Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-13
THE PREsIDENTIAL ELECTION.


The select committee of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes to investigate the alleged frauds in
LOUISIANA and Florida, began their labors on
the ISL lnst Inc committee sat with open
doors, Messrs. Wilson and Shellabarger ap-
peared as counsel for Secretary Sherman.
The subcommittee to visit Florida was an
nonnced to consist of Hunter, Springer and
Hlseock. Louis e. Anderson was first called
to testify. At the time of the election ht
was supervisor of the election returns
for the parish of East Feliciana, Louisiana.
He testified at length in regard to transactions
IN the parish, and interviews with certain par
ties, and in regard TO an attempt to get him to
enter hottest against the returns by reason
OF intimidation having been used. In re-
ply 10 Marshal Pitkin he said intimidation
had been used, but he did not know whether
1t had been practiced by Democrats or Re-
publicans, and that consequently he was not
prepared to make protest. He subsequently
entered protest and testified as to various
attempts TO have him change and make said
protest stronger. He gave the substance of an
interview between himself and D. A. Weber,
supervisor OF election returns in West Fell
ciana and John Sherman. Mr.. Sherman re-
marked there is crisis in which not only
louisiana but the whole country is involved
and 1t is a time when we expect and want
every Republican and every true patriot to
stand byus. Now Ihope you, gentlemen, are
going to do that thing" Mr.. Weber replied
that he and Anderson had already done more
than the circumstances of the case would
warrant, and great deal more than safety
would warrant, in that if Packard became Gov
ernOr there was no possibility of their getting
anything under the United States Government.
Mr.. Sherman assured the witness Mr. Weber,
that no danger lay in that direction, what the
Republican party had not been in the habit of
forgetting men who stood by it in the hour of
peril. "Mr. Sherman" said the witness,
"raised his left hand and said,' "that want
to say to you is, that if you gentlemen, stand
firm in this matter, and let it run as it is you
will find no cause to regret it." Subsequent
| ly the witness wanted Sherman's verbal dec
| loratfons and assurances in "black and
white" and accordingly he and Weber Jointly
addressed the following letter to
MR.. SHERMAN: -.-.t .f.
"SIR We have carefully considered the
rangements advanced by you in our inter-
view. Your assurance that We shall be taken
care of, scarcely specific enough. In case we
pursue the course suggested by you, we
would be obliged to leave the State. Will
you, therefore, state in writing who we shall
| look to for the fulfllment of these promises.
Respectfully, as va E@I 500,
(Signed.) D. A. WEBER, ....r
+. JAMES d. ANDERSON.
To Hon. JnO. Sherman. 1..r- fa.59c
! Mr.. Mcmahon proposed to put in evidence
copy of Sherman's letter in reply. After
strong discussion as to whether the copy of
Mr.. Sherman's letter could be read and put
in evidence, Mr.. Cutler offered the following
resolution, which was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the paper identified by the
witness be read, but not read nor given to the
public until Mr.. Secretary Sherman may be
forthwith called and the paper shown and he
asked if he admits it to be copy of any letter
| written by him. -
Mr.. Sherman being notified of this pro-
ceeding, and invited to appear, did appear in
response to such invitation, when the follow
1 ing took place:
The chairman to Secretary Sherman: Jas
E. Anderson, the witness testifying before the
committee this morning, stated that he had
received from the hands of d. A. Weber a let
ter purporting to be signed by you, of which
now show you copy. Will you now state
to the committee whether you ever wrote
such letter?
Mr.. Sherman after an inspection of the pa
per handed him replied: / can only say this
that believe upon my responsibility and the
oath have taken, never wrote such letter
have no recollection of ever writing such 6
letter. If this letter was written it must have
been, if am not mistaken about dates, on the
day when the returning officers first com
menced to open the returns. l think 1T was
on the GOTH At that time knew but little
about the transaction. The papers had MOI
been opened. do not believe | ever wrote
that letter. At the same time there are things
in this letter that l would have written tx
these, or any other men who were engaged il
the performance of what believed to be thei
duty, if had been asked, but do not belieyt
] wrote that letter.
THE LETTER.
! New ORLEANS, Nov. 20, 1S76-Messrs. d. A
| Weber and James E. Anderson: Gentlemen
Your note of even date has just been received
Neither Mr.. Hayes, myself, the gentlemen VIII
accompany me, or the country at large cal
ever forget the obligations under which vol
will have placed us should you stand firm il
: the position you have taken. From a lony
and intimate acquaintance with Gov. Hayes
4 am justified in assuming responsibility for tn
4 promises made, and will guarantee you will b
provided for as soon after the 4th of March q
may be practicable, and in such manners as vii
enable you both toleave Louisiana should yo1
deem it necessary. Very truly yours,
JOHN SHERMAN,
The examination of Anderson was resumed
} and much correspondence was put in eyi
J dence, including several letters that passed be
tween him and Stanley Matthews, pertaining
to Anderson's claim upon the administra
! ton for some lucrative appointment develop
ing the fact that though Matthews recog
J nized such claim as legitimate, Anderson
expectations were not realized, and that h
} finally turned with scorn on Matthews an
J the administration, saying in his letter t
Matthews of June %, 1877, II have nothin
further to ask at your hands, or OF the monu
mental fraud who occupies the White House
&C."
A Washington Telegram Of June End state
, that the evidence given on the LIST inst, wa
the absorbing theme of conversation in Wash
ington political circles, and gave rise to CON
ments that sound in accordance with diver
gent political predictions. The committee 9
the instance of its representative members ha
subpenaed Judge Campbell now q member {
the Dakota supreme court, but formerly iudg
of the fourth district court of Louisiana. 1t
claimed that he will testify that AndersO
made oath before him to the protest which HI
Anderson, Yesterday denied having sworn Il
Elk Marshall Pitkin has also been summone
as witness in rebuttal of certain portions {
Andersons testimony. Anderson is at preser
one of the editors of the Philadelphia Mort
. american.
TUESDAY, June 4,-The second sessio
| of the investigating committee was held t.
day and Anderson was again on the stand fl
cross examination. An effort was made
| show discrepancies between his testimony O
the LIST, and his evidence before the Senai
{ investigating committee last winter. He sal
that he gave testimony only on one side
the question before the Senate committee an
, suppressed the other on the ground that
, was carrying out his contract with Sherman
He admitted that he purposely misled til
: committee while testifying under oath CLAIM
, ing that he had different thing in his ow
: mind from that which he gave the commi
/. tee
{ WEDNESDAY, June 5.-Anderson's eros
e examination was still continued and WI
I principally devoted to copy of the Weber
! Anderson agreement. This agreement W,
sen. to Stanley Matthews and the documel
g produced by the committee Anderson elaine
was not his handwriting but a counterfe
: thereof He claimed that fhe original had tW
Y red ink spots which the paper produced d
. not have. He swore that Pitkin promise
IS him that he should be taken care of if
s stood by the Republicans. Stanley Matthew