The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-13
.Gle,y Dali. Ara,ss.
WHO were they7

sass WHO were They7
There is part of the president deposit
ton in the Babceck case that attracted too
little attention during the trial. The con-
spicuous Importance. which, strangely
enough, attached TO the order interchanc-
ing the ST. Louis and Philadelphia super
visors, Mcdonald and Tuition, has been q
|subject of remark and speculation. That
order was made by the internal revenue
commissioner at the suggestion of the pre-
sident, and no sooner was it made than
there came a strange and eager pressure
from Distinguished sources for its revoca-
ton 1t was this order which, Mcdonald
disapproved and concerning which he sent
to the internal revenue commissioner tho
arrogant dispatch: Don't like the order:
it will damage the government and ipiure
the administration. The other supervisor.
Tuition. also did not like it, and he went to
Washington to protest against it. But
there were higher parties than either Nc
Donald or Tuition at work with them for
the same object, as the following paragraph
of the presidents deposition shows:
Question by Mr.. Cook: Q. After the order had
been finally issued, were any e0 ts made to induce
you to direct its suspension or revocationt tsame
objections a. 70 previous Question: A. Most
10 Were such efforts made by prominent pub.
c men? lsame objection as to previous question:
"oross:examination BY mr.. Eaton: Q. You
have said you resisted the pressure brought bear
suspension q revocation Of the order transerrine
Supervisors. II you have no objection, will you
phase state the names OF those prominent men who
were many persons, aud think 1 could give the
names Of several senator's and members of congress
bnI probably should have to refe. TO papers that
are on fle do not know that ii is material.
know that the pressure was continual from the
supervisors aud their friends
q, Can you from memory name any senators
but do not think it is necessary. -. w : .'e
mir. Eaton: will not press Ii, them
It is to be regretted that the cross-ex.
animation OF the distinguished deponent
was not pushed to the point of extortine
from him the names of those several
senators and members of congress" who
made strenuous efforts to have the
| order repealed. The country would like
to know who they were. The order that
excited SO much alarm among the super.
| visors and senators and members of con.
gress was nothing but bureau arrange
ment for detecting the suspected whiskey
frauds-an apparently unimportantroutine
proceeding that members of congress
would never hear of. How did they FIND
it out? What honest business have they
interfering with it. after they did find il
out? The presidents language implies q
singular CONSERVATION as the effect of the
order, and McDonalds brusque dispatch
to the commissioner suggests the same
thing. We can readily understand Nc.
Donald's reasons for disliking it, but why
strenuous efforts were made by prominent
public men" to have 1t recalled is not SC
comprehensive. The natural suggestion
is that those prominent men," these
several senators and members of con
gress" alluded to, were members, or bene
ieiaries Of the whiskey ring. We say this
is the natural suggestion required by the
laws of logic; but We do not mean to init
mate that such was the case. Senator.
and members of congress defiling theil
palms with the fruit of filthy conspiracy
of fraud against the government were to-
shocking picture for the American
people willingly to contemplate Still
there is mystery abons the matter tha
needs explanation. Who were thos,
prominent public mcn" that urged tn,
president to recall the disc greeable order
What was their motive in using suci
strenuous efforts" to secure its with
drawal2