The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-07-13
THE SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION

LII DAA AA4b44A1 LIN LIZ
The facts brought out by the commit
tee of investigation on alleged frauds in
the Senatorial election held in Salem
last fall have been the theme Of COM
ment and speculation during the past
ten days. Not only in this city and
State does the monstrous uDearthing of
the methods employed by the unscrupu-
lous to get political and personal pets
into the United States Senate excite at
tention, but the country at large is an
interested listener, and popular senti-
ment faithful commentator.
If circumstantial evidence is strong
enough to support charge of fraud-as
it is frequently to support charge of
murder-then the charge in the case un-
dergoing investigation is already amply
supported, the absence of the witnesses
most earnestly desired being in itself as
strong presumptive proof as could well
be furnished. 1t is stated by at least
two witnesses, both of whom are Dem
ocrats, that a certain member from
Wasco, Mosier by name, had just previ-
Gus to the Senatorial election made the
declaration that there was money in the
business; that there were three votes
wanting for the election of MI. Grover,
and that he knew where the money,
$1,000, could be had to pay for them;
that he had been burnt out last fall, and
times were hard, and thousand dollars
would be a mighty good thing, and that
verybody said he was foolish for not
taking it. Added to these statements is
the significant fact that, while in the
outset he was a Nesmith man, on the
final ballot his vote is recorded for
Grover. This PERSONS presence has
been earnestly desired by the commit
tee, but their urgent and repeated sum-
mons have failed to penetrate the noun
tain retreat to which it is said f'the gen.
tleman from Wasco" has betaken him
self to escape the discomforts of the
cheated term"
If Mr.. Grover desires a thorough in
vestigation, one that will remove the
attainder from his name, already darkly
clouded by his participation in the Ore
gon electoral fraud, he will not leave q
stone unturned to find the mountain
loving member from Wasco, who last
fall thought thousand dollars such a
mighty good thing" Unless this wit
ness is produced and straightens out
these crooked paths and makes plain the
dark places in his legislative record,
there can scarcely be two opinions about
the matter of the fraud charged upon
Mr.. Grover and his friends in securing
that gentleman's election to the United
States Senate, and for all future popular
and political purposes it were better fol
him that "a milestone were hanged
about his neck and he be drowned in
the depths of the sea-"
There is a certain class who wax ex-
tremeIy eloquent and indignant over
the fact that in former Senatorial elec-
tions rumors of the corrupt use of money
have been rife and "no fuss made about
it." These were but rumors taking nc
definite shape, and whether true oil
false, have no bearing whatever upon
the present case. 1t is presumable, al
least, that they were without founda.
tion, as partisan bitterness was at high
tide just after the election of Mr.. Mitch
ell, and it is hardly to be supposed thai
his opponents would have let so capita
a chance for unseating him pass by un
improved.
If this investigation does nothing
further, it will teach a wholesome les
son to the "venal crew who scheme anC
plan," lowering about the outskirts o
the States council chambers hagglinl
with impecunious Legislators about th,
price of vote; and the chances of tn,
peoples representatives ~ returning t,
their constituency clean-handed will b.
greatly enhanced. It will further caus
the people-if, indeed, the handful O
wire-pullers who "make up the slate
in and before the meeting of the prima
AACS N1b NC JhSbAJ 90 tHO BSO
ple-to look for honor and integrity, in
stead of party sycophancy aud subservi
ence in selecting men who are to as
sumo the responsible position of legisla
tors. And while we, for the credit c
our State abroad, deplore the unearth
ing of political iniquity now takin
place, we are glad, on account of th
wholesome check that it will put upo
political stock-jobbing at home, tha
these things are being brought to tn
light, and while we ardently hope tha
no shadow of injustice may cloud an
persons name or fame, we join all goo
citizens in the hope that 'justice ma
be done, though the heavens fall"
THE INDIAN WAR.
NaWs from the spene of Idaho India