Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-13


The executive committee of the Demo-
cratic national committee held private
meeting last night, which was not over
until nearly midnight. The member pre-
sent were W. II. Barnum, Frederick o.
Prince, Abram S. Hewitt, w. w. Arm
strong and William L. Scott. Hiram L.
Atkinson, chairman of the Democratic
state committee of Vermont, acted as
proxy for Bradley d. Smalley Charles A.
Canda, treasurer of tho national committee
as proxy for Alvah w. Sulloway, and
William c. Whitney, corporation counsel
of New York, as proxy for Outerbridge
Horsey. Mr.. Barnum presided. The
committee issued the following address:
"In response to inquiries, the national
Democratic committee makes the follow
ing statement:
''First. Neither tho committee, nor
any subcommittee thereof. has ever taken
any action in reference to the MOrey let
ter.
"Second. That it was first called to the
attention of tho chairman of the commit
on the night before its publication in the
Truth on the Goth Of October.
"Third. That the chairman thereupon
requested Smalley, member of the COM
mittee, to examine the letter, but per-
mission to do so was refused him at tho
Office of the Truth.
"FOurth. That no member of the CON-
mittee ever saw the letter, or any copy
or portion thereof, until after its publi-
cation, or was in anywise concerned
therein, or gave any advice in reference
thereto.
Fifth. That Hart, publisher Of Truth,
brought the original letter to headquar-
ters on the afternoon of October 20, when
it was seen for tho first time by any men,
ber of the committee and then examined
by several members of the committee and
other persons not members. All those who
| were familiar with the handwriting of
Gen. Garfield came to tho conclusion that
the letter was genuine.
"Sixth, Tho committee decided to pur-
chase a reasonable number of electrotype
copies. of the fac similc which had already
been prepared by Truth.
Seventh, That no denial having come
from Garfield of tho authenticity of the
letter, notwithstanding the telegraphic de-
mand of the New York Herald and very
sharp leader in that paper, tho committee
decided to give out electrotype plates,
which was accordingly done. The propri-
ETY. of this action was not doubted by tho
committee, rs tho letter seemed to be in
harmony with aarfield's views upon the
subject, covered by letters gathered from
public records of undoubtsd genuineness.
Eighth. That the first complete denial
was not published until four days after
the original publibaton in Truth and to
this denial, unsupported by any other evil
dence, the committee, in view of Garfield's
connection with the scandal, attached no
weight.
"Ninth. That, therefore, when evidence
was offered to show that Morey was real
person and not q myth, the committee
called for its production, as they were
bound to do, in order to arrive at the
truth.
"Tenth. That if the letter has been
forged or any fraud committed in refer
ence thereto, or any false evidence been
given, it has been done without the knowl-
edge, consent or privity of tho committee
Or of any member thereof. Finally, the
committee approves of all honest measures
to punish any and all persons who have
committed any violation of the law and
have no interest in this matter, but to ar
rive at the very truth of the affair. That
there should be doubt as to the authen-
ITCHY of ths letter is largely due to the
1alIuro OF Tile prosecution 10 put 0Irlclu
Oh the stand. BY order of the committe.
"W1LI1AM II. BARNUX, Chairman.
"FHEDERIcK O. PRINCE, Secretary"
Tie following resolutions offered by Mr..
Scott and seconded by Mr.. Armstrong
were passed:
Whereas, Allegations of fraud in
various states and especially in the state
of New York have been brought to the
notice of this committee,
+"Resolsed, that this committee has no jur-
isdiction over local violation of the election
laws, but it recommends the several
Democratic committees of the states where
these frauds have been committed to in
vestigate them with view to the exposure
of the violators of the law and their prompt
and just punishment. In relation to the
duties of the courts or of Congress in tho
premises the committee is not and cannot
be charged with any responsibility"
4 a mn