The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-05-17
STAR ROUTE sWINDLE.
HOW DORSEY MANAGED THE
SCHEME In OREGON.

ID b hAAV AVSS / u NV AbN0A2s
HOW DORSEY MANAGED THE
SCHEME In OREGON.
Some Interesting Documents That
Show Up the Vtllainy of the
Secretary of the National
Republican Committee.
PORTLAND, On, May 10.-A dispatch
from Denver, Colorado, published yes
terday, gives the information that legal
proceedings have been commenced there
against Senator Dorsey, Of Arkansas
now Secretary Of The National Republi-
can Committee, for services rendered to
obtain an increase Of the mail service
and get additional pay therefore on the
Star routes in Oregon. The announce
ment has attracted much attention. more
so from the fact that it was stated the
papers on which the suit has been insti-
tuted at Denver had been received al
Denver from we'll known attorney a,
Portland, and that the claimant is a well
known politician here on Oregonian
street. The history of it
FULLY IDENTIFIED EX-SENATOR DORSEY
WITH TIE STAR ROUTE ROBBERY.
The claimant in the suit, Frank D.
Wilcox, who, though formerly connect
ed with politics in Arkansas, has not ap.
pesred prominent in politics here. He
went 10 Arkansas from illinois in 1869
and became acquainted with Dorsey
there. He was Secretary OF the State
Republican Committee OF Arkansas
though he never held an Office, and bore
prominent part in the election OF Dor.
sey to the Senate. Desiring 10 get ou'
of politics, he left Arkansas and come
to Oregon in 1877. When Dorsey be.
gan 10 operate in the star routes in Ore
gon, he remembered that Wilcox had
come to this State, and his relations with
him had been of a most intimate kind
be fixed upon Wilcox as the man to help
him work up to higher figures: the mail
routes in which be had become inter-
ested. Dorsey first telegraphed to par.
ties in Portland to learn il Wilcox was
there. Having ascertained be was be
wrote him saying what service he wanted
performed and directed him TO 90 to
Eugene City, giving instructions at same
time how to get up the petitions, have
them signed and make sub-contracts fol
carrying the mails. The
PETITIONS WERE TO BE FORWARDED 70
WASHINGTON
to be used in getting the service and
pay increased. For the service required
Wilcox was to get IS day and his ex-
penses. Before starting for Eugene
City be had the following telegram:
WASHINGTON, April 26 1879.
F. r. WILCOX: All my. other letters
written 10 Eugene City. Have telegraphed
money. Inquire at telegraph offi,e. Go
immediately.
[Signed S W. DORSEY.
The money being received for expen-
ses. Wilcox went to Eugene City, where
he received Dorsey's other letters with 8
memoranda directing him
HOW TO PROCEED.
The route Dorsey first wished to oper.
ate on was out from Eugene City across
the Cascade mountains to Nutshell, IN
Eastern Oregon, by wav OF the Prime.
vale route, which is almost wholly un.
necessary, as it passes through nearly
an uninhabited country, and the small
centres Of population on the east OF the
Cascade range are supplied by Other
routes. Dorsey drew up in his own
hand and forwarded to Wilcox the fol.
lowing
FORM OF PETITION
on which the signatures were to be OBJ
tanned, which was forwarded to the
Postmaster General:
"The undersigned citizens of Bridge
Creek, Oregon, beg to earnestly recon.
mend to your favorable consideration ar
increase Of the mail service between
Eugene CITY and this place to q daily
line, and ask that the speed be greatly
increased. This route supplies large
and rapidly increasing population and il
the sole mode OF conveying intelligence
to great portion of Southern OREGON
We believe the public interest will b,
subserved by an early increase of thi'
service and we earnestly recommend it.
To this is added the following instruc
tion to Wilcox:
"Of course you want the wording a
well as the hand writing of each person
to be different as possible"
Dorsey next proceeded to instruc
Wilcox to sublet the route, as the 70!
loving telegram shows:
WAsHINaros, April 13, 1879.
F, R. Wilcox, Eugene City:
The mail contract for the Bridge Cree
route is for speed of four and bal
miles an hour, three trips a week, nj
sub-contract to be fled, but payment t
be guaranteed by me personally. Max
same contract on Looking Glass route
S. W. DORSEY.
The following was the next Telegram
received by Wilcox:
WASHINGTON, April 28, 1879.
To F. R. Wilcox:
Make no compromise With sub-cor
tractors; must be absolutely new, Cor
tract, with amount specially stated
Telegraph fully upon closing contrac
S. W. DORSEY.
Fearing that Wilcox would not full
understand, Dorsey alta later hour o
the same day telegraphed as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., April2S. 1879.
F. R. Wilcox:
A new contract becomes necessar
because the old firm has been dissolved
and the business passes into new hand,
Must have a new contract or no pay
Contract on Bridge Creek route fo
three, six and seven times, on the schei
ule of four miles an hour, also the sam
on Looking Glass route. Telegraph m
fully before closing any contract. Des
With responsible men.
S. w. DORSEY.
There the old trick is manifest. eth
old firm is dissolved" that is, the stra
bidders were pushed out Of the way an
the ring was now making its next NOV,
Here is the next telegram.
WASHINGTON, May 8, 1879.
F. R. Wilcox:
! have no interest in Star routes ez
cept the Bridge Creek and Lookip