Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-02
JAY RuBBELl.CRALmEaE.
$3.50 Paid the Latter 10 Make
the Race.
N. Y. Herald.

In the course OF the evidence takeL
in Washington in the contested cleo
ton case OF Manning against Chal'
mers Mr.. Jay Hubbell was called on
to give an account of a small part Of
his stewardship of the Republican
campaign fund. raised BY so called vol
untsry contributions from the govern
ment clerks, labeTeTs and scrub wo'
men, not forgetting the postofhce cat
Mr.. Chalmers is the MisEissippian
who tried, in the last Congress, as a
Democrat, TO get the seat to which a
respectable colOred Republican, Lynch,
had been fairly elected. Being de-
feated in that attempt he appears to
have entered at once into communiea
tions with the Republicans; or, rather,
with Mr.. Jay Hubbell. Hubbell ties
titles that he had an interview with
Chalmers about the time Chalmers
was turned out Of Congress, in which
Chalmers told him he proposed
to go to Mississippi and announce
himself as an independent administra-
tioU candidate. After some converse
ton the report before us continues:
General Chalmers said to the witness
(Jay HubbelD that he had been to a
good deal of expense in making the
contest, aud alleged other reasons why
he was short OF money and wanted
assistance, and urged that there was
no better way of spending money than
by doing so if a Republican victory
was really wanted in that district"
Even Mr.. Jay Hubbell appears to
have been a little disguised with
Chalmers, for the report goes on:
"The witness replied, General, you
20 down there and make the race in
your district, as you have talked here.
| will give you two hundred and fifty
dollars as send.off, but it must be
upon the distinct understanding
that the committee is to have nothing
further to do with your fight and to
furnish no further aid, either in money
or otherwise.
Mr.. Hubbell has not the reputation
of being squeamish, aud this was his
reply, which would have sent almost
anybody except Chalmers away with
blush on his face. But Chalmers is
not that kind of man. He returned
to the charge, for the report continues:
General Chalmers said, suppose the
Republicans of the district nominate
me; what will you do then?' We
will consider that question when it
comes up, or we will consider other
questions when they arise, replied
Mr.. Hubbell, who invited General
Chalmers to call in the evening and
receive the money"
Mr.. Jay Hubbell invited General
Chalmers to "call in the evening and
receive the money"-namely, two
hundred and fifty dollars. Thereupon
Mr.. Hubbell testified, He called in
the evening and the money was paid. Z"
1t must be remembered that Gen.
Chalmers was not yet a candidate
He had just, to use Mr.. Hubbell's
very accurate phrase, been turned
out of Congress" the House having
declared by a non>partisan vote that
he had unjustly claimed and wrong /.
fully sat in the seat Of Mr.. Lynch. He
had not been nominated by any con.
vention of any party. He proposed a
scheme to Mr.. Hubbell which appears
to have Disguised even that cot over
nice politician. He pleaded poverty;
he had been at a good deal of ex,
pense in making the contest" for a
seat to which he had not the shadow
Of rightful claim, but had he not
drawn the pay of Congressman, to
which he was not entitled? He be-
sides, says Mr.. Hubbell, alleged
other reasons why he was short of
money" and Mr.. Hubbell, after a
good deal of pleading by Chalmers
after quite long conversation, I"
says the Teport-answered him as one
answers a beggar who has become
tiresome. He said, Call in the eve
ming and I'll give you some money
$3.50, namely. And Chalmers called
in the evening and the money was
paid"
Now, campaign funds" will, we
suppose, be raised and disbursed, even
though government clerks may not be
deprived of their wages to furnish
them. But the object OF the campaign
fund is to defray the legitimate politi-
cal expenses OF candidate after he is
nominated; to enable him to make his
candidacy properly known to the peo.
pie, Moreover, a candidate with a
nice, or even only tolerably nice
sense of honor would refuse with in
dignation to receive or handle this
money himself. But Mr.. Chalmers
has no nice scruples. He was not a
candidate when he vent abjectly beg
ging to Mr.. Hubbell he pleaded, not
the necessities Of his party, but his
personal poverty; he "called in the
evening and was paid" two hundred
and fifty dollars, and Mr.. Hubbell
who is a Northern man, must have
got o curious notion of"Southern gen.
tlemen" when be saw Chalmers going
out of the room with the money in his
pocket.
1t will be for Congress, when it
meets, to declare what was the mean
Ing Of this payment to Chalmers
Either he received it as an importun>
ate beggar or he receives, Il as cor,
rupt consideration for a political ser.
vice to be rendered. In either case
surely Chalmers is unfit TO occupy a
seat in Congress. We notice that Mr
Manning, his opponent. has eiven
notice that, though we believe he has
the certificate, he will not take the
seat or allow the clerk to put his name
on the roll of the House until the
House shall affirm his right. That.
at least, Is honorable conduct, and in
strong contrast with the course Of Mr..
Chalmers. There are evidently two
kinds of Mississibpians. We trust
the HOUSE when il meets will dacleso