Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-12-12
POLITICAL.
How Sc. John Dickered with the Two
National Committees.

A gentleman, who, while not a men,
ber of Congress. is a frequent visitor
to Washington and knows as much of
the inwritten history of the late cam
paign as any man living, when ques-
toned as to the relation Of st. Johns
Presidential campaign to The National
Democratic campaign fund, said:
IL have no positive knowledge that |
St. John personally was in the pay of
the Democratic National Committee,
but know prominent prohibition
workers who received morey in checks
signed by members of the Democratic
National Committee. 1t was under
stood from the beginning that ST John
was purchasable. twas that knowl-
edge that secured the nomination for
him. 1t is not generally known that
Senator Plumb was in Pit;sburg while
the Prohibitionist National Convention
was in session, and is credited with
having created the wonderful enihusi-
asm for St. John which resulted in his
nomination. Whether Chairman Jones'
fine sense of honor was in the way OF
the consumation Of a plan TO get St.
John off track, or whether it was
not considered worth while to do SO,
l am not prepared to say"
A prominent Republican membe of
the House Of Representatives, who is
from Western State, said"
Before St. John was nominated by
the Prohibitionists for the Presidenc,
he asserted his loyaly to the Republ-
can party and said he would not be a
candidate for the Presidency. Manv
of his friends thought him sincere in his
statements. They were disappointed,
however, when ne accepted the nomi-
nation at Pittsburg. After be had been
nominated there was conference
among the Republican leaders in New
York. and it was decided that his in
1uence must be counteracted. 1t was
not deemed advisable to get him off
the track for then the Prohibitlonlsts
might have nominated another candl-
date who could not have been gotten
out of the way, and who might have
done The Republican party as much
injury as the man from Kansas St.
| John knew about this consultation, in
fact, he made a proposition to the
Republican National Committee. The
committee decided to keep him in tn
race, and agreed to give him SIS 600
if in his canvass he would not say any
thing that would be detrimental to the
Republican candidate for the Presiden
cy. St. John agreed to this. He went
to Ohio just after the October election.
and made two speeches at Oberlln.
He said he was Republican and a
Prohibitinist, and he thought the Pro-
hibitlon candidate ought 10 be sustain
ed. Before leaving the platform he
told his audience that another speaker
would address them the following
evening. That speaker St. John, said
was Republican and Prohibitionist
but he thought Mr.. Blame ought to be
elected 'He is an eloquent speaker
he further said, and may be able to
prove to you that it is better to support
the Republican nominees The per
son to whom St. John referred was
Jim Liggett, of Kansas.
after the Prohibition candidate hac
made his speech at Oberlin he went tc
New York to get his money from the
Republican Committee. He had be,
! gun the fullflm ent of his contract A
New York he was met by Elkins. That
individual put his thumbs into the
armholes of his walstcoat and said thai
they guessed they could get along with
out Mr.. St. John. He said the Republi
cans had carried Ohio without him land
: thought they could carry the country
3 He refused then to pay over any
money.
st. John left Mr.. Elkins' presence
About three days later the Democratic
, National Committee heard of St
, Johns transactions with the Republi-
cans, and Immediately determined tc
, secure him in opposition to that parry.
Senator Wallace of Pennsylvania, was
selected to represent the committee
7 and third party was chosen to do the
: talking between Wallace and St. John
5 He met the Prohibition candidate and
held a 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 to defeat
Mr.. Blaine. l think the amount offered
! was $4,000, though can't say for
certain. In few days St. John began
t his attack on the Republicans and
3 strongly urged his own election. This
/; he kept up until Mr.. Blaine was de
feated. The members OF the Republi-
can Committee are now kicking them
selves because they allowed St. John
to get away with them. Elkins is tc
be blamed for the whole thing. He
: and others of the committee ought to
feel the toe of the Republican party
The members OF the National Com
3 mittee evidently did not correctly estl.
mate St, Johns influence. They
4 thought he could do little harm to theil
candidate.
Just after St. John was nominated
/ the Republican State Committee oI
Kansas telegraphed to the National
Committee that they had a Christian
: minister in Kansas, an eloquent stump
: : speaker, who would tske the field and
try and counteract the effect of the
!. ernhihlt1anist,s sneaches The Nation.