The Aberdeen examiner., 1883-03-22

THE CHALMERs.MA CONTEST.

oS'i eSpoihOhJ S''oo ohC "oo'""ec
taken by the committee toward Gen
eral Chalmers campaign.
HUBBELI's CORRUPTION FUND,
Mr.. Hubbell stated that he was the
chairman and for awhile acting treas
uler of the Republican Congression>
al Campaign Committee of 1882. He
appointed Thomas r. Stuart assist
ant treasurer. The book, kept were
a receipt book, with large space for
stub, on which was entered the
received from IN individual,
date of its reception, his name and
residence, and the receipt from the
stubs were sent to the party sending
the money, and these amounts were
carried forward from page to page.
Clsh and bank accounts were also
kept. Disbursements were shown in
the committee-rooms by the stubs of
the check.books, and all moneys paid
out or disbursed were SO paid by
check, and all moneys received were
in bank. The checks were
drawn by the assistant treasurer,
after he was appointed, and were
countersigned by the witness. The
funds were known as the Republican
campaign fund, but they were also
called "Hubbell's corruption fund.-
and every other name one could
think of.
Witness has known General Chal-
mers since he was in Congress. He
had an interview with General Chal>
mers about the time he was turned
out of Congress; it was in the parlor
of the Riggs House, and the subject
discussed was Mississippi politics,
the attitude he proposed to take with
respect to them, and what he pro-
posed to do. He said that he was
satisfied in his own mind that there
was no hope for better times in Mis-
sissippi, politically, unless Bourbon
Democratic rule in that State could
be broken or overihrown. He said,
in response to question from wit
ness as to what he proposed to do,
that he should return to Mississippi
nd announce himself MS an indie.
pendent Administration candidate
for Congress, and wanted to know il
witness, in behalf of the committee
would be willing to aid him in maxi
ing the race. Witness replied that
they were not helping in that sort OF
a fight, and would not entertain the
question of assisting him nmle$s he
ecas aedorsed By the Rep"Jljcans OF
the District. After quite long con-
versation, during which witness was
trying to ascertain whether or moi
General Chalmers really meant tc
make the fight, he became satisfied
that he did, and said to him:
"Now, General, l am satisfied thai
you really intend to make the figh
for Congress in your district, and
am anxious to have you do it, be
cause l believe if you and Mr.. Man
ming get by the ears in that district
the result will be that we shall hav,
a full vote, fair count, and that {
Republican will in that event stand {
pretty good show for winning th'
race.
CA>H IN HAND.
General Chalmers said to witness
that he had been to good deal o
expense in making the contest, and
alleged other reasons achy he aoa'
short of money and aoa,,ted assist
ance, and mged that there aoaS NJ
better aoay ofspen1ing money tba,
by doing SO, ifa Republican cictorg
acaS really aoauted IN that district
Witness replied:
General, you go down there ant
make the race in your district as yol
have talked here. 1 aoW gioe youS25C
as u send off, but it must be upoi
the distinct understanding that til,
committee is to have nothing furthe
to do with your fight and to furnish
no further aid, either in money o
other yise.'
To which General Chalmers said
Suppose the Republicans of M
District nominate ne, achat aotl
you do Uten?"
eve will consider that question
when it comes up, or we will consid
er other questions when they arise,
replied witness, who invited Genera
Chalmers to call IN the eoenj'ag an,
receiUe the money. He called tina
evening and the money, which ha'
been collected from Republican
members Of Congress-, was paid. N
person was present at the interview
Witness wanted to split up th
dissensions in the Democratic part
in Chalmers district and elect Re
publican, for at that time he was no
favorable to chalmers candidacy
only in so far as he could use it t,
secure Republican success. Th
scope Of the conversation, as witnes
understood it, was to divide th
ID .mocrats and elect a Republican
and NTH that understanding he pai'
the $3.50.
Witness could not recall til
, statement that the committee
through Register of the Treasul
Bruce, had advised John T. Settle,
Republican candidate in the district
to retire in favor OF Chalmers nom
nation. Witness said he could no
file a statement of the disbursement
of the committee, and if he could h
would decline to do so, in so far as
related to the Second Congressions
District of Mississippi. The record
of the committee were destroyed o
or about December 20, 1882
David B. Henderson, of Dubuque
Iowa stated that he was the secreta
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