The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-17
Garfeld's Record.

Poor Garfield has already discovered
that the head that even prospcctivcly
wears the crown rests uneasy. Scarce
~ hod congratulations ceased pour
ing ia Oh him from every side, when
the opposition papers began the task
of vcntilating his past record. Two
episodes in his career, once almost
forgotten, are now in the mouths of
every one: One was his connection
with the Credit Mobilicr fraud, the
other his acceptance Of large sum of
money for helping a job in the shape
Of Il paving contract to pass through
Congress. AS many of our readers
are unacquaintcd with the particulars
Of these affairs VIC will give them
briefly.
When the Pacific Road was III course
of construction its directors, instead
OF letting the work to outside parties,
organized themselves into a company
called The Credit Mobilicr, and rs di-
rcctors Of the road contracted with
themselves rs members Of the Credit
Mobilier to build the road at an cnor-
nous cost. They received about fifty
million dollars for doing twenty-five
million dollars worth of work. In
order to have Congress favorably dis
posed to them they persuaded num-
Der Of congressman to take shares and
to pay for them out Of the dividends.
When the fraud was discovered, and
Cakes AmcS' memorandum book was
produced, it showed that IL number Of
congressman, among them James \.
Garfield. had nomimally purchased
shares in the Credit Mohilcr, and had
drawn dividends. The par value Of
Garfield's shares was two thousand
dollars, and his dividends were two
thousand three hundred and fifty-nine
dollars. Garfield bitterly denied at
first ever having had anything to do
with the fraud, but the books showed
that he had drawn three hundred and
twcnty-ninc dollars in cash. He then
fought the examination and pretended
that he had borrowed the money.
Colfax was caught in precisely the
same trap, and was left at home bv
the people. Garfield returned to Con-
gress, but by majority reduced from
ten thousand down to two thousand.
The other fraud is thus charged.
Several years ago, when the Shepherd
ring were bankrupting Washington by
the erection OF magnificent streets and
pavcmcnts, n man from Chicago,
named De Golycr, had patent for q
pavement, which he wished Congress
to use. Garfield was then chairman
Of the committee Of appropriations,
and he was paid by Dc Golycr five
thousand dollars. a letter from ono
of the firm at the time states that
valuable work that afternoon had been
done with Garfield. AS q Congress-
man he pushed the measure through.
When detected, Garfield swore that
he got the fee simply as an attorney.
But tho question Immediately arises
what legal services did he. render for
that money? Both these charges arc
very serious, and it is confidently
urged that they arc true. If SO, Gar
field will have hard fight, with all the
chances against his election.
These alleged acts were committed
years ago, when Garfield was by no
means the important parsonage he is
now, and the story had almost been
forgotten, when tic electric light of q
nomination revealed all the dark
places of his past life. Hc is another
instance Of tho fact that ones sin will
find him out. His friends have bun.
gled his defence very badly in Wash.
ington, and he has been sent for tc
come himself and clear his record. A
we'll Informed correspondent saws that
the Republicans are already becoming
apprchcnsive about the personnel O.
the ticket. 1t shows signs Of weak
ness. ,u