The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-06
SPRINGER DEFENDS HIMSELF
The Bribery Letter Traced to a
Democratic Agent.
DONNELLY IMPLICATED IN THE
PLOT.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-In the House to- day
MIR. Manning had read the article in the Post
charging that Mr.. Springer was improperly
influenced in the Wsshbnrn-Do nnefly case
disclaiming all responsibility for the statements
therein made.
Mr.. Springer (speaking with some feeling)
said this was the first time during his many
years of public service that charge of this
kind affecting his integrity as representative
OF the people had ever been made He sub
thenarticle in the Post showing the story was
based upon information received from Man
ming. AS the latter gentleman disclaimed the
responsibility for the article he (Springer)
would leave it as a question of veracity be-
tween Manning and the Post Mr.. Springer
explained that he did not desire an investiga-
ton OF the charges against him as it would
bring his wife's name before the country. He
then read the anonymous "bribery" lette r
which is as follows:
Sir-f you will keep Washburn in his seat in
spite of the Democrats we will pay Mrs. S. $4,000.
Get the thing squashed at once.
Springer then had read long letter from
Finley, one of Donnelly's friends, which ap-
pealed to him not to vote against the adoption
OF the subcommittee report, which gave the
seat to Dor nelly. The handwriting of this
letter was SO similar to that of the anonymous
letter that neither he (Springer) nor any of the
gentlemen who had compared the letters had
any doubt but that they were written by the
same person. Springer disclaimed any inten-
tion to deceive, and was supported in this
statement by several members of the commit
tee whom he called upon to give their views
Springer then challenged any member of the
committee or of the House Except Manning)
to assert that he had led to him to believe that
he would act otherwise than he did. He would
not ask an investigation, but would not object
if any one wanted it. He submitted to the
House and to the country whether he had not
conscientiously discharged his duty in the
matter. If the gentleman from Mississippi
(Manning) had been misled by inadvertance
or accident he (Springer) regretted it.
Mr. Manning closed the discussion, defend
ing Donnelly against the imputations made
against him by Springer.
This was not written by Republican as he
would show further on. He related how the
letter was received at his house during his
absence and opened by his wife who acted rs
his private secretary. She did not consider it
as proposition of bribery coming from Wash
burne's friends, but Indignantly received it as
deliberate attempt on the part of Donnelly
(Springer) because he learned they was not go
ing to vote to seat him. 1t was for that reason
she started to see him and stated that an in
sulting attempt had been made towards her
self and husband.
Julian, counsel for Donnelly, asked permits
sion that Dounelly might be called, that he
might exculpate himself from the charge of
attempting to insult her or me. He was per-
mitted to do so on the express understanding
that the matter should go no further than him
self and Julian until my return to the city.
That agreement was broken Immediately by
Donnelly.