Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-27
IPiTKIN,S TALE.


Marshal Pitkin thought to elude the cross
questioning of the Potter committee by To-
ducing his statement of events in Louis
lana with which he was connected to writ
ing. His story bears evidence of careful
preparation. So far as it relates to Ander-
son it does not materially differ as to facts
from the testimony of that gentleman him.
self-or at least the differences are only
such as would be likely to appear from the
statements Of any two men relating the
same occurrences, but actuated by entirely
different motives. Anderson's statement
embodied the facts as he understood them;
Pitkin's is his understanding of the same
facts. In the main they do not differ. The
discrepancies occur as to facts or impress
sions regarding which the Judgment OF one
or the other was likely to be warped by
personal or political bias. All men do not
view the same facts through the same spec
tacles, nor do they arrive at the same con-
illusions from the same premises. 1t is,
therefore, no jmputation upon their honesty
that they disagree. A close inspection of
the evidence of Marshal Pitkin, shows that
in the main it agrees with Anderson's.
The questioning of the members of the
committee developed the fact that Pitkin,
like nearly all the Louisianians thus far
heard from, was trading on the correspond
ence in the possession of Anderson.
Although he declares that he distrusted the
man, and now asserts that he did not believe
the letters were genuine, or, if genuine, that
they compromised the writer's, he took the
trouble to procure their submission to his
friends and counsel, Butler and Conkling,
and even paid Anderson's expenses to Wash
ington to secure his aid. That the letters
had some influence in retaining him in his
present position he tacitly admits. There is
a singular incongruity in this part of his
testimony.
Pitkin's confession as to his conduct in
connection with the Louisiana returns does
him no credit. He admits that he did all in
his power to obstruct the work of the House
committee that visited New Orleans to in
quire into the alleged frauds, and paliates
his conduct by the lame excuse that sit was
rather partisan battle, and he preferred to
ha We the papers before his political friends"
Thus he confesses to grave offense COM
mitted for partisan ends.
AS to Anderson's statement that the aft
davit of intimidation prepared by Judge
Campbell was left blank in several places,
Pitkin's memory IS conveniently defective.
He is not prepared to deny the fact, and it is
very evident he would not hesitate to do so
if he was not positive to the contrary. He
is also conveniently ignorant of the borrow
ing of $4,000 from the Union National
bank of Chicago, which was used ultimately
for purposes of bribery, but as this has been
established by no less an authority than that
Of the man who borrowed 1.-THE Hon.
Charles B. Farwell-Pitkin's loss of memory
is of no account.
Although Pitkin's crookedness is perhaps
less in degree than that of the majority of
the Louisiana politicians thus far brought to
light, it is yet suggestive of tho universally
of corruption in the affairs of that State.
None seem to have escaped that contagion
Some may be more thoroughly saturated
with filth than others, but all are more or
Less infected. 1t develops more than ever
the pressing necessity for thorough cleans
ing of the federal Offices there. Only a
sweeping change which shall obliterate all
vestiges of the present ring, will save the adj
ministration from the accusation of COM
plicity with the devious doings there that
have brought such deep disgrace upon the
4