Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-02-14
The Trap For Pom eroy.
Topeka Letter to st. Louis Republican.
HOW THE TRAP WAS SET,

AS early as Thursday of last week
it became evident that there was
but one possible method of beating
Pomeroy, and that was to set a trap
for him, whereby he should be in
dnced to bride one of the opposition
who could be depended upon to OK
pose him. At a council ofwar held
shortly alterward by the opposition,
it was decided that Col. A. M.
York, Senator from Montgomery
county, was the man most available
for this purpose. A gentleman
whose connection with several east
crn railway companies interested
IN Pomeroy's reelection gave him
the old mans confidence, was
brought up from Kansas City to
begin the negotiations. After some
skirmishing and sparring, an inter
view between York and Pomeroy
was brought about, at which there
was some talk about money, and
finally sort Of understanding was
arrived at. Pomeroy then began to
shuttle, as he always does, and tried
to work with York through third
parties. York, however, refused to
negotiate with the third parties at
all, and insisted on doing the bust
ness exclusively with the Senator
himself, averring that the old Sena-
tor was nice man to do business
with, and he wanted full, fair,
and personal understanding in the
matter.
THE CHRISTIAN STATESMAN "CoMEs
DOWN"
At last, Pomeroy suspended the
bylaws Of his caution and his PIE
ty, and entered squarely into ncgo-
tiaGons with York. The latter was
none of your ten-ccnt fellows. lie
told Pomeroy that his constituents
had threatened to hang him if he
voted for the old man, and SO it
would be necessary for him to sell
out for enough to insure his neck
He further said that if he voted for
Pomeroy he should never dare to
live in Montgomery county again,
and he must sell out for enough to
enable him to remove to some other
locality, and to indemnify him
against the sacrifice of property he
might have to make in disposing of
his effects in Montgomery.
PoMERoY FALLS INTO THE TRAP.
This recital narrowed the old
mans bowels of Christian compass
sion, and he offered York about
$1,000. This, York felt obliged to
decline. The case was one of ies-
pcration with him, and he must
have at least $4,000 At this old
Pomeroy made a good many wry
faces, but finally effected com
promise Oh this basis, to-wit: 200
down, 5000 within IS hours, and
the other 81 900 after he was elect
ed. That last 81 900 York will
probably lose.
THE EXPOSURE OF THE PLOT.
Things went on lovely until after
Tuesdays separate ballots, and then
the mischief began to bubble up to
the surface. On Tuesday night the
anti Pomeroy people held a caucus,
at which a concentration was effect
ed upon Dir. Ingalls,, with pledged
strength of 90. When the House
and Senate went into joint ballot,
to-day, there was no man IN the en-
tire hall whose face had in it so
much of the lurking devilment of
conspiracy as glittered in York's
eyes and baletully lit up his pale
face. 1t was not long after the as
scmbling Of the joint convention
before the presiding officer raped
order with his gavel announced that
the Legislature of Kansas, in joint
convention, would now proceed to
ballot for United States Senator for
the full term, beginning March 4,
1873. There was dead hush then
as Senator York of Montgomery
arose and claimed the floor Oh 4
question Of privilege, which was
granted him. He drew from his
pocket an envelope containing 81, 900
in current funds, walked down the
aisle and laid it in front Of the
Speaker, with the request that he
count the money. There was 4 lit
tie b1zz of surprise, and then a
hush of strained expectancy as the
speaker turned over the crisp notes
and York walked back to his seat.
"Gentlemen," said York, 81 have an
explanation to make to this body
upon my vote for senator. | shall
vote for Samuel c. Pomcroy for the
best reason in the world, and that
reason is now on the desk Of your
presiding officer" There were a
good many pale and scared faces in
that hall then. He then went on
and detailed the circumstances of
his bribery. AS he proceeded the
excitement became intense, and f.
nally, whenever the name of Pomc-
roy was mentioned, there would be
a storm of Indignation. 1t was a
revolution. York caught its tervor
in the fine tibers Of his nervous or
ganism and became inspired. He
said: 81 know | am disgraced
man; l have wiltully and Of malice
aiorethought betrayed trust repos-
cd in me by a fellow man. l did il,
with eyes wide open, and mind
full Of comprehension of the conse-
qucnces; but l did it because |
thought it was q sacrifice required
Of me to save my State from sinking
still deeper into the quicksands of
corruption in which her once fair
fame is already almost swallowed
up. ! stand before You pledged to
vote for Samuel c. Pomeroy in con-
sideration Of 81, 900 to me in hand
paid in current funds, and prom
Use Of 1900, payable upon a con-
tingoncy. | ask you, must | redeem
that pledge? Cries Of "No,' mo-"
"D-n Pomeroy and his money"
| ask you if | am, in your minds, Il
disgraccd man? Cries Of "No,"
60" "You did right" [ ask you
if the end does not justify the
means?" Cries of EYES," eyes"
and loud chccrs.l Then Mr.. York
| closed his specch with an impaS-