The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-07-27

drinkers OF Ohio. and the National Commit
tees Of the two parties are sure to pay duo
attention to their case. II they elect the
Democratic State ticket In October. how can
Mr.. BLAINK's canvass outllve tho blow But
the Republicans may carry Ohio and yet be
beaten In the country at large In November.
The Democrats may lose 1t and yet win the
ereater fight. That Is one advantage that
they have.
Blaine and Wallace Rowell White.
In presenting himself to the American peo-
pie a. full HedRed reformer Of the civil SER
vice, Brother BLAINE lays down the doctrine
which should govern appointments to Office.
"Impartiality In the mode OF appointment"
he says, should be biased on qualification"
"The people" he continues In lofty language.
shave the right to the most efficient agents
in the discharge Of public business, and the
appointing power should regard this as the
prior and Interior consideration"
That 10 the text. It Is illustrated bv the
highly interesting story Of Mr.. BLAINE's re-
lations with WALLACE RowRL1 WHITE Of
Winthrop. In the State Of Maine.
When Brother BLAINE got grip on the
appointing power, as Secretary Of State and
principal parsonage In the GARFIELD Admin
istration, one Of his earliest acts was to pro-
cure for WALLACE r. WHITE the ofIice Of
United States District Attorney In the Terri
tory Of Idaho. WHITE was an obscure vii
lago lawyer who, for reasons which will
appear. found 1t neither profitable nor agree
able to practise his profession In Maine We
think that there Is suf1oient ground for as
Stunning that the nomination Of WHITE by
President GARFIELD was based on qualiflca-
lions Of which Mr.. BLAINE was the sole Judge,
and that 1t was not made because Attorney.
General MAoVEAaH regarded him as the most
suitable person to look after the interests OF
justica In Idaho. or because the bench and
bar Of that Territory clamored for tho OPP
pointment Let US see what WALLACE R.
WHTrIs qualifications wore, and how far Mr..
BLANx's selection Of District Attorney for
Idaho was inspired by the virtuous princi-
ples enunciated In his recent letter.
Early In January, 1880, Mr.. BLAINE was ut
homo In Augusta, watching the tumult In
State politics and managing the Republican
eide In the memorable GARCRLoN contro-
versy. He was Chairman OF the Republican
State Committee, one Of Names Senator'S
and the autocrat OF his party. There was
desperate struggle between the Republicans
and the Fusionists for the organization and
control OF the Legislature that was to elect a
Governor. The State House was surrounded
by troops, and the excited community was
on the verge Of civil war. While doing
much to inflame the passions OF his fel.
low partisans, Mr.. BLAINE himself kept
cool head, and manipulated events with his
habitual adroitness. ut was his leader
ship" said Senator HoAR In Boston, few
days ago, "that by peaceful and lawful
methods bafilcd tho conspiracy and saved
the State" 1t Is not necessary to go into the
general merits OF the great controversy Of
that winter. By the certificates issued by
Gov. GARcELON and his Council tho Fusion.
lists had majority in the Legislature and
the efforts OF Mr.. BLAINE were cxerted to
break down that majority, organize tho Leg.
islature. and elect Republican Governor.
Then WALLACE r. WHITE OF Winthrop
made his first appearance on the public
stage. There had been reports OF attempts
to bride Fusionlsts holding GARcELoN Ger.
tif1cates as members OF the Legislature to
withdraw from the contest. Two MEMBERS
THOMAS B. SWAN OF Minot and MOSES HAIR
RIhAN Of Kennebunkport, mado an lavit
that they Ind been approached by an agent
Of tho Republican managers and offered
$1,000 apiece II they would give up their GAR
cKLoN certificates and refuse to act with tho
Fusion party. III order to expose tho at
tempt at bribery, rs they sworc and upon
the advice OF their party associates, SWAN
and HARTMAN had accepted the proposition,
and tho money was paid them on Jan. 8, at
the Court House In Augusta. JAMES r.
CLARK, Representative from Nobleboro,
also declared that he had boon offered 81, 900
In cash and a place In tho Boston Custom
House II no would resign This offer was rc-
iected. A similar story was told by Repre-
sentative CusHMAN Of Sherman.
Both SWAN md HARTMAN declared In tho
Legislature on Jan. that tho man who ap.
preached them with the corrupt PROPOSE
ton. and who actually paid thcm tho money,
was WALLACE II. WHITE, lawyer of Win.
throp. A committee of the Legislature i'm
mediatoly began to investigate the cases Of
alleged bribery. WHITE was summoned, but
he refused to appear, on the ground that the
legality OF the investigating body was stnl
In question. The first witness was j. O.
WHITE, member OF tho Legislature and
WALLACE r. Whites cousin. He testified
under oath that WALLACE r. WHITE had
offered him 1000 to give up his scat. After
rejecting the Offer he had told SWAN that the
Republicans were buying Fusionist mem.
bers. He consented to have SWAN expose
the fraud. and then told his cousin that SWAN
could be bought. He arranged the meeting
between SWAN and WALLACE. Ho thought
that WALLACE r. WHITE himself "had but
little money"
The statement made by SWAN TO the Legis.
!ature and fortified by his affidavit was this:
Late In the evening Of Jan. $ reliable person. who
b nov member OF this House. Informed me that Wal
Lace wsIss of Winthrop had called upon him and
s9srsd him u QUO In cash 70 deliver up his certificate
md rssgn ~ member Of the House. which he had re-
Mssd 70 secspt and that sad wars had isld him that
hs wanted three more men to resign and requested him
10 sss me- Upon this Information went o. once 10 the
Augusta House and saw the Hon. r. H. Cows Secretary
Of ststs, and told him what knew about the matter
hr. Cows and myself then went out found the Hon.