The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-02-16
the Ne,c York World.


WASHINGTON, Feb S.-Ex-Senator Stephen
w. Dorsey has been in town for week or
more advising with his friend and attorney, Col.
r. G. Ingersoll, about his big lawsuit in New
Mexico. 49,,
sgThey talk about Dorsey's revelations" he
said to-day to the World correspondent, shut
7 have made no revelations in comparison
with what could make. However, | have
perhaps said enough. Friends think have,
and perhaps they are right. The October and
November campaigns of 80 are now old
stories. and | shall say no more about them
for the present. The Star-route trials are also
rather old matters to talk about"
sfBut there have been new revelations about
the Star-route troubles recently" suggested
the correspondent. SIT has been stated in
the World within the last two weeks that MIR.
Salisbury, one of the largest of the Star.route
contractors, publicly asserted here in Wash
ington that he had secured immunity from
criminal prosecution by the payment of $780,
OOO Do you know anything about this?'
i'The only doubt there is about the truth OF
that statement is that it was 5000, 900 instead
of $4,000 In saying this don't mean to
intimate that Mr.. Salisbury was any more
guilty than YOU are. You know it is better
sometimes to sell a vicious dog than to kill
him. Mr.. Salisbury was by far the largest of
the Star-route contractors, and therefore af-
forded the best subject for blackmail. Of all
the ninety routes that were expedited over
1000 each, Mr.. Salisbury owned 48 per cent,
Mr.. Sanderson owned 10 per cent, Kerns,
Root & Elkins Is per cent, and Parker most
of the remainder. | owned half interest in
less than per cent. | have not heard that
any of these parties have been prosecuted,
either criminally or civilly. 1t is said that
one of these large contracting firms agreed to
pay a large sum for the appointment OF
board of arbitrators, and after the trial was
concluded refused to pay"
''Do you know anything of the details of
these transactionsT'
''Parties to bribery have no companions,
and when you add bribery to cowardice they
have no associates. The dirty muck Of the
Blisses and Brewsters and the gang with which
they associate was only worthy to fertilize the
garden of their infamy."
"Were you offered immunity by the pay
ment of money to persons representing the
Government
"Why, certainly. Don't you know the
whole Star route business had two purposes?
One was to crafty the ambition of idiots and
pretenders, and the other was to fill the
pockets of the blackmailers. demand was
made upon me for $4,000 to guarantee i'm
munity. | remembered that some man had
said, Millions for defense, not one cent
n
knows it, and is generally willing to atone for
it. Resentment is not always wise, but as
against power unlawfully used the man who
would not resent is not worthy the name of
man."
"Who made you this offer?''
''That will not tell.
sWas political influence used as well as
money TO shield these large contractors, or any
of them ~
81 had not married the niece of a Cabinet
officer, nor had l contributed large sums to
the personal success of ambitious people"
WHAT BECAME OF THE MONEY.
ssDo you know whether the Government got
the money paid by these men for immunity
'sBribe- takers never divide with anybody.
The books of the Treasury Department will
show whether any of this ever went into the
vaults or not, and if you keen-eyed newspaper
men can discover dollar of it that ever did
reach the Treasury will give you $40, 600 for
each dollar you find
'sIf this money was paid and it did not go
into the Treasury, where did it go, if you
know?
''Whie didn't see it paid, nor trace it af-
ter it was paid, | will make wild guest that
his bank account of George Bliss in New Y ork,
shows pretty large deposits outside of his $3.50
a day about the time this money was paid.
And Ker's lit ought to be spelt with c. ac
count in Philadelphia he knows enough
TO keep bank ACCOMMODATES good show
ing. 1t is more than likely that the other two
parties to this fraud, Brewster and Merrick,
have spent their share for whiskey. These
enormous sums taken from those contractors
under duress were obtained by blackmail Of
The lowest and vilest character, and were
stolen by the men who demanded them.
You say these enormous sums. Was any
body besides Salisbury let off by the payment
of money!?
swell, Sanderson was indicted with me
in the very same indictment. Some of the
persons | have mentioned as being heavily
Interested in expedited Star routes were not
indicted at all, and others who were indicted
have not been tried and will not be.
You say your interest in Star routes was
very small as compared with those other peo-
ple?'i
II had no interest except what came to me
by loaning little money, and every contract
| was interested in was transferred to the late
MIR. J. w. Bosler on the day / came in pos
session of it. After three years, on settle
men of the accounts, Mr.. Bosler being in
charge all the time and drawing every cent of
the money, it was found that the profits of all
the routes was $l1 900, which we divided"
POLITICAL INFLUENCES.
.'Was there any political reason for prose-
cutting you and leaving the great contractors
out Pr
..Well, answering that question will involve
a good bit of political history. The appoint
ment of MacVeagh from Pennsylvania rs u
member of the Cabinet seemed to me to be an
insult to the best element of the Republican
party ofthat State, and when was asked to ex-
press nv opinion to Gen. Garfield did it with
frankness, and, believe, with entire truth
There is nothing to MacVeagh except that he
is the little son-in.low ola great father-in-law.
The only thing he represented was cranks,
and he is worthy to be chairman of that entire
class. When Gen. Garfield asked me to write
him about James, of New York, l didn't know
whether he referred to letter carrier or a
policeman. had never heard of any James
that ought to represent that great State in a
Presidents Cabinet | made some inquiries
and found out who James was, and learned,
MS [ expected, that he was q syc6phant-a
fellow that had always licked the toes of pow
err, bowed down to whoever was able to give
him an Office or take one away from him.
Without character, or standing, or intelli-
gence, he wormed himself into the Cabinet as
the representative of New York. Now will
tell you story about James, and In doing so
don't want to advertise person so unworthy
as he. | was in Gen. Garfeld's rooms at the
Riggs House on the night before james s
nOmludtOn, Wucu odihCo SaihC OSh.
Garfield, even at that early day, seemed to
fear the influence of Senator Conkling and
was then consulting Mr.. James about taking
place in his Cabinet, and among other things
he asked Mr. James if, in the event of break
between himself and the Senator, he could
rely on his support. In reply Mr.. James said
that if he was appointed in the Cabinet he
would do everything in his power for the Ad-
ministration against Mr.. Conking or any other
~ tod -
statement several times in my hearing and ]
heard it with amazement, as | knew all that
James was he owed to Mr.. Conkling.
s.Whie this conversation was going on
left the room and went TO call on Senator
Conkling. Whilst there, sitting in u room
adjoining the parlor with Gen. Arthur, Mr..
James came in and Mr.. Conkling expressed
his disapprobation at the idea Of James going
into the Cabinet, and James said TO HIM that
it was better for him Senator Conkling) to
have a man in the Cabinet upon whom he
could always rely as he could upon him