The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-12-27

relations between the Credit Mobilier
and the Union Pacific became generally
known Congressional investigation and
action would be invoked. He adopted
the cxpedient Of interesting members
OF Congress in the speculation, upon
the presumption that they would vote
for the protection of their own interest.
lii reference to this the Poland report
SAYS
The belief is far too general that all
men can he ruled with money, and that
the use of such means To carry public
measurers Is legitimate and proper. No
member Of Congress ought to place
himself in circumstances Of suspicion
so that any discredit Of the body shall
arise on his account. IL is Of the high
est importance that the National Legis-
lature should be free Of all taint Of
corruption. and it is Of almost equal
necessity that the people should feel
confident that il is 50.
It is quite plain that Mr.. Allison's
skirts are not clean in this matter, and
that he escaped investigation by with
drawing from his seat in the House at
the end Of the Forty-first Congress.
Whether his withdrawal from Congress
at this time was owing wholly, or Ill
part, to Il fear OF investigation is known
only to himself His ambition for the
Senate might he thwarted by an in
quiry into his conduct as Representa-
tive.
Had Oakes Ames, the confederate OF
Mr.. Allison, adopted the like eApedient
Of withdrawing from his seat, at the
end Of the Forty-tirst Congress, he too,
would have escaped Judgment Of Gen.
sure by his fellow members. and been
spared the ignominv of M expulsion
from his seat
Y He boldly justified the transaction,
met the responsibility OF his acts with
ont snbterfuge or equivocation, and
suffered the pcnalty.' He has as good,
if not better claim to our respect,
and to clcmency from Congress- than
any who cluded justice by Withdrawing
from the jurisdiction Of the House.
Avoidance of jurisdiction by With
,lrawal from a Legislative body clothed
with special power to censure and expel
those that offend against its purity and
dignity. cannot he regarded as vindicat-
ing Il member who resorts to this cN-
pedient, under an apprehension of in
vestigation. In such ease as in that
OF fugitive from Justice the prcsump-
tion OF guilt is established, which no
I, lapse OF time in the absence Of trial
can ,lissipate or remove.
The reputation Of State may be inn
paired Ivy the wrong action Of its rep
resentatives, especially il the State un-
dertakes to palliatc or ratifv the devious
conduct Of its servants, as the State Of
Iowa is now asked to do in relation to
Mr.. Allison. 1t is due to ths State, il
not t. Mr.. Allison. that the General AS
semblv before electing him to third
term in the United States Senate
should fairly scrutinize his past official
life. Ii no reasonable ground for Gen.
sure he found against him, then he may
be confided in for another term in the
Senate: but If his record il not clear as
u public servant, no safe alternative re-
mains hut his rejection. and the choice
Of another to succeed him in the Sen
ate.
\ Washington correspondent of high
reputation, we'll known hy his pseu-
donym Of Gath in letter to the
Cincinnati Enquirer, written soon after
the Inauguration of President Garfield.
gives the answer of an oracle to the
question, "How came Allison not to 70
into the Cabinets" as follows see Chi.
cago Tr;bute, Feb. :, 1882:
st,s
slate. He had been offered the position oi
4 Secretary Of the Treasury and hal accepted
I II. tine of Garnell> Warwick> said to him
/ the night before the Cabinet went in: Ten
I erai. that man Allison can walk ON marble
/ noor without you hearing him. He has mol
one element nj courage, ana will never stick
toy you il You gct into n tight place. He j,
sly and runs away. III YOU pat him in the
! greatest place in your Cabinet you Will ruin
/ yourself and an him no good. For God,s
/ sake. IL suu cant take Judge tolger or 4
| hrSi-cla>s man put in Senator Window. L,
! this f.rvent appeal Garfield replied by send
ing for Allison late in the morning: il wa'
4 toward = o'cl ok. He said. .tliSon. IL yaI
1 arc nominated. hear that the credit Muhiliel
case will lie revived against both YOU and me
1 II will emharraSs me ~ the beginning an,
v make You uncomfortable. I will giv. you
I th" best place in my government. tut woul,
/ IKE YOU tn aeclinc the Treasury Depart
mcnt'' Allison sat right down NJ the tahl,
| and wiat. his destination and that put Win
dom in.
These incidents in the career ri MIR
| Allison should he considered by tn.
General Assembly. before determinin.
/ to elect him to third term in the Sen
ate. Mr. Wilson. his colleague in til.
Senate. was urged hv tine iowa Congress
sional delegation for seat in president
Garfclds Cabinet. but the President
elect did not incline to him, and finally
after having offered the Treasury lie
pmrtment to Mr.. Allison, was obliged I,
rejest him also. on account ef hi
record.
Mr.. Wilson'S ambition has been graf
ified hv seat in the SenatA. Mr.. Ali
SON has tiled nearly two terms in tn.
Senate after serving eight years III tn,
House. He asks third term i'll tn,
Senate. What great service has hs
rendered. or what qualification does h,
possess above others, that entities hin
to this distinguished mark Of favor? l,
there such a dearth of merit among tn,
public men Of Iowa that the choice fol
the next Senatorial term must fall upo,
second rejected candidate for Cabine
honors. who VAS "A party with Oake:
Ames in transactions that caused thu
expulsion of that gentleman from hi
sat in Congress u penalty to whicl
Mr.. Allison was no less liable. In
which he avoided by ceasing to be
member of the Ho:se?