Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-07
THE spa,nces-,aAn AFFAIR.
Explanation OF the scandal which Grew
Out OF tho Washburn.Donneily Con.

Out OF tho Washburn. Donneily Con.
test.
Special Telegram to the Inter. Ocean,
Washington, April 4-Mr. Springer and
his friends are very indignant at the public
ity that has been given the charges made by
Congressman Manning and that hybred
demagogue, Ignatius Donnelly, that he
(Springer) was corruptly Influenced in his
deci-ion against seating Donneily. On
Thursday the case was decided, Springer
voting against giving Donnelly the seat On
Friday Donnelly and Manning commenced
to whisper very loud that Waahburn had
bsught up Springer, and ON Saturday morn
ing the Washington Post contained CO..
umn statement from Donnelly standpoint,
which was written, as is supposed, by that
individual himself The article was tele.
graphed from here bodily by the National
Associated Press, without change of word,
although it is susceptible Of great many
corrections. There is, possibly, but one
man in the house of repre- ,entativea who be.
lleves that Springer would take bribe, and
that is Manning, Of Mississippi, who is so
totally under the influence of Donnelly that
he will accept anything that the latter says
a. gospel truth. Manning has written
Springer letter, in which he very frankly
says that he believes his vote was corruptly
influenced, and shall demand an investiea-
ton. Springer has replied, saying that
Manning is utterly prejudiced, and that be
nhall himself bring attention of the matter
before the house, and demand the fullest
investigation by q committee of which Mr..
Manning may be Chairman. Mr.. Springer
takes the matter good nsturedly. and SCENE
to regard it as trick on the part of Don.
nelly, and an insane delusion on Mannipp's
part. He objects to discussing it in the
newspapers, aud says that he shall make bis
defense in formal and official manner be-
fore the house. There is some mystery
about the case, but Springer's friends, and
all who have taken the trouble 10 Investigate
it, generally accept the following as a correct
| theory:
Donnelly, as is we'll known to all who are
acquainted with him. is equal to any emer-
gencv, 60 far as tricks or demagoguery are
concerned. He discovered about a month
ago that Springer, who had been one of his
champions, WAS less cordial than formerly.
and appeared not TO take that interes, in
his case that he had shown hitherto. This
was noticed by Others, particularly BY the
republican members Of the committee, who
explained it BY the suppoaition that Spring
er had been in consultation with Tilden,
and had concluded it was not safe invest
ment for the democrats to seat Donnellv
who could not be depended upon in case the
presidential election was thrown into the
house. Donnelly ascertained that Springer
intended to vote against him. About tha,
date an anonymous letter, Offering Mrs
Springer $4,000 for her husbands vote, wa,
received, and II ia supposed that the letter wa
the invention Of Donnelly, who expected
it TO go prejudice Springer against Wash
burn that Springer would again admi, Don
nelly to his bosom and champion his claim
Mrs Springer, who received and opened tn,
letter, showed it to Manning, Donnelly, an,
several others, during her husbands alb
sence. When Springer returned they al
urged him to make it public, and Donnell,
was particularly indignant because he de
clined to do 80, supposing it would be &C
cepted az genuine and prejudice the com
mittee and the public against Washburu
but Springer charged them all with secrecy
and having made some investigation, had
serious doubt about the eenuineness {
the letter. 1t is now believed that Syringe
suspected at the time it was trick {
Donnelly's, although he refuses to eithe
DENY or admit that such was the fact, bu
nevertheless, be paid no attention to it, an
whenever Donnelly asked that the letter b
made public Springer objected on the grcun
, that if Washburn had inspired II he woul
bear from him again. but nothing eve
came Of it, The handwritpg Of the lett.
has been carefully compared with the ma,
uscript Of all persons who are IN the con
. fdeuce nf both W-shhurn and Dnnnell
q and I, is believed that Springer h.s cit
TO its autht rsh,p. Al lenst he s'r's In
1t will bc an en.y matter l0 ,rn. e the dncl
ment To its source rs soon as the IDvesng
ti"n Il c"mmencrd. Springer will ir-'n,,
'nw call The attention 1 th- h"u>e tn "
mstter. and ask u thsrtIuph INV. .stiea,lOn