New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-16
IYTNG EOR THE ,JICK-KNIFT.


LYING FOR THE JACK-KNIFE.
The contest for the liars jackbnife goes on
bravey. The World newspaper keeps the pub
lie in mind of its own bid by keeping standing
in its columns the opinion Of Judge Swayne
from which 1t manufactured the statement that
the Judge had denounced General Garfield as
a dishonest man. But at the rate OTHER nars
are coming i'll, it looks as though 1t would be
obliged to play once more If 1t hopes TO get
the knife. And we are free to say that from
our knowledge of our contemporaries aDlil-
ties in that line, we believe it can take the
knife if it sets out to. The Troy Press, how
ever came very early into the game WIN
statement published the day after the Chicago
nomination that General Garfield while teach
inc school in that vicinity purchased SUIT
of clothes on credit and did not pay for them
at the time agreed upon; the original state
nent. we think, was that be didn't pay for
them at ALL This was lie with circum-
stance, the name of the tailor who Was de-
frauded being given by The Press. The tailor
wrote letter to The Troy Times denying the
story, or, as The Press courteousy puts it,
"TAe Times wrote a card for Mr.. Haskell
(which seemed to deny the statement, but IN
"realirv did mott The Times requested The
Press to print Mr.. HaskelFs letter, and the
latter answered that {" if Mr.. Haskell would
write few lines stating, first, when Mr..
Garfield obtained the clOthes second, when
she agreed to pay for them and third, when
che did make the payment it would " cheer
"fnlly print them" The magnanimlty Of this
offer is conspicuous. So is the bid for the
knife.
In the same line is the bid of q Democratic
newspaper, The Home Journal published at
! Winchester, Tenn. This journal, preiacng Its
statements with the remark that IT is as "averse
as any one could be to throwing mud or
indulging in abuse of any person-especlally
/" one who is q candidate for the highest office
Z" that our people can give" (and when a man
| begins in that way, 1t is wise to hold ones
nose or get under cOver)-goes on to tell how
during the war General Garfield entered Win
chester sick and went to the residence of Mrs.
Mary Hutchins, one of the nobiest Old ladies
/" in our town y; how all the rooms except two
in the house were occupied by Federal SOL
diers, and he demanded one of these, " the
.'favorite one of Mrs. Eutchins"; how
she SLOWED General Garfield to have
all the milk and butter afforded by
cher only cow" and cher servant cooked
4" deicacies for the General and waited on
4" him ;" and how " he got well and left, and
"never paid Mrs. Hutchins single cent"
| And as if this were not enough, the writer
adds: Besides, all her bed-clothing was
disappeared when the General left "
the inference being that General Garfield
not only took the best room in the house and
consumed all the milk and butter, without
| paying n cent, but actually stole the bed
clothes when he went away. Upon the whole,
| this "hand," in the parlance of the players,
holds over" that of The Troy Press
The competition is close. AT present no man
can tell who Will take the knife. 1t should be
understood, however, before the game pro-
ceeds further, whether it Is to be confined to
newspaper editors or is open to all corners. If
the latter, The Hartford Times has a CORE
spondent who plunges into the game with I'M
common fervor and plays hand that is not
| by any means "tO be snefzed at" He writes
as follows, the capitals and italics being all
| his own.
Allow me to tell little story few years ago a SOL
der with family throw OF work in ONO. aud
he knew General Garfield (when he was suferlng he
applied to him for assistance TO enable him TO come
East where he had promise OF work General Garfield
told him that he helped soldiers that he could
send his family the pOorhouse he could to the
| Soldiers Home: that poor men mad no business TO
marry and have families. The soldier then TO
| General Hancock, whom he had several times In
New-York and referred to Governor. Three days
later he received from the true and frfhd soldier OF
the Republic (Iancock a letter with my dollars AS A
SMALL DONATION UNION DEFENDER N TINE OF NEED "
and asked him to call and hun when arrived in
New-York Now ask which of these prominent men
had a heart, and whicn OF them best be trusted
Let the voters OF all classes and parties ponder this
and don't led astray by blatant demagogues, the
above is a well vouched for SAM
| This is the sort of lying that does not need
map or commentary. No ailidavits are nee
| essary to fix its character. 1t defines itself.
| Even the italics and capitals are unnecessary.
| The reader sees at once that it is a bid for
the liars jack knife-and an uncommonly
good bid too. 1t will be difficult to beat it.
The question now is, Is the game confined to
newspaper editors or is it open to all corners 7
If the latter, this Hartford correspondent
seems a long way ahead. Go on with the
game. THE TRIBUNE will endeavor TO keep
the record.
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THE INFLUX or SPECIE.