Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-09
WHISKY RING ENPO.URES>
Gen. McDOnald's Secret History.
kGtTdcfs From the Forthcoming
Book.


KrtTacts From the Forthcoming
Book.
The st. Louis Post Dispatch OF Saturday prints
over ten columns OF excerpts from the book
written by Gen. John Mcdonald, purporting to
be secret history of the famous whisky ring
exposed in 1916. First there is a PREDATORY re-
view OF the formation of the ring. Then the
allegation of connection with it Of President
Grant. General Babcock, and other distinguish
alton.
According to Gen. McDonald's account the
first proposition to organize a ring was made
in 1871. Collector Ford at first refused and
consummation OF the scheme was for the time
being prevented. Ford, however. being men
aced With removal II he did not consent finally
an understanding between the President Ford
Joyce and myself that ring should be
formed, the proceeds from which Should consti-
TUE "a eampagn 1nnd TO advance @ the interests
was made In September, 1871. just after Megrue
arrived. / cannot give the minute details of the
coHectlon and disbursement OF the Illicit frauds
for the reason that there was no rule estab-
lished for the government OF the ring mem
bers In their operations. One month an assess
ment OF s20,O 600 may have been levied on the dis
tilleTs and rectifers, and during the next month
nVe times that sum may have been called for.
Much depended On the demand for money made
by Gen. Babcock for division among the admin
1sTat1on conspirators and the demand for
local purposes. In addition to this the Wash
ington segment of the ring was In the habit
OF sending commissions into the district for
the sole purpose OF blackmail / can have no
doubt that Hogue. Brasher and others who
appeared here as revenue agents were sent by
Babcock, and Rogers, the deputy commissioner,
Tor the purpose OF soaring the st. Louis Officials
INTO payment OF large sums Of money for their
silence. More than 100000 was paid out OF the
luId In this way. and that some OF this money
went into the White House has always been my
positive belief" He continues L was In constant
oread or public exposure. Time ana again |
talked with the other managers: urging the
danger of our position and the bad policy OF
continuing the corruption after our purpose
was accomplished. / laid the matter before
Grant. who referred to Babcock. whose judg-
length concurred In the opinion that the ring
could be run successfully by creating fund to
ADVANCE Grants th1rd-term aspirations. Har-
mony again prevailed among all the members of
the ring"
VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
McDonald and Ford visited Washington fn
March, 1871. Ford dined with Grant, and Nc
Donald and Ford called at the White House at
s in the evening and had an interview with
Grant ABOUT the campaign fund Mr.. McDon-
aid says: AFTER saluting Mrs Grant we retired
20 the clue room and spent a long while
thoroughly canvassing the political issues In
the west and particularly schemes for creating
a campaign fund. The President distinctly in
formed Mr. Ford that he had tntruSted certain
matters to me, that he understood everything
andthatW hatever we wanted would be forthcom-
ing upon request
I'D.
When President Grant in 1873 was In Kansas
Joyce, one of the chief members OF the ring,
wrote Mcdonald as follows:
LAWRENCE. KAN, April 25, 1873
DEAR GENERAL.-1 arrived here this morning
In company with Gen. Grant and party. The
mayor and citizens OF Lawrence met us at the
aepot: t,p and the Presidential party rode around
the city was In carriage with Miss Nellie
Grant, Miss KfInball, of ST Louis, and Major
Dunn. Gen. Babcock and his brother went TO-
gether. Gen. o. E. and the subscriber had
q rfn
TO Gen. JOHN MCDONALD. st. lou louis s. '0''A'
On one occasion Joyce went to look after
things In Washington. While there he sent the
EBBITT HOUSE, WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1874.
Dear Generdl:-Wel, it's after eleven O'Clock
and Just before retiring will give you my days
ramoes In very brief style. | saw and talked
(sic) With Douglas, Clayton, Babcock, the Presi-
dent, Belknap, Rogers and Avery. You can just
imagine what ! said to each, and can just bet
Your last nickel that got what wanted. The
White House people were very pleasant, and
Douglas was all peaches and honey. Brasher
has no authority to visit st. Louis and If he
90 the most good" am going to ride with Bah
(Babcock) tomorrow. just keep our kettle boil
ing sic and don't let anything interrupt the
Yours always JOHN A. JOYCE.
GEN. GRANTS ENDORSEMENT. IT. ''''A'
On anotner occasion rumor reached st.
Louis that revenue agents were again to be sent
there. joyce wrote letter to Avery in WASH
ington to know If this was true. and If he did
iS noo @ Ieel autnorZed to reply to see Babcock or
the PRESIDENT. BaDcock was absent, and Avery
took the letter to President Grant, who en-
dorsed it as follows:
"Joyce and Mcdonald are reliable and trust
worthy. Let them have the Information tney
Mcdonald makes a detailed statement OF the
present OF team OF horses to Grant. The
horses, harness, gold breastplates, buggy, etc,
were bought in ST Louis. in Grants name, and
sent In special car 10 Washington.
$1,000 TO BABCOCK.
Shortly after this On Dec s. 1874 Mcdonald
started for Washington. He says :-"On the
cay before left Col. Joyce had collected S. 900
from the dist1llers and rect1erS. which he re-
cordance with the understanding he had be.
tween them when the latter was In attendance
at the st. Louis fair. This money, as saw it
counted, was in bills Of the denomination of
$1,000 and $500. reached Washington on the
morning of Dec. 7th. and directly after Off ;e
hours | went to the White House. The first
person met there was Gen. Babcock, whom
found seated at his desk the secretary's
room, and after passing the usual greeting,
toCk the money from my pocket and handed it
to % him. with the remark, Here is $4,000 which
joyce collected from the boys for your benefit
before left st. Louis He took the package
and placed 1t in his pocket without counting
the money, with many expressions of gratitude.
TtmarklDg that he understood the source from
Which the money came"
THE PRESENT OF A TEAM TO THE PRESIDENT.
Mcdonald went to see the President. He
louhu MIN alone and said: general l have
some papers In connection with the team which.
with my explanation, wish to give YOU he
asked me 10 come on the following day at noon
saying that he would be at leisure then. / told
the PRESIDENT that had the papers with me-
aIC II ne could spare me few moments | would
give them to him then. He assented, and to-
gether With me walked into the Executive room
Where handed him all the bills which were I'm
MS name for every article Col Joyce and had
purchased In completing the buggy and OUTFIT.
each Dill being receipted in full. At the same
tlme asked him to give me a small sum of
money, SO as to enable me to say II the Oues-
uon were asked, that l had sold the team to
him. he handed me $50 bill, which declined
assuring him that much smaller sum would
answer my purposes. He next gave mo a sIO
Lote and gave him 81 in change, leaving me
with the sum OF s. for Sc 600 outfit, OnehaIf
OF the actual expense of the team buggy and
harness and the cost OF transportation VAS paid
to me by Col Joyce, who United with me in
making the present. told him that had lust
given Gen. Rabcock S. 900, which l remarked
was part OF the proceeds of our campaign fund
Id ST. Louis. He assured me 1t was ali right as
he mad entrusted Babcock With the details of
western matters and whatever we did with
MIN (Babcock) would be quite satisfactory,
THIRD TERN TALK WITH PRESIDENT GRANT
Sen Grant then requested me to get into his
buggy and take ride with him, which l did
gong out nearly to Bladensburg, and returning
making circuit OF the city and driving through
an the principal streets. During our ride the
conversation recurred 70 political matters, and
enieiy upon his prospects for third term He