The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-05-04
THE BLAINE SCANDAL.
Another Statement from John G. S.
Harrison.

CINCINNATI, April 2o.-Ihe Gazette
tomorrow morning will publish an in
terview with Mr.. John c. S. Harrison OF
indianapolis. Mr.. Harrison makes the
following statement;
At the September, 1872, meeting OF the
Board of Directors of the Union Pacific
r. r. at which was present, the Presl
dent of the Board, Mr. Horace F Clark,
called the attention of the directors to
letter frcm the President of the Fort
Smith and Little Rock land grant rail-
road with reference to some bonds OF that
road held by the Union Pacific Company.
Desiring to know something more about
these bonds, made motion to appoint
a committee of three to investigate and
report before the adjournment of the
Board as to how they came into its pos
session and all matters connected ther =
with. Thereupon, E. H. Rollins, the
Secretary, took me to one side and toid
me that must withdraw that motion, for
an investigation of the pond transaction
would involve James G. Blaine. He
said the fall elections were near at hand,
and Blaine was a candidate for re-elec-
ton to Congress in Maine. An exposure
of the transaction Just at that time would
be sure to defeat him. With that with.
drew the motion.
Subsequently, | took H. Millard, OF
Omaha, who was and still remains gov
ernment director TO Mr.. Rollins, and in
his presence asked Rollins If understood
him correctly in relation TO the bond
transaction involving Mr.. Blaine. He
repeated that did, and that an investl-
CATION would be sure to
KILL Mr.. BLAINE
at the approaching election. After wards,
when the lnvestlg gatlng Committee, OF
which jeremiah Nj. Wilson was chairman
was in session, and Z. H. Rollins was
on the stand, | telegraphed to Wilson 10
ask the witness certain questions in re-
gard to the TT. Smith and Little Rock
bonds, but on nouclng the daily reports
of the committee afterwards, saw that
no such questions were asked. On the
sd of February, 1873, wrote 10 Wilson,
Chairman of the Committee more fuzzy
about the matter, detailing the facts that
| have just stated, bu' | dId not mention
Blaine's name. stated that the tran
saction implicated prominent member
of the Republican party. That letter
was copied into my regular letter book
at Indianapolis and Can be referred TO at
any time. | never received any answer
to the latter to Wilson, but on the 26,h
of February, just twenty three day latter,
Mr.. Delano, Secretary of the Interior,
wrote letter to prominent Republican
official, saying it was deemed best, on
the part Of the government, 10 change
the entire Board Of Directors OF the
Union Pacific Railroad, and that he there
fore proposed TO appoint some one from
Indiana in the place of {. 5. Harrison.
This proposition OF Delano met with such
strong opposition that it was abandoned
and none of the directors were removed.
We were engaged at that time in making
an active fight against the Wyoming
Coal company which was swindnng the
Union Pacific out of $500. 900 or 5000, ,ooo
4 year. Ifthe Committee want tnat let
er of Delano's they can find copy of it
n the Interior Department. Bear In
nlnd, that this acton on my part as gov
,rnment director and the correspondence
o which have referred and the effort on
he part Of Secretary Delano to have me
emoved froIn the Board Of Directors, oc
;urred in 1872 and early IN 1873, just
lbout the time of the reelection OF Presi-
lent Grant and when neither Mr.. Blaine
Tor any other man was spoken ofin con-
lection with the presidency in 1876. 1t !