Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-01-14
Maine Under Military Rule

CEEDlNGS-IHE BRIBERY CAoCS,
ETC.
AUGUSTA, Me, Jan. early
this morning Major-General Cham
berlain issued general order stat
ing that in view of the extraordina-
ry situation now presented at the
seat of government he would as
sumo command and protect public
property and the institutions of the
State in trust for the people until
the Governors successor has been
legally elected and Gully qualified.
BY this order Gen. Chamberlain
assumes temporarily the office of
Governor and commander-in-chief.
The entire police force at the State
House was changed this morning.
those indicated by Gen. Chamber
lain taking the place of those that
have been drilling there for several
weeks. The change was quietly
made.
AT the opening of the session
but one republican appeared and
took his seat, Senator Loche, OF
Cumberland. The vote on the bri-
berry order was reconsidered, and
the order laid on the table. The
committee appointed on the gu6er-
material votes is composed of Mes
srs. Atwell, Linn, Thompson OF
Knox, Barrett, Loche, Dingley
and Flint. The committee on sem
atorial votes will proceed at once
with its duty, 1t is composed OF
Messrs. Strickland, Polten, Thomp--
son of Knox, Ranhlin, Coombs and
Sampson. Seventy-two members
only appeared in their seats in the
House, all fusionists, The House
attempted to exclude all but the
official reporters, but several were
struggled in. Thomas B. Swan,
of Minot, rose and read a statement
that $1,000 had been paid him not
to appear at the organization Of the
Legislature. He stated that the
money had been paid him by Wal
lace r. White, Of Winthrop, and
that he (Swan) should not claim it.
Mr., Hartman, of Kennebunk, testl'
fed that the same offer had been
made him by Mr.. White.
SWANS STATEMENT.
The statement by Mr.. Swan is
as follows "Ihe press of the re-
publican party makes charges
against me rejecting upon my hon
or and integrity in relation to mat
tiers connected with my position as
a member of this House. l refer
to the attempt to bride me by an
agent of the republican party. l
will briefly state the main facts con-
nected with this affair. | came from
my home this city on Saturday,
January 3, On the Monday fol-
lowing rumors were ahoat that men
had been offered money to absent
themselves from the House OF Rep
resentatives, so that no quorum
would be present on the first
Wednesday Of January. Late on
the evening Of January ga reliable
person, who is now a member OF
this House, informed me that Wal
lace R. White, Of Winthrop, had
called upon him and offered him
$1,000 in cash to deliver up his
certificate and resign as member
of the House, which he had rcfus-
ed to accept, and that said White
informed him that he wanted three
more men to resign, and requested
him to see me. Upon this intOr-
nation went at once to the Au-
gusta House and found Hon. E. IL,
Cove, secretary OF the State, and
told him what | knew about the
matter. Mr.. Cove and myself then
went out and found Hon. Scion
Chase. In their presence | hastily
drew and signed an affidavit en-
bodying my statement Of the bnb-
cry" His affidavit was sent on
Tuesday night. Mr.. Swan con-
tinued: 81 then went and request
ed the gentleman who had been off
cred the $1,000 to see Mr.. White
in the morning and inform him that
l would resign for $1,000. He
saw Mr.. White the next morning
Mr.. White sent back request fol
me to meet him at the courthouse
at 1870 o'clock A. N. | went
there at that time and met White.
who took me up stairs into cor
ner room. He then showed me {
statement, as follows:
"'AUGUsTA, Me-, Jan. 6, 1880
To the Chairman Of the Demo
cratic and Grcenback Committee
After mature deliberation | have
concluded that it IS my duty as ;
citizen to obey the laws as they are
construed and decided by the Su
preme Judicial Court. l cannot
therefore, lend my aid to keeping
out their seats the republican Rep
resentatives-elect whom the Su
preme Court has declared entitled
thereto. l therefore give public
notice that | will not participate IL
the organization of the House, being
fairly and fully determined to obey
the mandates of the court. To re
resist that mandate is revolution
destructive both to my party anC
IL .4 ;o.o~oe+s of tba Stafo