credit mobllicr, as he tells II,
Is very simple one In the beginning Of the
December session Of 1867, finding that he had
one thousand dollars to his credit In the Office
Of the Scrgeant-at-Arm for which he had no
immediate use, he consulted his colleague,
Mr.. washburn, as to how he should invest II.
Mr.. Washburn advised him to invest In the
bonds Of the Cedar Rapids railroad, which
he had been purchasing from Mr.. Ames at %
cents on the dollar. Mr.. Dawes saw Mr..
Ames, and asked him to sell him the Cedar
Rapids bonds, whereupon Mr.. Ames said that
he had sold them all, but that he had other
stock equally as good-that Of the credit
mobiller, which he could let him have and
guarantee him ten per cent. on 1t.
Mr.. Dawes said that he did not know any
thing about the credit mobiller, and would
inquire about 1t. As II should happen, Mr..
Dawes consulted Mr.. Alley, who, Of course,
told him that the credit mobilicr was all right,
and that he was safe enough II Mr.. Amcs
guaranteed him ten per cent. Mr.. Dawes
then offered to take the stocks from Mr..
Amca, who told him that he had II at his
home and would transfer II To him as soon Us
he could get home. He then gave Mr.. Ames
| the one thousand dollars and took his receipt
therefor. Subsequently and before the stock
was transferred to him Mr.. Dawes had occa-
sion to 90 to his home at Pitts1eld, Massa-
chusetts, where q friend and neighbor OF his
informed him Of certain legal proceedings
against Mr.. Amcs in regard to the credit mo-
biller, which so alarmed him that when he re-
turned to Washington he told Mr.. Ames what
he had heard, and that he did not want the
stock. Mr., Ames told him he could have IL.
Previous to this, however, he had received
one dividend OF about thirty-hve per cent.
upon the stock, which was deducted by Mr..
Ames In the settlement Nothing was ever
suggested to him, directly or Indirectly, hay.
| Ing reference to official action Of his In Con-
gress or out OF II.
This Is the story as Mr.. Dawes tells 1t, and
to our mind ii acqults Mr.. Dawes Of any and
every charge Of corruption In the matter.
Mr.. Dawes was not rich man In 1897, and,
as we understand, Is not rich man to-day.
So far from that, he was comparatively poor
In 1867, and having a thousand dollars to
invest, 1t was only natural that he should
consult q shrewd operator and business man
like Mr.. Amcs rs to what he should do with
II. There Is the widest difference between
the position Of Mr.. Dawes and that Of some
Of the other gentlemen who have been mixed
up In this unpleasant business. Take, fol
instance, Mr.. Brooks. Mr.. Nelson, the sou.
in-iaw of Mr.. Brooks, testified yesterday that
''his father-in-law, Mr.. Brooks, put him in the
way of getting the stock by advancing tho
money. Mr.. Brooks did the business. lie
told him that he had a chance to put him Ia
the credit mobilier, and did So" And yet only
a few days ago Mr.. Brooks called God to wit
ness that he knew nothing whatever about IL
and denounced McComb, who had made the
charge against him. By and by we shall get
to the bottom, and the entire truth must come
out. It Is now too late TO attempt to stlne ol
suppress IT,