New-York tribune., 1879-12-08
THE CONSPIRACY IN MAINE.
THE SCHEME A FAR-REAcHING ONE.

The Hon. F. A. Pike, who is at Augusta,
Me- as one of the Republican Advisory Com
mittec. has made to reporter a full state
ment of the facts concerning the Demo-
cratic plot to capture that State by fraud.
lie says that there was no bribery
by the Republicans in the election, and that
the whole conduct of the Governor and COun-
Gil is suspicious. If the Democrats are given
control Of the Legislature they can alter the
law about Presidential electors, and possibly
CAPTURE the electoral vote of Maine in 1880.
THE TALK WITH MR.. PIKE.
SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR OF THE DEMoCRATs-REPUB-
LICAN EXPENDITURES IN THE cAMPAiGN-No
BRfBERI-GAMBLING FOR TBE PRESIDENCY.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Dec. THE hennebcc journal to-
morrow morning will publish the following:
The Hon. Frederic A. Pike. member of the Re-
pubIcan Advisory Committee for the pending crisis.
and also one Of the counsel in the mandamus case,
has been i'll the city for several days. giving close
attention TO the situation in all its phases. He was
waited upon Saturday by reporter Of The KenneJec
Journal aud gave his views at length, without re-
luctance or Reserve.
Reporter-IIave you applied personally TO see the
election returns of Senators and Representatives
from your county
Mr.. Pike-No; not in person. ! am here as ad-
visory counsel TO those who have applied. The APP
p.lcation has been made by Senator Harris, of my
county, in person, by his immediate attorney. Mr..
Heath. and. indeed, by many others, and made IN
every form, and always cvaded or refused An ap-
plcatiOn is now pending before the Council asking
them to name any day or hour when We can see the
returns. But have faith that we shall get
sight of them.
RepOrter-What, in your Judgment Is the motive
OF refusing to show the returnsf
N.n. hoo orxra1
hy the Council and charged by the Republicans.
Councillor Foster says the purpose of the Council is
TO guard the returns against any possibility of be-
ing tampcred with by the "rabbe," he Is pleased
TO term the few innocent Senators and Representa-
tves-elect and their attorneys who have applied to
see them. Mr.. Foster further said that If these
Senators and Representatives saw the returns they
might change the records at homo and then come
and wish TO change the returns here TO correspond.
Reportcr-Do you think this was the real motive
of the Council as thus expressed by Mr.. Foster
Mr. Pike-HOw could II be the real motive when,
as soon as the hint was thrown out by Mr.. Foster,
the Republican Senators and Representatives pro-
cured certified copies of the recoris, and came 10
the door of the Council Chamber with them, and
asked TO compare them with the returns, thus
promptly and voluntarily and unanimously putting
il out of their power TO change the records. But
when they had done this the refusal to exhibit the
only repeated in some other evaslve
form.
Reporter-How about the returns from Demo
cratic towns Do you think they have been as care
fully guarded from inspection as the returns from
Republican tOwnsS
Mr. Pike-Well, TO begin with. it is very suspi-
cious circumstance that. so far as can learn, no
Democrats have come from any part of the State to
look after their returns. Hitherto. in previous
years. the persons coming TO Augusta to look after
returns have been about equally divided between
the two parties, as was natural. Irepeat, 1t is
most suspicious circumstance that no Democratic
candidates have been here at all this wear. think
II easy 10 interpret the significance of their alb
sence.
Reporter-How ? what do you mean
Mr. PIke-Why. suppose they feel that their case
is beine taken care of by the Fusion State officers
County-Attorney Rounds charges directly that the
returns were surrcptitiously and prematurely
opened at the State House, and that Democratic
towns all over the State advised of the errors
their returns, aud that the necessary changes and
amendments were made--in some cases going SO far,
II is sail as withdrawing the original return and
substituting an entirely new one-and certifying IT
rs though II were the original OF course this is q
most serious charge and one that the Governor and
Council cannot afford to ignore.
Reporter-Is MIR Rounds a considerae man. or IS
lie bot-headed and disposed to do rash thngsf
Mr. Pike-Quite the contrary. He is very cool
man. n man of character and ability. who knows
what he is talking about a lawyer who has been
for several years successful County-AttOrnoy ac-
cusomed 10 scan facts closely, and weigh the Value
of evidence He never would have made tins grave
charge without having the facts to back II up. MI
Rounds has really discovered the key to the Demo-
cratic position-
Reporter-Do you know any reason why returns
,,,, no,ocrot;c towns should be more correct than
from Republican tOwnsf
Mr. Pike-None in the world. Surely no one VIII
contend that the Democratic towns in this State
are more intelligent than the Republican towns, or
rould be likely to have more intelligent officers L
know moreover that the Republican committees
N the State gave special warning 10 town olhcers
10 be careful this year in their returns. They had
, sort Of instinct in advance OF what we might
have TO deal with. Here we have IN round NUM-
befs say five hundred cities and towns and pianta-
tons in the State. OF the thirteen cities, the he
pubcans carried all but one by absolute maJorities'
Take the State through, it may be, counting the
email towns and plantations. the tuslonists carried
A. many IA we did. Now. on the fair doctrine of
chance. there would be as many errors ana omis-
mons in the one class Of towns as in the other 1t
marc ronsense TO maintain any other theory.
Renorter-You said moment ago that the Cow
,ruor and Council cannot afford to ignore tho
charges made by Mr. Rounds What was your ex-
act meaningf , M
Mr.. pike-Wen the Governor and Council either
cannot afford TO ignore, possibly they cannot al
ford 10 investigate. Perhaps had better have sad
,hev cannot afford to investigate. Mr. Rounds did
NOT charge COLLISION on the part Of the Governor
and Council but every one can see that II they pass
by 50 grave an accusation as this they are IN danger
themselves OF being held as accessories after the