The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-06-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The work Of the Week by the Potter
Committee.

Correspondence OF the Register.
WAsHINGToN, June 8.
The first week Of the Presidential
fraud inquiry closes on a measure OF
successful probing not expected by the
most sanguine. The Democrats of the
committee say that they had no idea Of
making such rapid progress and they
had no idea that there was so much
material to be got at so easily. Whist
has been a matter Of suspicion based on
loose reports and vague allegations is
now an established fact resting on the
firm ground work Of documentary evi-
dence. Thus far there has been nothing
TO convict Hayes except by inference,
which creates the suspicion that he could
not have been ignorant of the character
of the men and methods used in his be.
half, and this belief is strengthened by
the fact that Hayes has left very few of
the actors in those scenes unprovided for.
Whether Justly or not, the course which
Hayes has pursued has the appearance OF
persistent effort TO close the mouths OF
witnesses, and is so construed. Tue let.
ters from and to James 4. Anderson
seem to show that everybody connected
with the administration would have
profted by giving him place which he
thought equal TO his deserts. Stanley
Matthews and Sherman would be in
much better odor to-day if they had kept
faith with the man who was their tool.
They have become heavy loads to carry
and there are signs Of determination to
throw them overheard in the hope of
saving the party. Republicans reccg-
nize that the party is being put in bad
shape, ard will not hesitate to sacrifice ss
many leaders as may be necessary.
Whether the country will accept the sac
riflce rs atonement for the psrty's sins Is
quite another matter Matthews has
hurt himself with his party by his cow
ardice. Instead of facing the music as
Anderson talked about making him do,
Matthews shields himself behind what he
concelves to be his privilege as Senator
and wants TO know what the committee
is going to do about it. The Senate
committee which he has had appointed to
investigate him is as strong and fine
thing OF the kind as he could ask. With
such unyielding and blind psrtzsns as
Edmunds, Allison, Howe and Ingalls,
looking for misdemeanOr, the probablli-
ties for any great or startling discoveries
in that line are not great. But COM
mittee Of this KIND Will do we'll enough
TO run along on until Spencer's resolution
of universal investigation shall have
passed and become operative.
Ferry's examination by Potter's Com
mitiee yesterday, was necessary to the
case, and develo ed rs much rs the Com
mittee expected, although there were no
great revelations nor dramatic situations
IN it. Ferry was very cool and careful IN
mis- answers, and he really didn't mean
to tell anything to hlrt his party, for Mr.
Ferry is strong party man; what he did
quite unconsclously, was to add another
INK to the chain of Levissee's evidence
and convince everybody that the for ged
certificate was known to the Republicans
on the Electoral Commission, and that
the forgery must have been incited by
men who held the destiny of the Repub-
lican party In their hands. 1t seems also
that Gen. Garfield recently became un-
easy and went rummsging through some
waste paper in the Senate cellar to see if
he could not patch up some discrepancies,
but without success.
Anderson is expected on the stand
again tomorrow, and he says he will
make the White House shake" this time.