The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-12-16
General Schenca's Explanation.

Tho explanation given by Minister
Schenck To tho directors OF the Emma
Mine Silver Company, regarding his
connection with that scheme, is so near
ly like tba, voachsaied for him by the
Inter Ocean rs to scom rather remark
able, and might lead the public to think
that we were in possession Of the de-
Tense when the article was written. This
is not the case, however. We simply
saw from reviewing the case that any
person might have been deceived by the
representations made, and thought II
undoubtedly true that General Schenck
was among the plundered and not the
plunderers. lie now tells how he hap
pened TO become publicly Unidentified
with the company rs director, and his
explanation goes far towards cxcusing
his act. The enterprise was introduced
10 his notice in the first place by those
eminent gentlemen, Senator Stewart, OF
Nevada, and William II. Evarts, OF New
York. Both Of Il cs gentlemen had eX-
amined the evid n &c adduced, and salts
fled themselves q q there were millions
in it," Park accompanied them, and
when tho company was formed insisted
upon his going In rs director. Mr..
Schencli had his doubts about the pro-
priety Of this, bat having made inqair-
les and found that such connection on
The part of a diplomatic representative
was not unusual, be consented. HIS
course having been criticised he resigned
in q month aftcrward. SO far, no
heinous SIN had been committed. But
long after this, when The bubble had
I,ren blown to its utmost tension, and
hai burstcd, he was accused OF having
been furnished by Park with the money
10 buy the shares, thereby laying him
open to the suspicion OF being inside and
familiar with the ring.
Mr.. Schonck explains this very fully.
lie says Park and the others were very
anxious that he should become "A direc-
tor, as it was natural they should be.
When he told them he had not the money
10 invest, Park offered 20 loan IT to him,
and did SO loan il. As proof that tins
transaction was honest, Mr. Schenck re-
ters TO the fact that his property IN
Washington is now mortgaEed to Mr.
Park TO pay of the last Of his notes
given for that loan.
OF course, as we have said before, ii
is unfortunate that General Schcnck
consented TO become an officer IN the
company AT all, though if it had proved
"a success, instead of failure, we should
probably have hcarIno gru'nb!ing about
il from the shareholders but that he
was guilty of the least intention to de-
fraud anybody no one can seriously be
licrc. Indeed, it seems from General
Schenck's explanation that, long after
he resigned as one OF the directors and
had supposedly retired wholly from the
venture, he bought, in connection with
"A friend, 500 additional shares OF stock
in the company, upon which they lost
some ZIG per share before they dlapOs-
cd Of them. His first shares he still
holds, though he could have escaped at
ono time at a small loss by selling. He
determined, however, to stand the loss,
as no had perhaps been The means OF in
duciHg others 10 embark in the cntcr
prise, and il was 10 worse for him 20
loose than for them. 1t is easy TO be-
liovc that General Schencli is far more
sinncd against than SHINING, and the ex-
PLANTATION which be gives shows the in
justice Of attempting to decide upon 4
case and condomning an accused person
before hearing has defense, as has been
done by some prctentiOus American
newspapers in regard to him Chicago
Inter Ocean.