New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-01
VIZ EnurNnNS SPECrLATIONS.

Mr.. Edmunds writes letter to Mr.. Phelps,
nomipally to correct some miSstatement which
he thinks Mr.. Phelps has made about his rail-
road speculations. Practically and distinctly
he admits every single thing Mr.. Phelps said.
Mr.. Phelps, assailng nobody, but defending
2 man uniustly assaied by Mr. Edmundss
friends, said that Mr.. Edmunds, like MIR. Blaine,
had bought an interest in a road he had voted
in Congress to help. Mr.. Edmunds admits it.
Mr.. Phelps said that Mr.. Edmunds bought
this interest while he was still III Congress. Nj.
Edmunds admits it.
Mr.. Phelps said the interest Mr.. Edmunds
bought was "a block Mr.. Edmunds admits
that it consisted Of 1913 shares Of the stock and
So. 900 of the bonds.
Mr.. Phelps said nothing moro concerning Mr..
Edmunds's relations to the road. Here Is his
entire reference to the subject;
when sat as deegate-at-ldrse IN the last National
Conyeutior senator Edmunds and senator Window were
boil candidates for the Presidency. and shonld gady
have supported either Senator Ldmunds was under
stood to have a block OF Burlington and Missouri secur
ties and senator Window had not only block In the Sc
cur1cs Of the Northern Pacific Company but one Of
it- directors, Yct you Had no i4ut with these gentle
men, Nor woull you and differ IN giving thc highest
rank TO senator Grimes, but both he ana senator Ed
uunds acquired their interests III the BURLINGTON and
Missouri road when they I'M the Senate. They both
suuportrd the bin the land grant to their road
It was passed the day with the Little Rock bill
Both measures were lust and both passed in the
Ho,se and Senate without dissenting vote. Why must
we suspect that Mr. Blaine had secret and corrupt mo
tive ana that other Members and Senators had none
MIR. Edmunds admits every word of this re-
lating to himself We print his letter and Mr..
Phclpss rci0lndcr clsewhcre and they will be
found an amusing study for those who have
been watching the virtuOus cOntortiOns of MI.
Edmunds's friends over the wckednes> OF Mr..
Blaine IN doing the exact thing which Mr.. Ed
uunds now admits that he did, under the same
! circumstances and at the same time.
Mr.. Edmunds's real cause of complaint is not
against MIR. Phelps, who stated the facts ex-
actly "a Mr.. Edmunds now states them, but
! against us. We stated that he differed from
| Mr. Blaine, IN actually owning this interest in
the road when he voted to restore
| ifs land grant. We hasten to accept
Mr. Edmunds'5 denial; and to explain
nm his authority that he did not differ
! from Mr. Blaine even IN this par
l'ticular He did precisely and exactly what
! Mr. Blaine did-no more and no less. He voted,
~ Mr.. Blaine ruled, to restore land grant.
Three months later, like Mr.. Blaine, he took
an interest in the road. We have never CEN
surrd Mr., Blaine for it, and we do not CEN
sure Mr. Edmunds. But, on Mr.. kdmnds's
o,yn statement. we do not see how an honest
r,.,,, can cens1re the one without censuring the
other.
Mr.. Baine's investment has been the subject
of investigations, discussion and unending cIit
icism. Mr.. Edmunds's has been 80 sedulousll
concealed that the mere mention OF 1t III prn
sent cold shivcr through all Brummagen
Rcfornerdom. Yet the fact OF the lat
er investment has been well enough
known for years IN some circles
Washington, and the current talk was, that !
stood in the name of friend or trustee Ill
months after the vote-Mr. Edmunds though