Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-06
FINLEY's CONFIDENTIAL EPIsTLE
Wherein He Urges Springer to Stand
by the Democratic Party.
4 VERY INTERESTING DISH
For the Public at Large and Mime
sofa in Particular.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

MANNING'S QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
WASHINGTON April 5.-Iu the House at con-
clusion of the call of States, MIR. Manning rose
to question of personal privilege, and sent to
the clerks desk and had read an article which
appeared in the Washington papers Saturday,
relative to the action of MIR. Springer, chair
man of the elections committee, in the DON
nelly-Washburn election case. The article
in question, after giving an account OF the
charges against Mr.. Springer stated that Man.
ming had substantiated all that was contained
therein. MIR. Manning said it is due alike to
Mr.. Springer and myself that I should make
statement in reference to the article.
Mr.. McLane-Explain to the House in what
respect it is question of privilege for you.
Mr.. Manning-If the gentleLIap will hear
tory answer, and l beg the gentle
man to remember what the ar
ticle contains 1t states that
1 substantiated all that is contained in it.
That is not true, and therefore have a right
to be heard l do not propose to refer to
the course of the gentleman from Illinois in
the election contest in question, but as far as
possible hive not had ut any time disposi-
tion to go further than my duty requires me
to. The discharge of that duty gives me no
pleasure, but while the gentleman from Illinois
has been advised by me by letter of my Objec-
tion to his course and the action taken and to
be taken by me, it is my purpose now to treat
him with the utmost fairness, observing all the
prOprieties of our respective positions, and all
the conventiOnalities used among gentlemen.
Prompted by that spirit l shall proceed to refer
to some of the statements contained in that
argument. Mr.. Manning then proceeded to
state that that portion of the article which
-kz1 lkAL l.
committee on elections had met In MIR.
Springer's room and unanimously agreed to sup
port the sub committee was totally untrue. The
first paragraph of the article stated that he pro-
posed to demand an investigation of certain
charges against AIR. Springer. That was
wholly without authority. That he had
charged that Mr.. Springer's conduct was based
on corrupt motives In SO far as that language
was construed to mean that he had charged
Springer with receiving money for his action
in the case as a member of the committee he
desired to say that he had preferred no such
charge. So far as the anonymous letter was
concerned MIR. Springer had been informed of
the course he deemed it his duty to pursue.
That course he did not deem it important or
proper to make known. The statement that
he had substantiated all the charges contained
in the article was untrue, and also the state
ment that he had determined to ask the House
to investigate Springer's conduct.
sPRINGER's STATEMENT.
Mr. Springer, speaking with some feeling: l
have been in public life for many years, and
up to this time no charge Of this kind has ever
been made by any one so far as 1 know affect
ing the integrity of my course as representa-
tive of the people, and of course was much
surprised when saw this article in the Post
last Saturday. The gentleman from Missis-
sippi has already taken occasion to deny iii his
place that portion of this article which refers
to the meetings of Democratic members at my
room, at which meeting this article states we
agreed before hand to endorse whatever report
the subcommittee might bring in. OF course
it was hardly necessary for the gentleman to
renounce this statement, for it bore on its face
evidence of being a falsehood. No set of
gentlemen could meet together and agree to
any such thing.
propose, Mr.. Chairman, to refer to this
article in detail because it is a question of
privilege
AFFECTING MY INTEGRITY.
It is quite natural that should apply to the
editor to know who was responsible for the
article. Mr.. Springer then sent to the clerks
desk and had read a letter which he had writ
ten to Stillson Hutchins, editor of the Post,
requesting the name of the author, and also
the reply he had received from that gentle
man, and from Waddell, the reporter who had
spoken to Mr.. Manning on the subject. MIR.
Waddell stated in his letter that, under in
structions from Hutchins he went to see Mr..
Manning in regard to the matter, and reported
the story to him. Discovering that he was
acquainted with the details of the matter, Mr..
Manning had remarked to him that his in
formation was in substance correct, and then
went on and repeated the story to him about
as he had told it. Manning had declined to be
interviewed, remarking that it was neither nec-
essary nor proper.
Mr.. Springer-I deem it unnecessary to ques-
tion whether the gentleman from Mississippi
is responsible for the article in the Post
Whether he be or not don't know. l simply
send this information to the clerks desk,
and leave the question hereafter as one of We
racity between the Post aud the gentleman
from Mississippi, a question with which have
no concern. But while the gentleman has dis
claimed responsibility for this article, and the
Post stated that the article was based on infor-
nation from him, which he deemed sufficient
to warrant publication of the article, do not
deem it necessary to ask for an investigation
of the fact that any action as q representative
has been attributed to corrupt motives. Gen.
tlemen may naturally imagine the sensitive
ness which experience on the subject, for the
reason that it brings my wifes name before
the country, and it was for this reason that /
asked tAat the matter might not be talked
about.
THE LETTER.
The letter published is not the one or copy
of the one, received. That letter is as fol-
lows
WASHINGTON, March 4.-Sir: If you will keep
Wsshburn IN his seat in spite of the Democrats,
we will pay Mrs. s. five Thousand dollars. Get
the thing squashed at once. Respectfully.
Oaughter.)
1t will be seen, Mr.. Chairman, that this is
not signed by the thin Disguise of "a Repub-
hcan, and was not wrictea by one, as will ap.
pear before have concluded my statement If
l had been at home the letter would have been
committed to the flames, as commit all anony-