The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-10-05
GEN. GARFTELD,H
De GoLYER RECORD.
He Declares that He Made an Argu.
ment Before the Board Of
Public Works.

work was completed. He asked me il
would argne the case for him IL I would
examine iate the merits OF this pave
ment aad &aFb . statement Of il before
the hoard.
MADE THE ARGUMENT.
From the sams speech at Warren.
The question was if the people want
the wood pavement and are determined
to have it, which, pavement shall we give
them, the hest, or not the besti Now,
bave before me here, WHAT I HAD
WHEN MADE THE AHsunENr, certificates
from Chicago, ST Louis, San Francisco,
and all the other cite. where the pave.
ment was laid, that it stood better than
any wood pavement that had ever been
laid.
From the same Speech.
A committee Of investigation went
over the whole ground OF this business
in Washington. Mr.. Parsons went be.
fore that committee and told them all he
knew about this pavement; told them
what he knew of its merits, AND TOLD
THEM he AND ARGUED that case.
GEN. GARFIELD SWEASS THAT
HE ARGUED THE CASE BE-
io FORE THE BOARD.'
From his testimony before an Investigating
Committee Of Congress, in February. 1879. :.
Mr.. Nickerson-l understand you to
say, Mr. Garfield, that YOU prepared
brief after Mr. Parsons went awav, and
that you 6letl it with the Board OF Public
Works. Is there any such brief on die ?
Mr.. GarfeId-My impression is that !
fled it, though l. am not certain.
KNOW THAT STATED To THE BOARD OF
PUBLIC WORKS IHE POINTS OF TIE CASE.
The Chairman-You did make an ar.
gumentp
Mr.. Garfiell-I made-a careful study
of the case, ana stated the points TO
the members of The Board.
Mr.. N,ckerson--Did you ever meet
the Board collected together as Board.
and make any statement or argument ON
the sabjecl,7 - -
Mr.. Garfield don't know whether
the members OF the Board we're sill there
or not.
Mr. Nickerson-Did you At any time
appear before the Board and make ANY
ARGUMENT wRArkvER2 ~ 4s.,
Gen. Garfield do not remember
that | did but did speak to Governor
Shepherd on the subject giving my opin-
ion in it's favor.
THE TRUTH ABOUT GARFIELD'S
.sARGUMENT"
From Alexander R. Shepherds testimony be-
fore the same Committee.
Q-You say, speaking Of the irtinence
of Parsons, "Tbat was followed by fire.
quent pressures by Mr.. Parsons, and
Gen. Garfield spoke to me about it orce.'
Is that your hest recollection now, that
that was all that was done by Mr.. Gar
6eldP
Mr.. Shepherd-THAr WAS. ALL THAT
he EVER DID He NEVER SPOKE TO NE
BUT ONCE on TIE SUBJECT
WHY PARSONS WAS EMPLOYED
TO EMPLOY GARFIELD
From BenjaA&nin r. Nickersonis s testimony be-
fore ths.InyestigatinE COMMITTEES.
was the owner OF the ironiEng pro.
cess. was TO ironize the pavement and
have u royalty. NV interest in it was
worth SEC, 900 or $40, ZOO. at least, AND
Mr. Parsons WAS EMPLOYED WITH THE
ASSURANCE To ne IY CBrrrENDEH THAT
HE WAS ABLE 70 REACH THE MAN WHO
COULD SECURE THE CONTRACT
AND why GARFIELD WAS EN-
saass PLOYEO
From letter to DeGolyer & McUlelland from
their agent, Gee. R. Chittenden. May Sv, 70.
The INFLUENCE OF Gen. GARFIELD
Has BEEN SECURED II YESTERDAY, LAST
NIGHT, AND To-DAY's LAIsRs. He BoLDs
THE PURSE STRINGS OF THE UNITED
STATES; Is CHAIRMAN or TIE COMMITTEE
ON APPRsPRIArIoN-, AND THE srRoNGE' 7
NAN IN CoxaRfss 1CAN HARDLY REALIZE
THAT We HAvE GEN. GARFIELD WITH Us.
IT Is RARE SUCCESS AND VERY GRATIFYING.
AS ALL fHE APPROPRIATIONS OF The DIS
TRIcT MUST CONE THROUGH HIN.
.
A REPUBLICAN OPINION OF THE
TRANSACTION.
From the Independent, July 80, 1874.
The testimony taken in the investiga-
ton of the District of Columbia frauds
shows that Nc. Garfield received $1,000
for his aid in getting through q paving
contract accepted by the District G,v.
ernment. A Mr.. Parsons, notorious
jobber, made an argument for the paving
COMPANY, aud then got Mr. Garfield to
make . further argument and to use his
personal influence in its favor. Or course
Mr. Garfield's argument was successful
How could it be olherwisep He was
Chairman of the Committee on Appro-
pristions. Every cent of money voted
to the District had to come through him
Shepherd could not refuse him anything
be asked, and Mr.. Garfield knew it when
he asked and received for his services
fee which sould have been grossly ex-
travsgant but for his official position.
GEN. GARFIELD DENOUNCED BY
HIS CONSTITUENTS FOR TAX
INC THE DE GOLYER BRIBE
Resolution adopted by the Republican Convsn-
tion at Warren, Ohio, Sept. 2, 1876.
We further arraign and charge him
with corrupt bribery In selling his on ,ial
influence as Chairman Of the Committee
on Appropriations fos $4,000 to tue De
Golyer Pavement Ring to aid them ln
securing contract from the Board OF
Public Works OF the District Of Colum-
bia; selling his influence to cid said Ring
| in imposing upon the people of said Dis
trlct q pavement which is almost worth
LESS, at q price three times its cost, a,
sworn to by one of the contractors
selling his influence to aid such Ring in
procuring q contract to procure which il
corruptlv paid S97 600 "for influence; :
, selling bis influence in matter that in
volved no question Of lax, upon th'