The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-10
JOHN II. NrLEAN.
How He Procured His Money ana Went Into
Business as Political Boss.


How He Procured His Money ana Went Into
Business as a Political Boss.
Chicago Herald.
Three years ago John r. Mclean, of the Gin
cinnati Enquirer, from friend OF Pendletons
turned to enemy, and began preparing for the
scene that has been enacted here tonight. The
cause of MeLeans sudden turn, of his discharge
of young Spear Pendleton's protege, who was
his editor, was of family nature. growing out
of the Senator's disnelination to permit the
young editor to pay attention to his daughter
Mary. Mclean always ambitious as political
boss now redoubled his zeal With cruel genius
he arranged his plans for revenge, and with
wonderful energy he has carried them to sue
eessful termination. There is joyful wake in
the Enquirer Office tonight.
The first thing Mclean needed was plenty of
money. He wanted it quick, and wanted it bad.
and got it. 1t is quite certain that he made at
least $500, 600 10y one lucky deal in Wall street,
and it IS almost equally certain that he was given
the correct pointer at the proper moment by Mr.
Jay Gould in return for certain personal and
professional services of Mr.. Mclean in connec-
tion with Ohio & Mississippi railway litigation
and reorganization.
The next thing was sole and undisturbed pos
session of the Enquirer newspaper. which was
secured almost Immediately after the above
mentioned Wall-street deal became known to the
public, and the words John R. Mclean ap-
peared in place of "T'he Enquirer Company" at
the head of the sheet.
Then he began to tighten his grip on the party
organization and official patronage of his native
city. He formed an alliance with Lawyer Tom
Campbell, one of the Republican bosses of Gin
cinnati; Campbell's local power was to be used
for McIlean's benefit, and McLeans influence
with the Democratic Legislature in the way Of
oraI- ~
snch manner that Campbells friends would not
be hurt
In 1881 Mclean led the fight of ''the kids" for
Bookwalter, a statesman discovered and trotted
out by member of the Enquirer staff Book
walter was rich and ambitious, and Mclean
hoped to push him to the front and block Pen
dlebons pathway with him. his own creature
But the fates willed otherwise. Bookw<ef be-
ing beaten at the polls.
Last year came the final struggle in Hamilton
county. Mclean and his cohorts attempted to
nominate Durbin Ward for Governor, but were
beaten by Hoadly. The latterwas backed in the
whole northern part of the State by the Paynes,
and to them he owed his nomination. 1t was
McLeanls intention to make Ward Governor and
then senator, but, failing in that he traded his
delegates from Hamilton for control of the cen
tTal committee. II was not the governorship he
wanted. except means to satisfy his all-eon-
Stunning ambition to defeat PendletOn and 50
MeLean's hostility to Hoadly continued after the
nomination, with this object in view, to force
would keep hands of the senatorial fight not
only in Hamilton county, where he could have
given Mclean much trouble, but everywhere
This promise was brought about by tho inter
yention of the Paynes, through the agency of
their trusted lieutenant, Dave Page. Mclean
agreed to behave himself, HOadly agreed to be
neutral in the senatorial fight and the campaign
progressed. All the money the Democrats had
came from the Paynes except 81. 900 from Book
walter. $500 from Mclean, and the. assessments
upon candidates The Paynes carried the cam
paign in every way, and to them Hoady owes
his election as well as his nomination, and De-
moeracy its general and legislative triumph
In Hamilton county Mclean had fixed the
convention to nominate anti-Pendleton men for
the Legislature; in Franklin county tColumbus)
his aide-de-camp, Allen o. Myers, had done the
same thing the Paynes had attended TO Cuya-
hoga and two-score more other counties, and the
election was no sooner over than the Payne man
ayers knew they ali right. Payne money
had paid the campaign expenses of more than "a
dozen close-run Democratic candidates.
The next thing is the presidency, and Ran
dali, Tilden, Hoadly or Payne will be the favored
man Of the combination. Henry b. Payne will,
perhaps. be put to the front the head of the
moderate protectionistel element of Democracy as a
man upon whom all can unite, he being a com
promise between Carlisle and Randall.