The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-03-25
ss5, 900 FOR GRANTS SIGNATURE,

The story Which Ex-Governor COI's Son Tells.
Mr.. Charles N. Cox, son of General J..
D. Cox, Grants first Secretary Of the In.
terror, gave the following information to
a reporter of the NetUS.
II know of a case which | think brings
official corruption more nearly home to
Grant personally than even the check in
the famous Black Friday investigation.
1t is not of my own positive personal
knowledge, it is true, but it came to me
in such way that | could not be more
firmly convinced of its truth had / seen
it myself Ny knowledge of the trans.
action dates long subsequent to the &C.
currenCe, but that cannot effect the fact
that it did occur, and occur precisely as l
learned it. AS you will probably remem-
ber, after my father left General Grants
Cabinet, he became identified with the
Toledo, Wabash and Western Railroad,
at one time as President, at another as
Receiver. Sometime in 1877, either in
the spring or summer, Mr.. John Ellis,
who either was at that time or had been
at one time, a principal owner of the
Toledo, Wabash and Western, dined
with my father and at dinnerto US the
following incident connected with his
railroad ventures; In 1871 he was large.
ly interested in Western railroad en-.
terprise, the financial success or failure
of which was largely dependent ona bill
then before Congress"
In reply to an inquiry Mr.. Cox stated
that Mr. Ellis did not mention the par
ticular railroad, nor did lie specify the
bill, and continued:
"Mr. Ellis then went on to tell us that
while he was off in the West he received
a dispatch from friend in the White
House stating that the bill in which be
(Ellis) was interested had passed Con-
gres5 and had been sent to the President
for his approval, but that Grant had de
cided to withhold bis approval and to re
turn it to Congress with veto. Mr. Ell
lis Immediately telegraphed his inform
ant to persuade the President to defer
final action in the matter till he ellis,
could reach Washington. Taking the
first train he travelled night and day til
he reached New York. He Immediately
called upon q friend who he knew haC
managed q good many matters in Wash
ington, and was familiar with the emethoC
of doing business in that city, and Sc
curing favorable legislation-in fact {
trained and successful lobbyist-to pro
cure advice. Having explained the OBJ
iect of his visit, and the exact status o
the bill, he was at once directed to g
and see General Butter6eld, then assist
ant Treasurer of the United States, ant
Law the case before him, and be governed
wholly by his advice and instructions
General Butterfeld was hunted w
and the business explained fully, to tht
effect that if the President persisted il
his determination to veto the bill II
question, the Western railroad enterprise
would in all probability prove failure
whereas, should he on the contrary ap
prove it, the parties in interest would in
evitably reap handsome profit; that tn
President had been induced to hold tht
matter under advisement until he (Ellia
could reach Washington, and the objec
of the visit to General Butterfeld was t
obtain his advice as to the best means o
inducing the President to favor tn
measure and sign the bill.
General Butterfeld instructed Nh
Ellis to call upon the gentleman b,
whose advice he had called upon hin
Being informed that he came direC
from his Office to him, the General re
Piled: Never mind that, call upon hir
again in about an hour or such matter
"At the time indicated Mr.. Ellis Gale
again upon the lobbyist, and told him b