The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-03-30
QUE WASHINGTON LETTER.
Kashinatoa, D. q, March a6.

Ciduc VI blt 6IHFtIc Obatt nave 0ecl-
ded in convention, to support Sena-
tor Conklin for the presidency, in
the Republicans National Convention.
Some of his supporters and admirers
will be surprised to hear that their
sfavoritc will soon be invited to APP
pear before a Committee ofthe House
to answer a few questions regarding
a transaction which was more prof.
table than honorable, if even legal,
to the supercillious Senator. There
is no attempt at .sensatioal N this
paragraph. When the facts are laid
before the country, Conklin will be
universally pronounced unworthy to
occupy q set in the Senate, although
it may be as impossible to punish
him according to his deserts, as it
will be, apparently, to punish Bel
KNAPP. There need be no surprise at
the announcement 1 have just made.
Has not Conklin al. lays been the
friend and confidant of Grant,
Should we he surprised that the annie
iatinie of a file de joie should be
found to be herself unchaste? Would
it not be nearly beyond the possibil-
tiles that she should he otherwise?
BLAINE's STRATEGY (?)
The republicans are growing loud
ly over what they. call Blaine's STRAIT
egg on the bill to prevent the collec-
ton of money for political purposes
from officers and clerks in the SER
vice of the United States. They
would have you believe that Blaine
forced the House to accept his
amendment including members of
Congress, against the will of the ma
iority, and tina. the Democrats were
cleverly outwitted. The facts are
just the reverse. The Republican
party maintains a regular bureau
here for the collection Of money from
government employees, at the head
of which is the notorious Judge Ed
munds, Postmaster of Washington.
He sends letters to every officer in
the country, leyying upon them reg
ular contributions to the machine
not only to officers, but to all those
who are, in any respect, dependant
upon the administration for the po-
sitions they hold. Evans, the post
trader, who paid Marsh $4,000
year for his place, has just testified
that he was "assessedn $500, at one
time, by the Republicans. for party
purposes. and that he sent the mo.
rev to Washington. So extensive
has beeu this system of official black
mail, that hundreds of thousands Of
dollars have been collected. each
year, ostensibly for political purpo-
ses. but If which a large portion has
q n into the pockets of certain e..
yorites in Wasbinoton. either IN the
shape of salaries as secretaries of
Campaign Committees 6c or nc d.
rect stealing.
The democrats were determined to
nut an end to this ahuse if noss;ble
and Mi. Bernard g. Canl6eld of mi.
nois. reported 4 hin from the Honse
Judiciary Committee. on Tuesday
last. makinoit an offence nun;shahie
by fine and Imprisonment. for any
person in the employ of the United
States tn collect or contr;hnte any
money whatever for political nurno.
SEQ The Rennhlicans wara ea,;on.
ly alarmed and M, Hoar ot Mossa.
chusetts. offered an amendment ~
permit the collection of money FIR
the purpose of sending ont nrinted
Campaien documents. Other amend
ments were offered: and il becoming
evident that the Republicans were
anxious to encumber the bill and de-
lay action, Mr.. Caulfeld, who had
charge of the bill, moved the previ-
Gus question, and it was ordered. 1t
then became evident that the bill
would be passed unless something
could be done to kill it. At this mo-
ment, Mr.. Blaine, whose ability as a
manager, and t~ranscedent skill in all
kinds Of parliamentary trickery, are
generally acknowledged, sprang to
the rescue. He asked MI. Caulfeld
to yield to him for a moment, which
was done; but when he proposed to
offer an amendment to the bill, Mr..
Caulfeld declined to Weld further.