The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-10
THE MERCENARY SNEAK"
st. Johns Dickering with the National Com
mittees-0stracized at Home.


Of Representatives who is from Western State,
said:
Before St John was nominated by the Pro
hibitionists for the presidency he asserted his
loyalty to the Republican party. and said he
would not be candidate for the presidency.
Many of his friends thought him sincere in his
statements. They were disappointed, however,
when he accepted the nomination at Pittsburg.
After he had been nominated there was con-
ference among the Republican leaders in New
York, and it was decided that his influence must
DO counteracted. 1t was not deemed advisable
TO get him off the track. for then the Prohibi-
tionists might have nominated another can
didate who could not have been gotten
out of the way. and who might have
done the Republican party much in
jury the man from Kansas. st. John knew
about this consultation; in fact, he made prop
ositiOn to the Republican national committee.
The committe decided to keep him in the race,
and agreed to give him $50 900 if in his canvass
he would not say anything that would be detri-
mental to the Republican candidate for the
presidency. St John agreed to this He went
to Ohio Just after the October election and
made two speeches at Oberlin. He said he was
Republican and Il Prohibitoust, and he
thought the prohibition candidate ought to be
sustained. Before leaving the platform he told
his audience that another speaker would address
them the following evening. That speaker st.
John said, was q Republican and a prohibition
list, but he thought Mr.. Blaine ought to be
elected. He is an eloquent speaker, be further
said and may be able to prove to you that it is
better to support the Republican nominee. The
person to whom ST. John referred was Jim Llg-
gett. of Kansas
AFTER the Prohibition candidate had made
his speech at Oberlin he went to New York to
get his money from the Republican committee.
He had begun the fulfllment of his contract.
At New York he was met by Elkins. That in
dividual put his thumbs into the arm-hoes of
his waist-coat and said that they guessed they
could get along without Mr.. st. John. He said
the Republicans had carried Ohio without him.
and thought they could carry the country He
refused then to pay over any money.
st John left Mr.. Elkinss presence. About
! three days later the Democratic national com
mittee heard of ST. Johns tran sactions with the
Republicans and Immediately determined to
secure him in opposition to that party. Senator
| Wallace. of Pennsylvania, was selected to repre-
sent the committee, and third party was CHOSEN
to do the talking between Wallace and St John.
He met the Prohibition candidate and held
long conversation with him. The result was the
Kansas man was offered money to continue
in the race and to do all that he could do
to defeat Mr. Blaine think the amount
offered was $50, 600, though | can't say
for certain. In a few days st. John began mis-
attack the Republicans ami strongly urged
his own election. This he kept up until Mr..
Blaine was defeated. The members of the Re
publican committee are now kicking themselves
because they allowed St John to get away with
them. Elkins is to be blamed for the whole
thing He and others of the committee ought to
feel the toe of the Republican party. The mem
bers of the national committee evidently did not
correctly estimate ST. Johns influence. They
thought he could do little harm to their candi
date.
Just after st. John was nominated the Re
publican State committee of Kansas telegraphed
TO the national committee that they had
Christian minister in Kansas. an eloquent stump
speaker. who would take the field and try and
counterfeit the effect of the Prohibitionist's
speeches The National committee telegraphed
k.nl oal-f .l,.n
whose name was Campbell would want. The
State committee answered only his expenses.
No reply was ever made by the national COM
mittee and no request was ever made for MIR.
Campbell"
gentleman who while not a member of
Congress. is a frequent visitor to Washington
and knows as much of the unwritten history of
the late campaign as any man living, when ques-
toned as to the relation of St Johns presiden-
tial campaign to the national Democratic cam
paign fund, said:
Il have positive knowledge that St. John
personally was in the pay of the Democratic
national committee, but | know. prominent
prohibition workers who received money in
checks signed by members of the Democratic
national committee. 1t understood
from the beginning that st. John was
purchasable. 1t was that knowledge
that secured the nomination for him. 1t
is not generally known that Senator Plumb
in Pittsburg while the Prohibitionist national
convention was in session, and is credited with
having created the wonderoul enthusiasm for
ST. John which resulted in his nomination.
Whether Chairman Jones's fine sense of honor
was in the way of the contamination of plan to
get ST. John off the track, or whether it was not
considered worth while to do so, l am not pro-
pared to say"
IN BAD DOOR AT HOME.
Special to Pittsburg Times.
St John, a prominent Republican from Kan
sas tells me, is living almost ostracized in his
home at Olathe Kansas His warmes. friends
of former days will pass him by without rccog-
nizing him. l asked the cause of this change
toward the temperance apostle. My informant
replied that his friends and acquaintainces could
paign