The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-08-04

the active support Of the Stalwarts. That
was nothing without money. Whether
darneld made or received first the pro-
position that men say was made, 1t is
asserted by those who know that an
other memorandum was drawn up. In
that 1t is asserted that the candidate for
the Presidency of the Republican party
agreed with the cool, remOrseless pOli-
ticians who had him in their power,
that the operation of refunding the Gov
ernment ives and skies, which must
soon take place, should be given to such
syndicate Of New York bankers as should
be designated by the Stalwarts, and at
such commission as should be fair. Here
were millions on prospect. The opera
tiOn, as has since been shown, was an
enormous one, and at an apparently
trifiing commission would have given
the fortunate syndicate profits such as
has not been realized since the days
when the great Government loans were
placed. With such an agreement the
problem of raising campaign funds was
solved, and the mysterious Fifth Avenue
Hotel conference was ended. The bar
gain was made. The StaIwarts had for
price been WOn-all but one. Mr..
COnkling, as those who ought to know
best then and now believe, had learned
OF this proposed bargain for the refund
ing of the bonds, and cared not to have
part nor share in it. So he kept away
from that conference.
VI
'rHurrah," shouted the excitable
Jewell, when he met Dorsey alone, "the
battles wOn." Dorsey, grim, earnest,
and full of nerve as ever, did not allow
his joy to affect his business. But it
really seemed as though the party were
M in Avrk 70 Hs.t,k k,fA
had been some doubt about that before.
Within week after the Fifth Avenue
conference, Wall street had subscribed
very large amount of money, nOG far
from half million dollars. At the
same time began that remarkable, and,
at that time, unexplained zeal which
the old Stalwart leaders suddenly took
in the Republican canvass. Grant, COnk.
ling and Don Cameron took hold, and
the political temperature spTang from
zero to fever heat. These three leaders
made their memorable visit to Garfield
at Mentor, and Grant and COnkling took
the stump. But while all this fireWork
business was going on, there was one
man who had more serious matters to
attend to. In constant communication |
with Garfield, Dorsey began to organize |
for an October victory in Indiana. The |
eye of the public being distracted by |
the splurging and hurrah boys style of |
campaigning that followed the Fifth |
Avenue conference, Dorsey had abund- |
ant opportunity TO put into operation |
without being detected, the plan of |
campaigning In Indiana that afterward |
won the battle, and which brought from |
Garfield those expressions of thanks and |
grateful Acknowledgements which Dorsey |
now has in his possession.
DOrsey's plan involved the most thor |
Ough canvass of the state of Indiana |
that had been made since the vigorous |
days of o. p. Morton. Every voter was
enrolled, and the first canvass showed |
that the state was hOpelessly Democrat
ic. Ofthe purely strategic and organ |
izing part of the work it is not neces- |
sary to speak, except to say it won for |
Dorsey the lOudest praises from those |
who knew what he had done, and caused |
Garfield to speak of him as a prodigy
Of political ability"
In the latter part of September, after
D0rsey's organization had been perfect
ed; after every voter had been placed, |
and the influences that could be brought
to bear on each voter had been learned,
special messenger left New York for |
indianapolis. He had with him over |
100000, either in cash or convertible |
paper. This money had all been raised |
in New York, and principally through |
the efforts of Levi p. Morton. Dorsey
never touched a penny of the money, |
though urged to see to its distribution |
personally. He was there not only to
see that his plan Of organization was |
followed to the letter, but also to pre-
vent, so far as possible, any of the mon
ey from sticking in the pockets of men
who were trusted to distribute it. |
When the money reached the local COM
mittees it was found to be largely in
crisp 50 bills. 1t is believed Mr.. John G.
New could tell how bills and drafts of
large denominations were thus convert
ed into bills Of this denomination. At
all events there they were. They were
distributed through the state just as
ballots were, in great punches. The
destination of each was perfectly we'll
known, and by noon of election day
they had fallen like snOWfakes, silently
all over the state, although mole in
some parts than in others.
Then came the count of polls in the
evening. The 81 bills and the 100000
combined with DOrsey's plan of organi-
zatiOn. had won. The Democratic party
was showed under by greenbacks, and
great hurrah went up all over the land
among Republicans, that the principles
of the party had triumphed in Indiana.
The Fifth Avenue conference was sue
cess, and Dorsey was admired and con-
graduated. Subsequently Gen. Arthur,
Vice President elect, in burst of conf
dence at the famous dinner given to
Dorsey, summarized it all in one word,
Soap" Garfield, Arthur, James, Mac
Veagh, and other Republican leaders
knew all the time what had been done,
and all We'd in doing Dorsey honor.