Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-06
THE SPRINGER MANN EG CONTROVERSY
Gard from Mr. Finley.

The following has been furnished by Mr.. Fin
ley Tor publication:
= am Informed that Hon. VIM. NJ springer.
VI. e.. nom Illinois, on the floor OF the House
yesterday made the charge that certain anOny-
nous letter, dated March 9TH and mailed
March Sih. In which $1,000 was offered TO him IL
ne would support Hon. W. ID. Washbun. or
Minnesota, ia the pending contested election
case was written 10y me or 10y some one for me.
desire 10 state unequivocally and positively
mat never wrote any such letter or employed
any other person 10 write il, and did not know
OF It's existence until after Mrs. Springer had
shown IL TO lion. Geo. W. Julian. IL was simply
impossible that | could have mailed any such
letter 10 Mr.. Springer on the Sth OF March, for
wei knew, early on the morning OF that day.
that Mr.. Springer was in New York. and that he
had made pair with republican member OF
The election committee on both propositions;
that Is 10 say. that he was committed 10 the
policy OF unSeatng Mr. Washburn and seating
Mr, Donnelly. There was therefore. no motive
on my part TO ' 'bulldoze" him. for | was per-
fecily satisfied with his position. As no one
could have foreSeen the remote contingency OF
Mrs. Springer opening his mail and showing the
letter in question 10 Mr.. Julian IL IL difficult TO
conceive how the writing OF a letter which he
stove at once, could possibly have been
made an instrumentality TO coerce him.
publicity. and that publicity could only be-
given by himself. and he. as he tells us, was
certain moi 10 make the letter known 10 the
world. Permit me TO say. with the greatest re-
spect for Mr.. springer. that the charge is ab-
surd. | can understand how Mr.. WashbQrn
might have offered him $1,000 10 support Mr..
Wash6urn; or how Mr. Donnelly might have
offered him $4,000 TO support Mr.. Donnelly; but
II passes my comprehension how Mr.. DOnnelly,
or any friend OF his. could have offered him
$500 10 support his opponent. suppose ar
Springer had opened that letter himself ana
had destroyed il, how cOul Mr. DonncI, ~ coarce
or bulldoze him in the matter? IL. FDonnelly,
could not refer TO the destrov.7 ii letter without
al once acknowledging Tat he wrote it. The
MI. Spling2s--. learn. also read a letter OF
inne; da' a March 1th. 1SS0. in which strongly
uie'-- nim TO support Mr.. Donnelly. There Is
-.tthlng In that letter | regret. did not speak
nor pretend TO speak for Mr.. Tilden. ] spoke as
a democrat in the name of democrats. | be-
lieved the state OF Minnesota had been stolen
away from the democracy by unparalleled
bribereS and intimidationS. and was in favor
OF restoring IL 10 the democratic column OF
states, where ii properly belonged. had no. ur
times conyerSed with Mr. Springer on thh sih
lect, and he had as repeatedly assured me that
he agreed with me in these views and wouId
vote 10 seat Nj. DoDnelly. Only one week he.
IOfe the date or the anonymous letter Mr.
springer volunteered the remark to NE thai the
democratic party had already received o.
much abuse for the DOnnelly- -Washhnrn case
as ii could receive, and that he was In favor M
gong ahead ana at once seating MIR Donnellv :.
was astonished beyond expression when I
learned lew days afterwards that the republ1-
cans were claiming Mr.. Springer as upoD their
size. wrote. therefore, earnestly and warmly
because did not wish 10 see MF. Springer in.
Jule his own reputation. and at the same ti,l.
oppose me great interests or the democratic
party. III spoke too strongly in that letter or
10 any other way was guilty OF any inpro
prlely, regret il. | have no hostility 10 Mr..
springer and no desire 10 do him an Injustice
L think, however that IL would only have
Deen Iair. upon his part, when he made so Sc
lloUS charge against me. ii he had demanded a
committee or Investigation and given me an op-
pon ,u sullit! 10 nave defended myself Oh the re-
cords or the same body in which the attack was
made. am very respectfully yours.
III. III. finley.