The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-24
coNoREssMAN wALKEPs SETTLEMENT
His Interviews with Hewitt and German. and
his Conversation with Morri-sey.

fhfnh'f 10 NE Ntc IOrk NsBs fnr Publication
ALBANY, Aug 23.-The Hon. Charles G. u.
walker OF Corning has recently boon mem
toned by newspapers Of the interior as having
some personal Information regarding the
course Of Mr. Tilden on tho Electoral Commits
sion law. Mr.. Walker was n member Of the
Forty fourth Congress. and voted for the Flee
toral Commission. To day. on being urged he
consented to the publication Of the following
statement:
When tho bill for an electoral commission
first came before the House. said was OPP
posed to 1t, and after the days adjournment
MIR. Hewitt mot me in the cloak room. He said
ind you nre opposed to this law" re-
piled that we did not need any law we could
stand on our rights and the Constitution. and
they could not shake OF our claim. Mr. Hewitt
said, But don't you know they will count
Hayes in ?" / replied that supposed they
would try to, but that would only show up tho
steal the more glarnRly before the people and
l said Let them takc the responsibility Of
that II they dare" But Mr.. Hewitt urged me
to vote for tho bill. Ho said 1t was the
best we could do. and he thought II would
succeed. Ireplied that had no confidence in
IT. but that / was no leader and supposed
must be n follower. SO / promised to vote for
IT, little later while the bill was pending
Col Pclton stopped me at the cast door u the
House Of Representatives. and said: Walker
what do you think about this bll?" Itold him that
l did not think we needed any law and said :
What do you know about III" don't know
anything" Peton replied but our friends say
we had better vote for it," | again said that |
had no confidence In 1t. but that would follow
our leaders
Soon after that met Senator Herman socially.
and when l said TO him that / regretted the
.f.Hts.. Nl.N.
dence in the result. Herman said he thought we
claimed. would agree. They were out Of tho
way Of office. holding their positions for life.
which would be brought before them. replied
a little warmly that they were human and part
e, men ,ho ma 6ern appointed ior prrpose As
prclndlces. | did not believe it,. I knew
Judge in my, district, Republican,
one Of the purcst OF men and one Of my best
friends. yet his political preJudces would make
him decide nj case t2r BIS party before he
shocked and did not know what could have
conndence in IL not in our Judges. and again
assured me they would render an honest de;
clSlon. Then the bill came W in the House and
was passed. l voted for II solely because those
whom supposed represented the views II Mr..
Illdcn said II was best although II was against
some iimen February. when the Commission
had made lis decision III some OF the States, and
Il was clear how the count WAS To- be, was in
Albany and met John Morrssey. then senator.
] think it was day when news Of the decision
IN the case 81 one of the States had just been To-
ccived. for the first words he said TO me were:
| feel sorry for Hewitt. Think great deal Il
him. and Tid"n Is going TO put the RESPONSE
hlltX on nm Oi the passage u this Commission
said that could hardly be 50. for supposed
and represented his views When we first went
Into a eau us. to nominate Speaker | asked
Mr. Hewitt II Kerr Of Indiana was not Mr.. Til
dcn's choice. aud he replied. suppose am
the nearest man 70 Mr. Tilden, ana | never
heard him agitatc the question Of Speaker" SO
supposed he represented his views.
Mr M9Tr,s,Sry TrGped ihat il was true never
responsibility OF tho Commission law on him.
II was no secret. he said. because Mr.. Tildcn
only tho sunday. previous had said So in tho
presence II Morris-ey and two others. and had
said that he WINS opposed 20 the law. II know
," was wrons. continued M1rrisscy. because
t. Bnt S Sw .a ps WA" w we 9 - orf on
The nen.o ,ra'y had asked for tha law and they
asked Nnrr - ) II could toll Hewitt this
nnl use his name. and he said, Yes. cor
0n returning to washineton only day or
two later went TO Nlr Hcwits seat and ioli
him what Morrissoy had suil. Hewitt replied
slnr.g t tho respon-ih. 'Itv hut when told him
TINT lilden claimed - have been oplos,L t. u Q
SURPRISED: " DOES GOV. fiiicn say hat he was
opposed 10 the law | then told him my au-
M%ry, md he said with good dgal Of feeling,
took any position against the law. he only asked
for delay. asked him To take a position A. we
could not delay. ! told him hc must decide on
something and take the responsibility. Tut lie
would not take any position
Mr.; Walker continued his statement by say
INK that when the nlibustering movement was
instituted. all tho clerks about the National
Committee rooms md from Peltons headquar-
ter, came urging members 20 nihustcr and
vote Tor delay for one refused. because, us
said. they had made M Vote for tho lin
tho bargain they had better stick Ia IT, Bigelow
sent letter 10 n"cbe To do anything Tor delay
and Benhe Joined in the nlihuslcring move
ment But when Hewitt, Pelton. and herman
favored the law il is brought pretty near home
to Illden himself