The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-24

-
ing the most important facts of the doc
uments."
What has the Democrat to say in re
spouse to this? Did Mr.. Thurman falsi
fly and deceive when he declared Gar
field innocent? Was Judge Black mis-.
taken? Was the committee blind?
Will the Democrat correct? No, II
will not. The Democrat will lie, Islander
and defame. WhyP Because it hasn'l
anything else to do; doesn't know how
to do anything else; never did know and
never will. Besides, If 1t had the ability
to treat a question fairly and upon its
merits, 1t prefers the arbitrary and ma
licious style. 1t would not reform If il
knew how. It is past hope of redemp'
ton, and the only bright side of its pic
ture is the fact hat its influence is limit
ed and it's believers few. 1t has come
to such a pass that if one wants to dis.
cover the truth, you can do 30 by rever,
sing the statements of the Democrat
Mr., McGregor, ~disappoint your readers
once, and give them a little truth.
1t will be seen the Rep claims that
Judge Black and Senator Thurman &C.
quilted Garfield of all wrong. When
the proper document, over the signatures
of these gentlemen shall appear, it will
then be time enough to consider it.
The facts in the case are admitted.
Mr.. Garfield himself does not deny them
has not. His friends deny them not.
He took the 1929 Of interest, thus admit
ting the whole transaction. But let us
give a brief history Of the affair:
1.-THE Credit Mobilier was a stipend.
GUS and successful plumber scheme, but
very simple in it's origin and plan of &C.
ton. Congress had voted money and
land enough to build the Pacific railroad
without any considerable issue Of bonds
or stock. The lands amounted to not
less than 10000, 900 acres and cash to
$50. 100000. The directors of the road
were forbidden by law from engaging in
contracts OF holding other interests of
profit, They could not become benefic-
iaries of their trust until that obstacle
was overcome. They soon found a way
to do it. A company k2own as the
Credit Mobilier, organized upon the
French plan, had procured a charter
from the Legislature of Pennsylvania,
which proved to be a failure in its hands.
This charter vas purchased, and a ring
of officers and directors of the Union
Pacific railroad obtained absolute control
Of its affairs. They contracted with
themselves under another name for the
construction of the road at exhorbitant
prices. The contract price was torty.seven
millions of dollars. They swindled the
United States, the b%ondhOlders, and the
stockholders for the benefi. of their W
close corporation.
In 1868, Cakes Ames, John B. Alley,
and others, known as the "Boston par.
ty," got possession of the Union Pacific
and the Credit Mobilier. At that time
Cakes Ames was u member of Congress
and a manufacturer of reputed wealth.
The great contracts passed into his
hands, but the dividends of the Credit
Mobilier had already attracted attention.
Washburne introduced a resolution in
the House, which alarmed the iobbers
for their immense profits. Colfax, then
Speaker and one Of the C eatures of the
ring, silenCel this movement for a time
by parliamentary tricks, in which he
had the aid of Garfield.
Still the Credit Mobilier m~onopolists
were uneasy, and proposed to buy off CD.
position. In Jan. 1868, Ames wrote to
McCombs, one of the heaviest contract
ors, who afterwards started the inyesti-
cation from motives Of revenge. II
have assigned, as far as l have gomez
Certain shares to different states) "the
so per cent increase l want to distribute
here and soon," A few days after he
was still more urgent. He wrote again:
I'm view of Washburne's move here, l
go in for making our bond dividend in
| want that $l4, 900 increase of the
Credit Mobilier to sell here. We wdnt
more friends IN this Congress-" AS he
himself said, 1.-THE object was to put the
stock where it would do the most good"
The stock was then selling at $3.50 a
share on a par value of 500. 1t was is.
sued in blocks of thirty, twenty and ten
shares to members of Congress, at par,
and the so called purchase was more
than e~xtinguished by the accrued divi-
dends. 1t was nice stock to hold, Gar
field was assigned ten shares at par; the
price paid for the stock, and left
it clear in his hands with a balance of
$500, which Ames paid him.
1.-THE disclosure Of the corruption was
made by the N. Y Sun in 1872. A Presi.
Dental election was then impending and
Republican leaders implicated were
quick to deny any connection with the
fraud. Garfield's statement was more
and holder than that of any of
mis- ~confederates in crime. AT the meet
ing of Congress in Dec. 1872, the Presi.
lential election being over, Mr.. Blaine
the Speakers chair and coming
Town to the floor, moved an investiga.
ion. 1t was ordered, with Judge Po-
and of Vermont as chairman, and Gen.
Banks Of Massachusetts, McCrary of
iowa, (late Sec'y of War, NiblaCk of
Indiana, and Merrick of Maryland
.hree Republicans and two Democrats.
commenced taking testimony lee. IL,
.S72. At first Cakes Ames was not dis.
posed to make any exposure, but when
he incriminated members Of Congress
combined to swear him down and free
themselves by rank perjury, his blood
warmed quickly, and he determined to
ct the truth be known, though in the
md there was much concealed.
Garfield submitted to the committee a
prepared statement on Jan, a. 1873;
II never owned, received or agreed to
eCeive eny stock of the Credit Mobilier,
n Of the Union Pacific railroad, nor any
dividend or profits arising from either of
t. II