Omaha daily bee., 1880-05-07
SENATOR SAUNDERS vINDIoAT

SENATOR SAUNDERS vINDICAT-
omshl Evening Ne vs., May 9th.
Yesterday afternoon was spent by
the writer in investigating the records
of the Nebraska Relief and Aid society,
which are in the possession of Hon.
Ezra Millara of this city; and SO far as
we could judge by somewhat cursory
examination of the records, Senator
Alvin Saunders Is evidently guiltIess Of
cmbezzIement or attempted embezztement
IN his connection NTH that society.
When the association di.banded in
1875 there was, as the books show, a
balance Of something like $500, which
Mr.. Willard informs us was donated
TO a western territory.
There are several reasons why many
people have been misled in this thing.
The frat reason is the condition of the
published legal report, which comes
TO an abrupt termination under the
date of January j, 1876, whereas the
society really continued work until
July of that year. This published re-
port shows a balance of cash ON hand
of $40, $50. OF. Another reason why
people have been led to suspect crook.
edness has been the utter impotency
of the officers and members
of the association so far as is con.
cerned all remembrance of their off,
cial acts. The News has hunted high
and low, and has addressed everybody
that might have known anything about
the association, and that could have
been suspected of truthfulness; but
until last week, when we CHANGED to
find Mr.. Ezra Millard at home, we
have never discovered q man who
would OF could give us an atom of
definite information in regard 10 the
history of the Nebraska Relief and
Aid society. A third reason for the
belief of the charge has been that
while The Nebraska City Prees was
direct and specific in presenting the
Indictment, Senator Saunders has new.
err directly denied it. If a man had
been as guilty as Cain he could not
seemingly have confessed his guilt In
his actions more successfully than
has Senator Saunders. He has
prevaricated, shifted from one
thing to another, authorized
two or three of his tools to publicly
deny something with which he had
not been charged, and has in all
things acted like q man who was com.
pletely bereft of all ability to prove
his innocence or his complete guilt
from becoming public. For much
of the ~denunciation and suspicion
which have pursued him Senator
Saunders most peculiar conduct is
alone responsible.
In the statement of the liabilities
of the bankrupt firm of Saunders &
H~ardinburg, New York, there is an
item Of something like $1,000 placed
to the credit of the s'grasshopper
fund" From the best information
we can obtain, We believe this to have
been money which was paid Into the
New York bank by New York citi.
zens for the benefit of our prsss-
hopper sufferers, and never formally
turned overto the society. We do not
know wheter OF not Senator Saunders
left that money in bis bank when IL
should have been turned over to the
society, or whether or not he has ever
made q total or partial restitution of
1t to those who gave it, or a donation
OF 1t to those who were to receive it!
The News is brave enough to ack-
~nowledge that it has done Senator
Saunders wrong in the matter of the
Nebraska Relief and Aid society. and
it is fair enough to do its best to cor.
rect the false impression to which n
has given publicity. And, vet. we
have been honest in our belief In his
guilt, and we have not been hastv orJ
n~eglectful IN the use of all the avenues
IF investigation which have been open
70 US. With The Nebraska City
Press, however, rests the responsible /
ty of the specific charge. Let US see
What the organ of Mr.. j. Sterling
VIII have to say about it. ]