Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-04
Madigan Circular.
Nix. BLAINE Nor RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
Boston Journal. July lst. I

DOsbOu JOurhdi. JuAy ISL
Yesterday morning a gentleman who form
erv did business in Bangor, but is now at the
head of Job printing establishment in this
city, left word at the Journal counting room
that he was able to give some facts about the
Madgan circular, which was issued in Maine
in August, 1875, when he was the democratic
candidate for Congress in the Fourth District,
and Gen. Plaisted, now democratic editor in
Augusta, Me, was the republican candidate.
A representative of the Journal called at the
place referred to aud found that the pro-
prietor was formerly a well-known citizen of
Bangor. He said in effect "When first saw
the story of the Madigan circular and its be-
ing attributed to Mr.. Blaine l paid no more
regard To it than to any campaign car nard.
Subsequently some one called my attention to
it personally and began to recall the fact
that knew about it, and the more | thought
of the matter the more the circumstances
came to me- consulted the books kept by
me in the office with which was connected
in Bangor and found the charges for
printing the Madigan circular. More than
this. I found on my books the charge
for putting up and mailing the packages to
the different towns in the district. l remem-
Der that worked nearly all night after the
circulars were printed, putting them in
man, but when saw that had the evidence
in my hands to refute the story that the
Madigan circulars were sent from Mr..
Blaine's house by express, felt it to be my
duty to give 1t to the public. II is my
conviction that this work was done at the
suggestion Of Gen. Plaisted have no idea
that Mr.. Blaine had anything to do with it.
Several men were helping General Plaisted
with his canvass, one of whom brought the
circular in, but cannot recollect the partic-
ulars."
The gentleman then showed the Journals
representative the original entries on the
book, showing that the Madigan circulars
charged to Mr. Blaine and alleged to have
been sent from his house were printed in
Bangor mailed to the towns in Plaisted's
district on orders furnished by him or his
campaign managers and the postage pre-
paid by the printer. The bill was made out
to the republican State committee, but was
paid either by the member of Penobscot
county or Of the congressional district COM
! mittee.
Saturday Mr.. W. w. Castle of Ashland,
in this State, and a member of the Maine re-
publican committee for several years, includ-
ing 1875, wrote q member of the Journal ed
itorial staff. who was at the same time con-
nected with the same committee, calling his
attention to the fact that 1875 was one of the
''off years." when each member of the State
committee was made responsible for the care
of his county, and that whatever small sums
of money were distributed for the necessary
expenses were paid to the members of the
respective counties. This statement is cor
rect. The records of the State committee Of
Maine for the years 1869, 1871. 1873 and 1875
show that this system was adopted snd that
the central organization had nothing to do
with the campaign. in the different counties. II
certainly never assumed to take charge of a
congressional campaign in any district. II
was the custom when the bills in the several
| counties for printing, etc were made, TO
charge them to the State committee, but they
we're in sll cases, settled by the members of
the different counties, and were never
sent to the chairman, secretary or treas
urer. If $1,000 was raised for a cam
paign like that of 1875, it would be distributed
| $500 to one county, $500 to another. etc., and
the general committee knew nothing about
the items for which il was expended. Mr..
Castle also called attention to the fact that the
| Madigan circular was the subject of criticism
at meeting of the State Committee at Mr..
Blaines house just after it appeared and that
Il was the almost universal opinion of the
members Of the committee that it was un-
called for and unfair, as Mr.. Madigau was
known to be very liberal man in religious
matters. He believes, further, that Mr..
Blaine was among those who deprecated the
! issue of the circular. 1t is worth while to
note in this connection that when the circular
appeared in Aroostook county Charles NJ.
| Herrin, a prominent democrat of Houlton,
now deceased, wrote q caustic personal letter
to General Plaisted. which appeared in the
democratic papers. charging him as the
author of the circular, and denouncing it in
unmeasured terms. To that charge Plsisted
made no reply.