The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-10-07
WHOLE NUMBER 7O1.

tack was made upon these men who took the
some papers showing the facts from a lawyers
office, and, with characteristic enterprise made
use Of the stolen goods, knowing them to be
stolen. That frightened some of the weak
headed Representatives and Senators who had
the stock, or the profits of the stock, which
had been allotted to them by Mr.. Ames. And
come of them had not received their certificates
of stock; they were foolish enough to come out
in cards in the newspapers denying that they
ever had any Of the stock.
Congress came together The Speaker of the
House left his chair and called for an investi-
cation. That investigation was ordered.
The gentlemen who had published these un-
fortunate cards were put in this dilemma: They
must either testify that they had not received
any of the stock, directly or indirectly, or the
profits thereof, or their cards would show an
evident attempt to deceive. The only witness
against them was Mr.. Oakes Ames. They con-
Guided that a half dozen of them would have
strength of reputation enough to swear him
down, as he hadn't their names to any paper,
he having simply paid them the stock divi-
dends' money and charged it against them on
his books. L. was hoped that the investigation
would not be too loose. Mr.. Ames WAS impor-
tuned to say simply that he had not delivered
any of the stock, and the investigation was to
stop there. That he said, and said truly; but,
unfortunately, there were some men upon the
committee who had personal griefs with some
of these stockholders, and they pushed the in
yestigation so closely that these men, in their
testimony, were obliged to deny that they had
ever received the profits from any stock from
Mr.. Ames, which they did do. Among them was
the now Presidential nominee of the Republican
party This put Mr.. Ames in the pre-
dicament of having called upon his company
for dividends to be paid to these gentlemen,
which they denied having received: That
brought Mr. Ames to the stand with his mem-
orandum book and his check book, which show
this money had been paid, and in some cases it
was traced into the bank accounts of some OF
these men who had sworn they had never re-
ceived any of it, and then these swearers went
Az last this testimony between the Repub-
ican nominee and Mr.. Ames seemed to agree
that he had received 1929 of Mr.. Ames. But
here arose question of veracity. between them.
The nominee said the money he had WAS a sum
that he borrowed Of Mr.. Ames. Mr.. Ames said
it was q dividend on the Credit Mobi lier stock
which he had paid him. 1t was agreed that If
it was money borrowed, no note was given Tor
it If it was dividend on the stock, no receipt
was given for it. Therefore the whole question non
was left as to the probabilities OF what that
money was for Was it a loan or was 1t
dividend? Now the stock dividend would ex-
actly amount to 1929. That precise sum was a
very odd amount for one man to borrow OF an
other, and wanted to make up $3.50, or, unless
he had $21 more, and wanted to make $3.50.
As a rule, however, impecunious congressman
do not run as near the wind as that in their
financial transactions.
The probabilities, however, most likely led
the Republican investigating committee to find
that the nominee did receive the money of
Ames as dividends on Credit Mobilier stock.
That committee was composed of Hon. Luke
P. Poland, of Vermont Hon. N. P. Banks, OF
Iowa Hon. VIM. E. Niblack, of Indiana. and
Hon. VIM. M. Merrick, of Maryland, vino re-
ported in the following words:
"The facts in regard to Mr.. Garfield, as
found by the committee, are identical with the
| case of Mr.. Kelley to the point of reception OF
the check for 1929. He agreed with Mr.. Ames
to take ten shares of Credit Mobilier stock, but
| did not pay for the same. Mr.. Ames received
| the eighty per cent. dividends in bonds, and
them t5s for css sR RRa
| which together paid the price Of the stock and
| interest, and left balance Of 1922 This sum
| was paid over to Mr.. Garfield by check on the
sergeaDt-at-arms, and Mr.. Garfield then under
| stood this sum was the balance OF dividends
| after paying for the stock"
| There the matter rested, save that the House,
| in a spasm of virtue, censured Ames for giving
| stock to members to influence their votes, but
| forgot to censure the Representatives and Sena-
| tors for receiving it as bribe, perhaps because
| there was so many of them who did.
| believe most of the gentlemen of that COM
mittee now say that there was nothing to I'M
peach the integrity of the nominee of the Re
| publican party in receiving that stock. agree
with them. do not think there was any harm
| in anybodys receiving the stock from Mr..
| Ames, under the circumstances took that
| ground before the House in 1873. have seen
| no occasion to alter my opinion. All the men,
bers who frankly testified before the committee
that they had received the stock, received no
censure from the committee or from the coun-
try.
But that is not the point of my objection
| which am trying to make plain. Having taken
the money as dividend-for, says the proverb,
sit is no worse to eat the devil than to drink his
broth''-my ideal of President would moi
have denied it.
The case is not without parallel in the history
of men not able to Withstand the pressure OF
| public opinion.
| Peter when he got amongst the servants and
~etainers of the High Priests, denied his Mas
ter three times over, and cursed and swore to il
until the cock crew shame on him, and then he
vent out and wept bitterly. But. then,
should not have voted for Peter as President,
to stand up in a crisis. Should have preferred
one of the other disciples-even the doubtine
Thomas, who stood by his Master after he was
convinced.
The thing most regret about this matter
partly because it has caused me all this trouble
| lis, that the nominee should have delayed his
Defense which he issued in pamphlet form, In
which Mr.. Ames is accused of untruthfulnesi
in his testimony, until after Oakes Ames' eyes
were closed in death, and the honest tongue
which would have repelled the slander WAS 81
lent forever.
THE SALARY GRAB.
Upon this question, whether the Republican
nominee for President has the courage and de
termined manhood to stand by his own con
victions regardless Of public clamor, take
leave to call to mind another public matter IL
which was somewhat personally concerned
refer to the increase of salary bill, called b!
some of the virtuous Republican papers ''tht
back-pay steal" which according to the custom
of all parliamentary bodies on like occasions
was made retroactive. The nominee at Chicagt
was on the Committee on Appropriations, and
although the bill for increased salary was re
ported by me as an amendment to the Appro
priation bill, never had any reason to fear hi
opposition to its passage through the House
AS he might have been opposed to it, do no
say that he was not, but his opposition mad
no such impression upon me that can remem
Der it. After the bill became a law he did eK
actly what he had right to do and ought t,
have done He took his back pay, appropriate'
for him by Congress. The bill was passed II
meet exactly such cases as his-men who ha'
no legitimate, lucrative profession, and NJ
large private fortune, and who could not with
out making such sacrifices as they ought not Il
make remain in Congress, having families h
support upon the salary they were receiving
And they ought not to do 80. 1t exposed then
to temptations. Soon after, newspape
storm arose-every man was attacked who ha
the steadfastness to stand by what he though
was right. Under these attacks the nomine
wilted. He could not stand the pressure. III
paid back into the Treasury the increased sal
airy which he had drawn out. If he ought t
have done that because he was not eutitled t
it, of course il elected President he will neve
draw $25, 900 year additional salary as Pres
dent which was passed in the same bill, es
pecially as he voted to put back his own salar
as member of Congress where it was before
What surety have I, if support him, whe
this cry of the stalwart wing Of his party tha
the negro must be protected, now so loudl
raised, is hushed after the election, and tn
over-righteous newspapers of the party insis
as they before have insisted that nothing sha
be done by his administration for the prote,
ton of the negro, that their President will hay