Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-03
THE SALARY GRAB AND THE DEM
'~% OCRATS.

the session with bold endorsement of
the chief OF salary grabbers on their side
in the House. In their caucus they had
two prominent candidates for the nomina
ton for Speaker, S. S. Cox and Fernando
Wood, both of New York, and both mem
bers OF the last Congress, with record up
on the salary grab measure. Mr.. Cox
opposed the measure at every stage dur
inc the session from first to last. Since
the adjournment he has denounced it and
expressed his intention of moving vigor-
ouSlv for its repeal. SO there could be no
doubt what the position of Mr.. Cox is in
regard to the salary grab.
His opponent for the nomination, Mr.
Fernando Wood. was an active worker
for the salary grab, voted for it three
times. and pocketed the back-pay. He was
the chief OF that long list of democratic
grabbcrs, which according to the Standard
were bribed by President Grant to support
was bribed or not he supported it, and
that is the point in the case which we have
to do with, for this chief of salary grab
berS is endorsed. nominated, put forward
by the democrats in Congress as their best
representative man, the man upon whom
they would confer the great trust and re-
sponsibilite> belonging to the Speakers
position if they had the votes in the House
to elect him.
Previous to the opening of Congress the
democratic party was upon record as hav
ing given a majority of its votes in con-
gress for the salary grab, and now it goes
upon the record again Is endorsing in the
most prominent manner the arch grabber
in the House What have democratic pa
pers to say about this new endorsement OF
the salary grab by their party? Has any
body been bribed anew? Or is the act oe-
casioned by the irrepressble normal grayi-
tation of democracy towards corruption
in defiance Of public sentiment?
The following report of the proceedings
of the democratic caucus, cut from the
columns OF the New York Tribune, 4
source Of information which democrats
will not contradict, tells the story of the
last endorsement by the democrats of the
salary grab, The Tribune under date Of
Washington 30th says:
The Democratic Representatives made
an inexcusable blunder last night in nomi-
10 l.pr Enr do
Wood His nomination was sought and
obtained by the back-pay grabbers as an
Endorsement for their conduct from the
National Democratic party. County and
State Conventions had, with one voice and
in severe terms, condemned their action.
and the Democratic press had unanimous
ly denounced it. Seltishly blind to the in
tercsts OF their party, they sci about the
work of securing for themselves a white
washing verdict from its Representatives
in Congress, by the nomination of one of
their number as a candidate for Speaker.
Their purpose was, of course, to save
themselves from the wrath of their con-
stituents when they come up for renomi-
nation next Fall, by being able then to
say that the Democratic party as a nation
al organization declined to take notice OF
the Back-Pay bill, and supported for
Speaker u man who voted for it and peck
eted the money. The scheme succeeded
to the great Amusement and grief of many
of the best and purest men ON the Demo-
cratic side of the House, who did not i'm
agine that their associates would have the
audacity to thus defy public opinion.
The caucus met Saturday evening in the
room Of the Judiciary Committee About
20 members were present, and among
these were 80 who drew the back. 1t was
soon apparent that there was an agree
ment among these gentlemen to support
Fernando Wood. Niblack of Indiana was
made chairman. 5. S. Cox and Fernan-
do Wood of New York and j. c. Robin
son of Illinois were named as candidates
for the nomination for the Speakership.
Holman of Indiana offered resolution
declaring it inexpedient to nominate any
man who aided in defeating the resolution
to cXpel the members implicated in the
Credit Mobilier transactions, or who sup
ported the Back-Pay bill. Eldridge of
Wisconsin rose and began savage at
tack upon Holman, denouncing him as
the most arrant dcmagogue whom he
(Eldridge) had ever met; as man who
truckled to public opinion, and who tried
to do more business on small capital
than any other member of the House.
Great excitement prevailed, and the chair
man appealed to Eldridge to desist, de-
II. -, al Ln ont Of Aprnp JnJ