The Rock Island Argus., 1880-07-17
Gaxhsld as q swindler.

The Republican organs. IN their zeal tc
fasten something on Hancock to Offset
the charges against Garfield. stated that
the Democratic nominee was engaged IN
IN oil speculation and allowed his name tc
be used to swindle innocent soldiers. A
great deal has been said about this matter
by the stalwart organs,-but it remains
for them to state the case of Garfield who
was the regular superintendent of bogus
oil company in Ohio. and who deliberately
tried to swindle asaocent parties in Chica- :
go, this. too. when a member Of congress,
The records of this transaction are easily
accessible and will be produced in due
sime, showing Gan. Garfield 10 be trick
ster by occupation and hypocriticaI pre-
sender by nature. Take oil of Garfield o
transactions and we find him using his
position in congress to fraudulently fill
his pockets. The Chicago Times says of
the transaction as follows:
THE true blue Republican organs of
Chicago and the country in general have
been amusing themselves of late with the
publication of stories having reference to
Gen. HsnOock's presidency of an oil COM
pany, which did not prove success, after
the close of the war. This has been mag
nified into something very big and proper
tionally odious by writers employed on the
party journals referred to. Ii may.
therefore. be interesting to those virtuous
persons to learn that their standard
bearer"-to use the well worn cant ex"
preston of the days not entirely free
alo
contrary, while the ''superb" individual
nominated by the Democrats for the
presidency only lent his name to an oil
project. in which he lost some money, by
way of proving his sincerity, it will be
seen, further on, that the canuy Garfield
was
INTER EsTED AS AN AGENT
ia q somewhat similar scheme, and did his
utmost in this city, fifteen years age. to
rope some in nocsnt people into the bust
ness.
During a conversation the other day
between some Chicago gentlemen relative
to the fatal facility for SANDER developed
by political campaigns in America. one of
she group remarked that the worst thing
yet7said about Hancock was shis.eennection
With bursted petroleum company in
Pennsylvania.
This ted to discussion. during which
another of the party stated tnat he knew
OF gentleman ia this city who had been
approached by Gen Garfsld on the matter
of speeulRting in some alleged undevelop
ed oil lands In the state of Ohio.
The name OF the citizen was demanded
and the gentleman said: Mr. s. II ker-
foot, the well known real estate Aan, know;
all about the matter.
This conversation camc to the kuowl
edge OF "a Times reporter and he at once
determined to interview Mr.. kertoos oD
the subject.
He found that gentleman III his office at
No. 81 Dearbon stI Get, and. without delay,
asked him what he kuew OF Mr.. Garfield :
doiBgs in Chicago relative to some Ohio
oil lands many years ago,
Mr. kerfoot made answer as follows:
1t is not my desire 10 be dragged into
print. 1 an very listle politician in the
Ordinary aocaptation OF the term, but |
dislike to see injustice done 10 anybody,
and will tell, with pleasure, what | know
The Republican papers have been engag
ed quite vigorously in abusing General
Hancock about that oil COMPANY BUSINESS.
but they seam to have forgotten abuL
Garfield.
II think il was in the year 1865. in the
w.,
4o CLARK street, that gentleman called on
NE, ami requested me to go to the Sher-
man house as there was some one there
who wanted to see me on business. |
went and
WAS INTRODUCED TO GEN. JAMES A. Gar
FIELD,
then a member of congress, and the same
gentleman nominated last mouth by the
Republican party for the presidency of
the United States.
General Garfield had with him
number of maps. showing the location
of the Ohio lands in which oil was sup
posed to exist, and he had also q number
OF papers bearing on the qualities OF
these lands. l, of course, examined
then. hut never was much of a speou-
lator and declined to have anything to do
with the project. said to Gen. Gar
held, My business here in town is my oil
well, Sometim es it gives me ten barrels
q day, perhaps, and sometimes none. 1t
Is about all care to attend to now? Then
l took my leave. That was all had to
do with the business
Well, asked the reporter, did his oil
region ever amount to anything?''
should Judge not" answered Mr..
Kerfoot, 70
THE LANDS WERE THEN COMPARATIVELY
WORTHLESS,
and fail TO remember where apy Oil
strikes have been made in Ohio. from
1865 or 1866 until this time. By the way
L wouldn't be quite Epositivc whether it
was 10 1862 or 1866 that Gen Garfield was
mere. but IL was some one of che two, L
tQO0ght at the time it Was rathar nsngulor