The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-05-12
OUTRAGEOUS STORIES.
The Infamous Attempt to Inplcate Democrats
In the Star Route steal.

WASHINGTON, May S-The most outrageous
stories in connection with the Star Route scandals
were teleerams sent from this CITY, endeavOrinQ
to implIcate Ex Senator Wallace, and TO make Il
appear that 1t was the money Of the Star Route
contractors which prevailed in securing for Gen.
eral Hancock the Presidential nomination at
Cincinnati. The editor Of the Sunday Herald Of
this city, is Captain J. N BuTrtt, who during the
war was an aid-decamp on General Hancocks
staff. In to.mOrow's Herald he viii print an
editorial, giving an insight into the Hancock
boom and what was behind IT, The article will
say:
1.-THE attempt to connect the nomination OF
General Hancock with funds contributed by the
Star Route ring is an outrage for which there IL
not the slightest justification. AS Is we'll known
to every one at all acquainted with the facts
General HancOck's nomination was revolt
against machines and rings and was accom-.
plished without money and without combina.
tionB II was the result Of belief that General
Hancock's personal purity and political record
made him the strongest candidate. The most
potent argument against his nomination came
from the 'DOrseys' and the 'Brsdys OF the Demo.
cratic machine, who urged the impossibility Of
rallying to his support the corTupting influence
which they alleged would be necessary to secure
his election. The means used to promote his
nomination were confined TO arguments as to his
availability. They were simple, legitimate and
commendable, and not costly. After the fall
elections OF 1879 (Which dem onstrated the impos
sibility Of electng Tilden) the writer hereof, in
connection with General Duncan 8. Wa ker, Or
ganized system Of correspondence intended to
bring the advantages Of Hancock g nomination
before Democrats generally, and more especially
before the Democrats of Pennsylvania. The en-
terprise was undertaken in the full belief, which
the result justified, that free discussion Of the
availability OF the different candidates would
show that General HAncock's nomination offered
the best prospect Of success. In addition to this
correspondence, Hon. B. NJ. Boyer and General
St. Clair Mulholland, together with General
Walker and Others printed large edition OF the
Civil Record Of General Hancock, and circu.
lated 1t throughout the country, but most largely
in Pennsylvania. The writer hereof attended
the Pennsylvania State Convention, and knows
every movement there taken by General Ham
cocks friends. He took every step Of bis own
motion, and without solicitation from any one;
he paid his own expenses, and has good reason
to know there was no fund Of 900 or even
81 600 expended in the State Convention in Han.
cocks interest Even the postage on The exten.
sive correspondence from here, and the cost OF
publication Of the pamphlet referred to, came
out OF the pockets OF few genlamen no 10 Of
them Wes lthy, and belonging TO no ring or ma.
chine The money used in Pennsylvania ii any,
was not In the hands OF General HancOck's
friends. Several millionaires eXerted themselves
to defeat Hancock In the State, W. H. Barnum,
Of Connecticut; W. L Scott, of Erie; r. A, Park
er, of Bradford, and franklin B, Gowan, Of the
Reading Railroad, did defeat HanCock's dele.
gates in several districts III the interest of the
Tilden. Randall coalition. If Senator Wallace
got $4,000 from the Star Route ring 10 send an
anti. Randall delegation to Cincinnati-which is
grossly improbable and which we no not be.
liGve-he put In his own pocket
AT Cincinnati the case was very similar,
Agents Of other candidates did have plenty Of
money there, HancccKs friends had none. But
few hundred dollars were raised or needed in
promoting Hancocks nomination, and this wa
contributed by the Generals friends, who eX
pended It, under the direction of Generals Frank.
lin, Baldy Smith, MulhOlland and Walker, in
renting a modest headquarters, hack hire, and
the printing of badges. As to Senator Wallace's
connection with HanCocks nomination, the facts
are we'll known. In the contest in Pennsylvania
the Senator was on the fence. BE declared his
policy TO be union OF all the elements 10 beat
Tilden He was warmly the friend of Bayard
and in favor OF running Bayard, Seymour, Field,
Hancock, or any other man for the State COnven'
ton, SO long as their paramount allegiance was
due to Wallace. His policy was disastrous for II
changed the nght so lar as MS influence extend.
cd, into one between Wallace and Randall, and
Wallace was defeated, while hut for this compli
cation on a straight fight Hanc ok would have
Car led the convention, Even alter he cached
Cincinnati Senator Wallace had not made up his
mind for whom he would cast his influence. He
there told Mr.. NJ. P. Handy that BsyaId seemed
10 be the likellest candidate to beat the Tilden
game with, and that II his influence could bring
about Bayard's nomination 1t should be done
forthwith. II was only when Halcock's strength
lowered over a ! that Wallace, with hundreds Of
others, who saw The handwriting on the wall de.
Clared himself openly. II he received $4,000
from the Star Route ring to nominate Hancock
which, as we said, we do not believe-then he
never expended 1t, nor any other sum for that
nuFnnen