National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-04-07
FINLEY VS.. SPRINGER.
The New Aspect of the Minnesota
Election Case.
What Mr.. Finley has to Say to Mr.. Springer
lie Protests Against Being Made IA
Scapegoat - Some Pretty strong
Points Presentod-Springer's
Pair Quoted to Confirm
Finlcy-Not Ended.
Tho pugnatius DonnciIy Ari.ir.

Tho Pugnntius DonnolIy AFFAIR.
Ono OF The NATIONAL REPUBLICANS ennis.
sarics was enabled nstinctively yesterday to
fasten upon Mr. Finley Mr.. Donnely's coun-
sci in all effort to grab Mr.. Washburn's seat in
Congress aud get away with it, and to get him
into corner where he could not we'll escape
| tho siphon. Finley is an exceedingly we'll
formed, well-dressed and well-behaved man
| from the wiids Of the West, and If he had
been an Apache or Ute or Chippewa Indian he
would have boon chief, certain. But ho is
neither. He is only Democrat Of good parts
and presence, aud he was treated with becom-
| ing consideration as u type of his race. The
representative of THE NATIONAL REPUBLI-
CAM In his usual polite and insinuatiug way,
informed Mr.. Finley that there was no hope
of escape, and he might as well submit to the
inevitable with good grace, aud then pro-
ceeded to business
REPuBLIcAN--Mr. Finley, this is a nice
mess that you Democrats arc in up at the
House. If you have no objection TO communi-
eating to a disintercstcd spectator to the fight,
now that it Is bounded by your own party
lines, what there is of this scrimmage The
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, would be delighted
to get at the bottom facts Of the emettte among
yourselves, II there are any facts involved
Why is Springer so irate toward your
Finley--Wcll, it is difficult to tell, unless
Mr. Springer has got himself into dilemma,
anu uCSlTeS 10 llllhc Uie MS SCapegOat
Rep Have you had any difference with
him beiore2
F.-Never We have been on the best of
terms.
Rcp.-Who wrote that anonymous letter
with its 5000 attractiou2
| FL have not the remotest idea. Springer
wants to fasteu its authorship on mc, for that
would be point In his game, and hence ho
imuginos that he can sec a similarity between
that and the letter that did write him in the
interest of personal and political friendship
| He discovers n similarity because lie wants it
so, but not for tho reason that any really
exists, as there is none.
Rcp.-But as 10 the letter you did write
| him: Was that intended to bulldoze him?
F.-Not at ALL 1t was kind, courteous
letter, written in the interest of friendship.
He had assured the committee that ho was for
| unseating Washburn and seating Donnelly and
under that assurance / wrote him to secure
immediate action, for we were all tired of
delay.
Rep.-Wcll, why did Springer take offonse =?
| FL know not, for assure you, as have
he became suddenly disgruntled, and since
then he has been growing more aud more
angry until the explosion came.
Rep.-Is it really true that Springer had
fully committed himself to the unseatng of
Washburn and the settling of Dounelly down
| into his warm seat1
ESQ it WAS understood by the Democrats
on his committee. Whom ho paired with a
Republican on the committee he substantially
declared that he was acting in good faith with
the Democrats, and when he voted Wild the
| Republicans on one of the propositions
under consideration he violated that
faith. He had even gone SO far as
to assist Mr.. Manning in preparing list of
those who would sustain action looking to an
accomplishment of tho work in hand, and up
to n short time since no one regarded him us
guilty Of duplicity.
Rcp.--lIOw do you regard him now2
F.-As full of it.
Rep.-I5 the fight over?
| F.-Not Il bit OF it, Mr.. Manning will fol-
low him up with a very sharp stick-and to-
dav, if he gets the opportunity.
| Rcp.--Well, do you think that you can pos
sibly justify such nm outrage rs to throw Wash
burn out over his 5000 majority and put Il
man in his place who was so much in tho
minority on the popular vote?
Eve Democrats do. Tho peopl c of the
district domaud it, and it was under that de-
mand that urged Springer forward with the
work.
Rop.-When you say the people, of course
you mean those Of the Democratic persua-
son2
F.-Wcll, yes; but do not care to discuss
the merits Of that question on the street, for it
is with Congress.
Rcp.--Is there anything m re that you
! would like to say about the Springer Manning
fight into which your fugcrs have boen in
serted and pinchcd?
F.-Nothing beyond this-I feel that have
been needlessly aud foolishly dragged into tho
affair by Mr.. Springer, for reasons best known
to HIMSELF and further, that | have done
nothing in the difficulty that Is not consistent
with the strictest right and propriety. l
never thought of buldOzing Mr. Springer, hut
did urge him to do quickly what then sup
posed he intended to do some time, AS l was
tired of delay. ! should sc0n to do any act
toward Mr.. Springer that would reflect upom
his character rs n legislator or upon my own
as a man.
At this moment friend Of Mr.. Finley
came along. The REPUBLICAN Withdrew
its sphon-he escaped from its clutch and
made for the battlefield, while the busy bee
who improves each shining hour went in
pursuit OF other sweets in the line of jour
nalistic duty.