The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-11
The King OF the BOOSTERS.

The King of the BOOSTERS.
Tho WOLFE investigation at Harrisburg
goes on swimmlngly. At every meeting OF
the Committee the probe goes deeper, and
the odor Of corruption becomes more over
whelming. The ghasty attempts Of men,
bers to make 1t appear that their base solicl-
tations Of each other, the earnest appeals TO
come along and "be rooster" and TO go
Ito see KEMBLB." were "only In fun" are
becoming more and more pitiful.
Day after day the melancholy procession
continues-members marching up in squads
to be sworn and examined as 10 whether
they have ever been improperly approached
by KEMDLE, or QUAY, or any Of the army Of
lobbyists who labored under the manage
ment Of these noted chiefs Of tho Ring.
When one OF them swears that no was 80 APP
preached by another member and besought
TO name his price, under solemn assurance
that KEMBLE would pay 1t, the accused
member stands up--for the whole Lcgisla-
ture attends these sessions Of the Commit
tee-and denies first that he ever said It,
and then vehemently declares that 1t was
oil ioko-a peculiar way he had of OK
tracing mirth from the most serious mat
ters Of conversation.
As might have been expected some OF tho
Philadelphia members, who are generally
the cattle OF the Ring, and answer TO drover
KEMDLE's whip, do not appear to great ad-
vantage under the fierce light OF Mr..
WoLFE's investigation. On Thursday night
the victim was one CLARKE OF that ilk. He
testified on his own original exami-
nation that no was one OF the
purest fellows alive, and knew Of
nothing bad going on around there; and In
answer TO particular questions, he emphat-
ically insisted that he never told FOSTER Of
Lehigh or anybody else that there was
money to DO made by voting for the steal.
But when the Committee got through the
DIS and the Fs, and came TO the aforesaid
FOSTER OF Lehigh, there was a dreadful dis
charge Of small shot into the flock OF iiut-
tering ROSTERS, and this Mr.. CLARKE APP
pearcd TO be hit.
FOSTER is a short stout, choleric German,
and went straight to the marrow Of things.
CLARKE he said, had urged him to vote for
the steal, and told him there was $500 In II
for him. FOSTER marked the bill on his file,
and examined 1t carefully, whether with
view to the $500 or not he didn't say; but he
found 80 many snakes in it" that
he could really have nothing to do
with II. He was introduced to the
seasoned ROSTERS, bedevilled and worried
by tho agents OF the Ring; and in short,
said FOSTER, "they followed me about like
set of hounds following deer" He was
told that they-the company and the zoos
ters-had had a special meeting in Phil
adelphla and had agreed 70 raise the price
to $500 per vote; but FOSTER had lively Wis.,
ions Of the serpents' den before his legislative
eyes and declined TO venture in. At last
they seem to have concluded that FOSTER
was tough, although promising subject,
and concluded to bring him into contact
with the master mind-with Mr.. KEMBLE
himself.
FOSTER went readily, for he said he was
possessed OF strong curiosity to see the
King Of the Boosters" as no lrreverently
described this renowned leader Of the Re
publican party In Pennsylvania. When he
entered the presence chamber at the Brady
House, conducted by trusty runner
FOSTER says the King Of the BOOSTERS
took an attitude and surveyed him from
head to foot rs II he intended to shake his
resolution by the tcrrors OF the royal coun-
tenance. Then, after an effective pause, the
King demanded In terrible voice: How
are you on bill 1903 2" that being the legisls-
tive designation Of the steal In hand.
FOSTER said, in subdued and humble tone,
we presume, that he could not vote
for 1t, because 1t violated the Con-
stituton. Mr.. KENDLE told him that
II he entertained scruples Of that
., 10 iii L.
him. In reply FOSTER reminded him that
SAM JosEPHs, when engaged in the same
business and for the same parties, used to
make big promises, which were not always
followed by the cash. and he mildly
lnsinuated that perhaps Mr. KENBLE
might DO a bird Of like feather,
seeing that they were all ROSTERS to-
gether. "Oh," said his Majesty, II you
doubt about getting the money, you can
have $1,000 right away" Then FOSTER came
out In his true colors. Tile bearded the King,
as it were, on his throne, and dehed the
great rooster on his dunghill. He told him
he was Democrat, and therefore could not
sell his vote When the Democrats went into
that business with the freedom OF tho Re
publcans, he imagined the people would
be able to see no difference between the two
parties. He insisted also that he really had
a sincere respect for the Constitution which
he had sworn to support, and could not be in
duced to violate his oath-at all events not
for 81 900.
Then Mr.. FOSTER turned upon his heel,
and left the king Of The BOOSTERS" to his
reflections.
The Work OF EvangelizatiOn and It's