Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-02
ARKANSAS POLITICS.
Clayton and Dorsey's Operations Immedi-
ately After the War, and Present Efforts
to Regain Political Control.

at0ly After the war, ana FreS0nt Lu0Eu
to Regain Political Control.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Jan. 1.-The Milwaukee
Sentinel will contain an interview tomorrow
morning with a Mr.. La Due, of this city, rel
alive to the Mahonizing of Arkansas. He
said before the war the bonded indebtedness
of Arkansas, principal and interest, was lesf
than 81, 100000, contracted principally for the
establishment of state bonds. In 1879
the bonded Indebtedness of that
state, principal and interest, exceeded
S44. OOO, 900, which enormous increase debt,
through the scheme of Clayton and Dorsey, at
time when the total valuation of the entire
state was about $97, 000, 900.
But how, interrupted the reporter, did
Messrs. Clayton and Dorsey successfully carry
through their fraudulent schemes, and what
were the schemes?
To state the matter briefly, replied Mr.. La
Due, I was editor of the Little Rock Daily
Herald for q few years after the close OF
war and naturally took an interest In state
politics. White men at that time were dis
franchised and negroes ruled the roost.
Clayton and Dorsey, with others, introduced
bill for binding the state for millions of
dollars, the money to be used in building rail-
roads in the state and an honest phase was
given the project by Senator Blaine and Vice
President Wilson's endorsement. The legis-
lature passed it and their constituents ratified
the act.
What was done with the bonds?
Millions of these were disposed of in Eu-
rope for whatever they would bring, some be-
ing sold at rs per cent discount, and the
proceeds were used by Dorsey, Clayton,
Mcclure and their friends in private specula-
ton, poker being one of them.
Who was Mcclure?
The chief justice of the state who rendered
the decision in the Baxter-Brooks contest.
Through the efforts of Clayton and Dorsey,
Brooks. Republican, was elected governor,
these gentlemen believing that he would
serve their interests. In this they were mis-
taken, as he pronounced the issuing of the
bonds fraud upon the people, and absolutely
refused to affix the gubernatorial signature to
any more of them. They then resurrected
writ of quo warranto which had
been drawn by Bakers friends imme-
diatejy after the closely contested election, and
Notwithstanding their former action in secur
decision that Brooks was legally elected.
Through Judge Mcclure they secured decis-
ion to the contrary and he was removed from
the gubernatorial chair, and given postmas-
tership to keep his mouth shut and Baxter
was sworn in governor, The effort, though
successful, was attended with much blood
shed, men being shot down like dogs in
the streets, and the riot is known
as the Baxter Brooks war. The excitement
thus created led to thorough investigation
of the bond business, and resulted in such q
condemnatory sentiment among the people
that Baxter dare not serve the schemers The
estrangement of Dorsey and Clayton grew
from misunderstanding oh division of the
spoils, Dorsey being an unfortunate man in
financial undertakings, and thus when in need
of the oil to set his lamp bright and burning
before the dear people, he, like the
foolish virgin called upon the wise and dis.
Greet Clayton for election "grease," and met
with the F. V. 8. answer. Mr.. Clayton's as
pirations for high office could not be realized
through Mr.. Dorsey's popularity and Dorsey
diets, and hence their efforts since then have
been directed to exposing each
others rascality Under these cir
circumstances the intimatiOn Of a
consolidation of the two factions to "me
seems absurd. And furthermore consider
ing the above facts which are historical rela-
tive to the origin of the states indie btedness,"
facts well understood by the people of Arkan-
tas, Clayton and Dorsey would be
two beautiful hgureheads to lead of
in a move to Tepudiate a
debt which they had contracted. Let the
Democratic party of Arkansas divide on the
question of state Indebtedness and run two
state tickets and in my opinion Clayton and
Dorsey united would not have followers
enough to defeat either wing of the Demo.
cratic party in that state,