The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-08
PEL7ON'S VINDICA7ION.
The True lnwardnsss Of the Oregon Bust
ness at Last Revealed.
No Republican Elec'or Sought To Be
Bought
kilograms Which Are Not Remembered and
We're Entirely Unauthorized.

has inspired many Of the democrats Will not d.
minsh the interest In authoritative utterance on tho
subject from Mr. Tiden, or his nephew, Mr. Potion In
the following interview with Mr. Pelton there will be
found material points which brought to
the surface by tho examination OF Mr.. Peton before
the Senate Committee Privileges and Elections
Mr.. Pelton not only denies that any attempt
made authorized 10 be made to buy up republican
eector. but what is still more he emphatcaIly de.
cares that such proposal would have been indig.
nanlly spurned Mr. Peton expressed this
sentiment with flush OF dignation and
an emphasis Of and manner which gave eloquent
proof OF its sincerity rather strong point regard
to tho alleged attempt of the democrats to buy up a
republican elector IN oregon made by Mr. Pelton
when he recalled the fact that all OF tho three repub
lican electors before tho Senate Committee and
none of thcm had pretended TO have been approached
with an offer OF money
The interview took place at the rooms OF the Demo-
cratic National Committee, No. 80 Liberty street, which
seemed strangely silent and gloomy after the lively
hustle and hopeful activity o, tho recent campaign
The pictures OF "unce Sam, the Ring Breaker repre-
senting the democratic candidate encircled by ring
which he is about shivering into atoms, and other
beautiful pictorial campaign relics still smile from
tho wallis Tho rooms are soon to be given up by tho
committee useless
"he foow wing is tho ntcrview:-
THE USE OF DEMOCRATIC MONEY IN OREGON.
kEroRrER-what is the truth regarding the state
ment that money used by the Democratic Com.
mittce in Oregon?
Mr. PELroN-There is no truth In 1t whatsoever
There understanding with Cronin that his
expenses should DO paid until long after the Governor
had decided to award him tho certificate. great hue
and cry have been raised about the OF money but
matter OF fact there Ia no evidence before tho
Senate Committee to show that any money was paid
intended to be paid except the which Cronin
demanded for his expenses, So, 900 to firm OF San
Francisco lawyers for arguing Croniu's case and some
5000 or $500 for minor expenses In scnding messen-
gers to different parts Of the State Not cent was
used influence the result In Oregon or to buy up
republican eector.
REroKrER-what about the Portland despatch signed
up republican eector is an nouncedY
Mr. PELrox--I saw the despatch. II one OF
the republican electors was approached with hint or
an ntimation of bribe don't you suppose that no
would have come forward to state the actP All the
republican electors examined before the Senate
committee and If they had had anything say about
attempt of the democrats bribe them or buy them
up don't you believe the statement would havo been
very promptly given to tho WORLDLY
REPoRrER-Was the money paid TO Cronin and TO
the lawyers sent from hereg
As matter Of tact not cent OF money sent from
here. Credits were opened Tor contingent expenses
which might arise in the legal struggle which was
expected TO come of before tho Oregon courts but
they were never used. This is point wish bring
with particular emphasis before the peoplethat no
money was used except for legitimate purposes and
even that was raised IN oregon by the democrats and
not sent by US.
| REronrER-what about Cronins so, 900 feoY
Mr. PELToS-The point about Cronin's fee 10 this
That he made this demand only after the Governor had
decided to issue the certificate to him, and repre-
scnting TO the Oregon democrats that he had very
important and lucrative cases TO argue and he
could not afford 10 lose his timo unless he WAS COM
THE rRuE iSwARpNEss or THE DISPATCHES
REroKrER-Were the kilograms correctly deciphcrcd
| by the Senate Comm,teey
Mr. PELroS-Thcy were not, and repeat what |
stated before the senate Committee that do not
recognize many Of them at all The dispatches sup
posed TO have come ffOm me had signal urcs and
| there IS no proof TO show that sent them.
REPoRrER-Were not The originals produced before
DO shown?
Mr. PELroS-Oh, the matter WINS very carelcssly
Transacted the committee had copies originals in
. confused state. They only had few originals, and
II was attempted to be shown that they wero in my
handwriting, but before the committee had done WIT n
the subject IT was very clearly that they were
not Ia my handwriting.
REPoRrER--How about tho dispatches addressed
| to you IN Gramcrcy Parks
Mr.. FELToX-They were delivered during the day at
the Liberty street Office, ana at night at the Everett
House. accordance with special instructions Lett at
the telegraph Offices, even Enough addressed mo at
Gramercy PARK.
! REroRrKR--why were they adore sscd to Gramcrcy
Park?
Mir. PELroS-I am glad you have asked that qucs.
ton for desire II to be distinctly understood
| body had any instructions TO address dispatches TO
Gramercy Park. On the part Of the republicans some
invidious nlerences have been attemp pied drawn
from the fact that the dispatches were addressed
Mr.. Ti!den's residence, and, as matter OF JUSTICE
should DO stated that oDody had any instructions or
| authority to send them there
REPoRrER-And as a matter OF fact these particular
dispatches not delivered at Gramcrcy
| PARK?
| Mr. PELrox-Dccidedly not They were opened and
read like all other OF the thousands OF our campaign
dispatches by ~hoever OF The various members tho
| committee and other persons happened to be IN
charge OF Offices in Liberty street tue Everett
House at the time they were received, aud whenever
answers were required the persons receiving them
would send the reply ut once. There was SPECIAL
understanding about these oregon dispatches and they
were IN way treated differently from tho mass OF
our ordinary campaign kilograms.
REroRTER--Do you remember receiving and reading
| these oregon dispatches
Mr.. PELroS-l cannot distinguish them in my rcco-
lection from the thousands o other dcspac which
read during the campaign. All can say this point
ton by telegraph from Oregon that money needed
tor the necessary expenses IN contestng the claim
OF Watts the ineligible clcctor the courts, and
the de mocratic committee Of oregon poor to
extend TINS pecunlary AID. Scuator Kelly aud Mr.
Belhnger the chairman OF tho oregon c CON-
mtec both testified before the Senate conmiilcc that
their rst rcQustion FOR these purposes with
REFUSAL and this concurs with my recollection OF
! the SUBJECT.
NO UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN GROVER rLDEN.
| REpoRrgR--Wh hat about the ''Gobplc" despuichr
| Mr PELToN-Ihc republicans have scdulousiy sought
to draw inference from this despatch that Governor
Grover, OF oregon informed Mr. Tidcn IN advance OF
his decislo ION that he would award the certiicac To
Cronin and that the Cronin decision was therefore
prcconccived arrangement Now, the TACT is that Mr.
Iden never saw OF knew OF this telegram, and Gov
Grover states definitely that he sent that
despatch, nor did he ever send cipher telegram in
all ms life. As far Us my own recollection is con-
ccrned. a despatch signed "Gobble" was about one
OF Offices, but being anonymous II was decided to
be Of no consideration aud nobody paid any attention
| to
! REroRrER-Was there any understanding or ar.
rangcInebt with Governor Grovcr2
Mr. PELToy--None whatever. Governor Grover had
been supplied with the best legal opinion and advice
subject OF the ineigbity OF Postmaster Watts
| Tho OPINIONS and legal authorities received IRON
Judge Hoadlcy and othcr eminent lawyers had been
tcegrapbcd TO HIM Tor his guidance. but that was all