New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-30
THE WARFARE ON FRAUD.
IMMIGRATION AT Mr.. KEY.
tuE INDIGNATION NATURALLY CONFINED TO

The Democrats in Washington with rarely
nm exception condemn Mr.. Key for his auuitSs
70 the South. They will probably read MN
ont of the marty. The Potter COMMITTEE held
sooro+ meeting Yesterday. Mr. sherman
,,oo,,oe+ for counsel was refused, and
- ros resolved that the investigation
sbonld he secret. 1t is believed that the frauds
70 he investigated will only be those which
the Democrats think they can make party
capital ont of and that the proceedings will
be high handed and purely partisan.
NOT A PUBLIC INVESTIGATION.
ME PoTrER's COMMITTEE DECIDES IN FAVOR or
CLOSED DOORS AND SECRET EXPEDITIONS TO
THE SOUTH
10y TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, May 2o.-Owing to the desire of
the Democratic members Of the Potter Committee
to be present in the House to-day and to vote in
accordance with the caucus OF last night
upon the question of final adjournment, the meeting
Of that committee did not take place until late this
afternoon. For two or three days past tie Dem
Ocratlc members have been i'm consultation regard
TO the course 10 be pursued, but this afternoon the
Republican members We're admitted to the dcbcTa-
lions Of the committee The meeting of to-day, SO
far as it went, was simply for the purpose Of record
inc the decisions which the Democrats have reached
in regard 10 several subjects.
From what can be learned among Democrats it
appears that upon examining the testimony which,
in detached portions has been used from time To
time throughout the session for the purpose of fore
ing an INVESTIGATION of electoral matters the teSi
mony has been found to fall far short of what the
public Will deem proper basis for as grave pro
ceeding as this investigation involves 1t is known
that some members on the Democratic side regard
the evidence which it was promised to them should
prove Of character to startlc the country, being
little less than worthless for two reasons: first, its
lncOmpctcucss, and secondly, by the utterly I'M
trustworthy character of the men upon
whose testimony the statements rest. y
prominent Democrat to-day characterized the
mass of this material as a collection Of statements
of lot of lOw-prccd detectives, and said that the
danger to the Democrats was that no one OF them
could be depend cd upon to swear to statement, he
had already made. lie SAID that the public would
be disguised with all of them should their chalac-
tiers become known, and that their known want of
standing would react severely upon the Democracy.
1t is also true that the Very men VINO have been
prominent in forcing this investigation are now
equally active in compelling the Democratic MEM
bers to conduct the Investigation III secret and
their main aniety appears to be to conceal their lack
of solid evidence upon which 10 base an lnvcstl-
CATION such as has been ordered.
Upon meeting to-day the Strctest injunction OF
secresy was placed upon all the proceedings. and
the Republican members seem to have acquIcsccd
IN this
The application for counsel in behalf OF Secretary
Sherman was the subject of heated discussion. The
request is understood to have been refused.
The Democrats who appear TO he in the confidence
of the committee, authority for the statement
that il was also virtually decided TO hold the invcSi-
cation in secret. The purpose of this Is very well
In ,.,rf q Z b,
managers that to expose their witnesses to the
knowledge of the press or the character of their
testimony. would be utterly to destroy the Demo
cratic case in the minds of the public most of
the witnesses are men who have heretofore been
thoroughly discredited, either by Democratic
committees of investigation which sat in Louisiana
and Florida or by the previous testimony
of the witnesses themselves. Even the
chairman of the committee himself Is
understood to hold that the Investigation could not
,tand the free criticism of the Republican press,
and that this understood to be the chief obJec-
ton among Democrats to holding open sessions.
II Is understood that il further decided to-
Lav TO send Subcommittee to Louisiana Of winch
MI McNiaLon, of Ohio. viii Dc chairman, unless be
thall refuse 10 20. and TO send subcommittee To
Florida of which Mr.. Potter himself may be char
man. In case Mr.. Potter should 20 TO Florida, Nj.
Morrison, of Illinois, would probably remain a.
chairman of the small portion of the committee left
here. it is not expected that any general mycatlga-
ton will take place for the present in Washington
The intention appears to be to have these sub-c"in-
lpttees sit with closed doors in the South, and 1t II
the hope of the Democrats that in tins way they
will be enabled TO keep from the public the
character Of the witnesses and bring back their per
juries. forgeries and manufactured documents 10
Washington where ii will be impossible for the
press 10 ascertain and expose Their real character
until they have created their first impression upon
the country.
Every indication which can be obtained points 10
the committee pursuing the same hlgL-habdrd
measures which were adopted III forcing the res
OlutiOn for iuvcsti CATION upon the House. IL
Is understood that the Potter letter, winch
was written for the purpose OF attempt
ing TO quiet general apprehension III the
country, was submitted to the Democratic
members OF his committee before being published
and received Their approval a. a prudential docu-
ment In spite, however, of this declaration every
movement on the part of his committee contradIctS
the position which hC assumed, ana points 10 most
unfair investigation, and one III which no means
will be considered improper which Will tend 10
bring about the result aimed at which Is 10 collect
a lot of manufactured testimony with which to as
call the title of the President.
MR.. KEYS LETTER A SENSATION.