The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-30
WASHBUKN-DONNELLY.
The Remarkable Report Of the
Majority.
BRIBERY AND INTIMIDATION CHARG-
ED ON THE FLIMSIEST OF TES-
TIMONY.

NEW YORK, March pa Washington dis
patch reviews the report of the majority of the
committee on elections which to-be made
the basis of unseating Mr.. Washburn of Min
nesota, and giving the seat to Mr.. Donnelly
who was defeated by 5000 votes,
About one-half of the report is devoted to
accusations of bribery. The first case dis
cussed is that OF one Charles Berens, Demo
crat, and also postmaster. Mr. Berens swore
that he wrote letter to Mr.. Washburn and
offered to support him for $50 that Mr.. Wash
burn did not reply to the letter; and that he
did receive a letter from Mr.. Keith. of Minne-
apolis expressing qualification to know that he
would work for Washburn, and telling him to
confer with Mr.. Brewer. Republican who
was managing Mr.. Washburn's campaign in
the vicinity where Berens lived. Mr.. Berens
further testified that he was not offered or
promised, nor did ne ever receive, any money
from any one in Mr.. Washburn's behalf; and
that he did not know of any money being paid
or promised by William D. Washburn, his
agents, or by any person acting for him with
his knowledge, to any person or persons for
the vote or influence OF such person or persons.
Mr.. Berens also frankly testified that he had
supported Donnelly for Congress, and that he
himself was the only man he knew who had
tried to corrupt candidate for Congress by
demanding money as the price of his support.
Mr.. Brewer swore pointblank that he never
offered or paid Mr.. Berens or anybody else a
dollar for corrupt political purposes, and that
ne did not know OF any money or other corrupt
influence being used by anybody to secure
votes for Mr.. Washburn. Mr.. Brewer was &C.
tive in Mr.. Washburn's behalf, and canvassed
number of counties. The report itself
says that the testimony of Berens and Brewer
stands unimpeached; and yet in the face and
eyes OF this overwhelming testimony, which is
confessed to be true, the author of the report
calmly sums up the matter as follows:
81. Berens tells Washburn that he will sell
him his vote for $50. 2. Washburn thanks
him and tells him 10 90 ahead and IL will he
all right
In the list of "bribed" voters made by the
author of the report" appear the name of
Daniel Getchell, a man who swore that he
Getchell admits that he received money for
his services at the election, but claims that it
was not from Mr.. Washburn, and that he vot-
ed for Mr.. Donnely. He refuses to tell who
paid him. Now. if one will turn to the testi-
mony, he will find that the witness did not ad-
init that he had received any money from any
body, but swore point-blank that neither Mr..
Washburn nor any of his friends approached
him, with or without money, and asked his
vote or influence.
One witness, Emil shagren, swore that
Getchell told him that had received 500 to
vote for Mr.. Washburn. Getchell swore that
he never told Shagren any such thing This
| man Shagren was one of Donnelly's most copi-
GUS and fluent witnesses. In spite of the fact
thatShagren's testimony is impeached by credi-
names OF at least four persons are included in
the list of "bribed' voters found in the "re-
port"
A man by the name of Bernard Clauter re-
ceived some money from the Republican Cam
paign committee for his services ard expenses
while on an electioneering tour in behalf of
the Republican ticket. The report puts
this down as case of "bribery," and says,
moreover, that part of the money was paid to
| Mr.. Clautier in Mr.. Washburn's presence and
that it probably" came "out of the pocket
OF that gentleman. This statement is twice
repeated, but there is not an iota of evidence
| to support it.
1t may be said in broad terms that there is
no evidence to sustain a single one of the al
legations of bribery made against Mr.. Wash
burn, although the report contains list
| footing up 304 cases in which it is claimed
that voters were bribed by Mr.. Washburn and
| his agents.
| Repeatedly, where the testimony of wit
nesses is analysed in this report" for the
| purpose of drawing conclusion, it will be
| found that the expression ''the witness testi-
| hes, or its equivalent is used until point is
reached where, on cross-examination, some-
thing unfavorable to Donnelly came out.
Right here the witness ceases to testify in
the language OF the report" He only "pre-
| tends'' after that.
| The next accusation is intimidation of voters.
| On this point the report contains laborious
argument to show that the numbering of bal
lots in Minneapolis was a part of the scheme
| to intimidate voters. The claim that because
ballots were numbered the workingmen of
Minneapolis dared not vote, is an absurdity on
its face, when one considers that only the
election judges and few other persons knew
anything about the numbering.