Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-11
STAR ROUTE SWINDLE.
HOW DORSEY MANAGED THE SCHEME
IN OREGON.
Some Interesting Documents That Show
Up the vilaiuy Of the Chairman
Of the National Republican
Committee.
REVELATIONS or A swAGLESS PAL.
STAR ROUTE swINDLE.

The Secretary OF tho NhtlOuh nopubhSe
Committee Fully identified with the
Robbery.
PoRrLAND, On, May l0.-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 therefor OH 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 at
Denver from a well known attorney at
Portland, and that the claimant is a
we'll known politician here on Oregoinan
street. The history OF it
Fully Identified Ex-senator Dorsey with
the Star Route Robbery.
The claimant in the suit, Frank ID.
Wilcox, who, though formerly connect
ed with politics in Arkansas, has not
appeared prominent in politics here.
He went to Arkansas from Illinois in
1869, and became acquainted with Dor
sey there. He was Secretary of the
State Republican Committee OF Arkan-
sas, though he never held an office, and
bore prominent part in the election
of Dorsey to the Senate. Desiring TO get
out OF politics, he left Arkansas and
come TO Oregon in 1877. When Dorsey
began to operate in the stsr routes in
Oregon, ne remembered that Wilcox
had come TO this State, and as his rela-
tiOns with him had been of q most inti-
mate kind, he fixed upon Wilcox as the
man to help HIM work up to higher tig
ures the mail ,routes in which he had
become interested. Dorsey first tele-
graphed to parties in Portland to learn
il Wilcox was there. Having ascertained
ne was he wrote him saying what
service he wanted performed and di-
rec.ed him to 60 To Eugene City, giving
instructions at same time how 10 get up
the petitions, have them signed and
make sub-contracts for carrying the
mails. The
Petitions Were to be Forwarded to
Washington
TO be used in getting the service and
pay increased. For the service re-
Uuirel wilcox was 10 get Sja day and
his expenses Before starting for
Eugene City he had the following tele-
gram:
WASHINGToy, April 26 1879.
+. X. UTicor:
All INV other letters written to
Eugene City. Have telegraphed money.
Inquire at telegraph office. Go imme-
diately.
TSigned. I s. w. DORSEY.
The money being received for ex-
penses. Wilcox went to Eugene City,
where he received Dorsey's other let
ters with 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 way 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
following
Form OF Petition
on which the signatures were to be OBJ
tained, which was forwarded to the
Postmaster General:
"The undersigned citizens OF Bridge
Creek, Oregon, beg to earnestly recon-
mend 10 your favorable consideration
an increase of the mail service between
Eugene City and this place TO a daily
line, and ask that the speed be greatly
increased. This route supplies large
and RAPIDLY increasing population and is
the sole mode OF conveying intelligence
to a great portion OF Southern Oregon.
We believe the public interest will be
subseryed by an early increase OF this
service and We earnestly recommend it,"
Tot this is added the following instruc-
ton to Wilcox:
"Of course you want the wording as
we'll as the handwriting OF each person
to be different as possible.
Dorsey next proceeded to instruct
Wilcox TO sublet the route, as the fol-
lowing telegram shows:
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1879.
2. X. WilcOI, Eugene City
The mail contract for the Bridge Greek
route is for speed OF four and half
miles an hour, three trips week, no
suE-contract to be filed, but payment TO
be guaranteed by me personally. Make
came contract on Looking Glass route.
S. w. DORSEY.
The following was the next telegram
received by Wilcox:
WASHINGTON, April 2S, 1879.
To r. x. Wilcox:
Make no compromise with sub'con-
tractors; must be absolutely new con.
tract, with amount specially stated.
Telegraph fully upon closing contract
) W. DORSEY.
Fearing that Wilcox would not fully
understand, Dorsey at a later hour on
the same day telegrsphed az follows;
WASHINGTON, u. c., April 2S, 1879.
F. X WiIcpT:
A new contrac. becomes necessary
because the old firm has been dissolved,
and the business passes into new hands.
Must have new contract or no pay.
Contract on Bridge Creek route for
three, six and seven times, on the sched-
ule OF sour miles an hour, also the same
on Looking Glass route. Telegraph me
fully before closing any contract. Deal
with responsible men.
s. W. DORSEY.
There the old trick is manifest. THE
old firm is dissolved" that is, the straw
bidders were pushed out otthe way and
the ring was now making its next move.
Here is the next telegram:
WASHINGTON, Map 5, 1879.
T. X. UHcOr:
have no interest in Star routes ex'
cept the Bridge Creek and Looking
Glass contract. On Bridge Greek one,
three, six and seven times a week, on
schedule OF fifty hours, at the prices
named in my letter OF the 10th. The
Department demands four miles an hour
speed, and you must contract covering
that speed Or more. Don't go above
the following: Three times, S., 600; six