Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-04-30
VIM. d. McMASTER, Editor & Pro'r.
from our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d. c., April 90, 's4

Col. d. G. Swain, who, because he
knew less about law than anything else,
was made Judge Advocate General OF
the United States Army some two or
three years ago. Last week Mr.. Bate.
man. Il banker here, complained to the
Secretary of War that Swain had
been guilty of some financial crooked
ness that needed looking into, and the
Secretary turned the matter over to the
President, recommending court OF
inquiry, which was Immediately order
ed. The gist of the charges is that
Swain deposited $4,000 with Bate
man, drew upon it until he had check
ed it all out of Bateman's hands and
then negotiated the security that Bate
man had given him for the money,
thus getting $4,000 for his invest
ment of half the money. Loaning out
his own ALL other peoples money as
in the case of Bateman, taking cut
throat chattel mortgages and closing IN
upon his victims whenever there was
the default of a day in meeting the OBJ
LEGATIONS. has been Swaim's chief en-
ployment since he has been in the service
Of the Government.
A frigid GOODNESS has suddenly sprung
up between those two grea. men with a
boom-Logan and Lincoln. Had 1t
not been for Logan, Lincoln would
never have got place in the Cabinet
of Mr.. Garfield, and had it not been
for Lincoln, Logan's boom would not
now be in such fearful state of dis
gruntlement. Logan wanted his Egypt
ian friend Green B. Raum, and his
oratorical fdes Achates, Emory Stores,
to occupy seats in the Chicago Con-
yention, the one to work up the mill
tary enthusiasm among the boys, and
the other to place his name in nominal
ton before the Convention in a manner
not to be outdone this side OF Bob
Ingersoll. Both of these gentlemen
were quietly laid upon the shelf by the
abominable half-breeds of the Sucker
State, and their selected seats in the
Convention will be occupied by men
who will 60 for Logan with an 'if,"
for Lincoln with "but," and for
Blaine with whoop. The once hap
py Republican family of Illinois, which
had Joe Medill for its daddy and Long
John Jones for its wet-nurse, is all
torn up now, and so badly torn up that
the fiery and untamed Logan swears
that he will disown the whole kit OF
them.
That the mission of the Grand Army
of the Republic is not political one is
probably true, because they have al
ways protested that it is not, but for "
non-political organization | must say
that it cuts larger figure in the shap'
ing of the political affairs of this Ma,
ton, so far rs Congress is concerned
than is consistent with its protests -
In the Senate one day of last week
there were no fewer than fifty-twc
petitions, remonstrances and Other
documentary proceedings emanatlnG
from that reorganization in differen
parts of the country, and / am tolt
that it was dull day for that kind o
matter, too. Most Of these petitions
were prayers for more pension bills
and consequently more pensioners ant
more millions out of the Treasury il
addition to the hundred millions nov
drawn. There were some for TIT
equalization of bounties, Il measure
that has twice passed the Senate Blu
fortunately not reached in the House
which would draw from the Treasur.
yet another hundred millions of dollar
annually. Under this sort of pressure
which the average Congressman coul
not resist if he would, and more o
them would not resist if they knew
what would become of them if they
did, it becomes quite apparent that tn
G. A. r., if it has not much to d
with politics, it has mighty sight t
do with politicians. PHoNo.