The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-10
1THE MERCENAIY SNEAK
Something Which Even Mr.. st. John May
Think Comes Near Beiig Evidence.

DIS MONIES, Ia, Jan. 81 S. Clarkson,
editor of the State Register, and the Iowa mem
Der of the Republican national committee,
mailed yesterday this letter to the editor of the
Tribune:
To the Editor of the Tribune:
In reply to your direct inquiry il know per
sonaly as to whether or not St John offered to
withdraw as candidate for President for
money consideration can answer now only as
20 the fact, without yet being at liberty to make
public the details.
To my knowledge he did have overtures made,
through friend from his own State by which
be offered, if paid $25, 900 in cash, to withdraw
as a candidate altogether, or tc stay in the field
and feather his speeches las it was put in the
Kansas phrasel to the help of the Republicans.
He was asked, in order to prove the sincerity Of
his offer, to withdraw from Ohio the last week
before the October election in that State He
did this under the plea, which he said he would
give, OF getting sore throat, and. with the
friend have mentioned, went first to Pittsburg
next to Philadelphia, and finally to New York,
where ne hoped to meet some one on the part OF
the Republican national committee who would
be ready to make the deal and pay the cash.
The 10Th Of October, through his friend, in a
letter still in existence, he demanded payment
of 80 900, alleged to have been earned by him
in getting sore throat in Ohio one week for the
benefit of the Republican party This letter,
ana other IacLS OF QeJdI WHICH Will cOuFlHco
any fair minded person of the real character of
St John, and show the country what a thrifty
Christian he is, will be given to the press when
ever he shall ask and persuade his friend, who
was the medium of his overtures to give his
consent to have them made public. | may add
tina. neither the national committee nor any one
acting for it, ever made an overture or PROPOSE
ton of any kind to St John. All that it did
was to listen to and discuss the overtures and
propositions made to it through the medium
which he employed to reach it.
Several other members Of the national COM
fnsttee, and some other gentlemen connected
with the Ohio campaign, had frequent converse
tons with this friend of st. John, and are as
eonversant with the facts and details of it as my
SELF They know that St Johns friend was in
constant telegraphic and frequent personal con-
sultation with him, aud that things which were
demanded of st. John as to his movements in
Ohio were pledged by that friend, and carried
out by St John. In many ways ample evidence
was thus afforded US, including exchange of tel
egraphic correspondence between them, and
shown to several persons, proving that his friend
was acting with St. John, and under his author
ity. One other person is in possession of more
written evidence than have.
j. S. CLARKsoN
WILL HE SUE FOR LIBELl
Special In Chicago Tribune.
1T Is understood that two or three other gen
tlemen are convers SAINT with the matters dealt
with as Mr.. Clarkson and that r. c. Kerens, of
St Louis, has more information in regard to 1T
than any one else. as the most of the negotia-
tions were presented to him as the agent of the
Republican national committee and it is said
he can supply the public with all the facts in de-
tail Dir Clarkson is reported as saying that
but for the effrontery of ST. John in prancng
about before the country Wanting his own
virtue, denying charges of his corruption before
any charges had been made and denouncing the
Republican party, he would not now be put in
the process of exposure of his venality.
Ctopkc in ic oporh oao paoHy ah pcn
enough rs to St Johns corruption to force him
to prosecute it for libel if he were innocent. If
he brings suit it is said the whole story will come
out, but it is thought that st. John is too sharp
to do this. Mr.. Clarkson has so far refused to be
interviewed upon this matter, and now only
gives to the public enough in a general way TO
show that the whole facts will come out only
when ST. John and his agents will allow them to
be told. Mr. Clarkson has never said or pro
fesSed to know anything as to money being paid
st. John by the Democrats, but has only SAID
shat he knew of the overtures that were made to
the Republicans and which came to his knowl
edge while he was in Ohio as member of the
national committee the two weeks proceeding the
October election in that State.
MOVING UP TIE LINES LITTLE.
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
We advise Mr. St John to get from Senator
Plumb. of Kansas if ne can, a statement in
writing that, to the best of his tPlumb's) knowl
edge and belief, he (St. John) never offered his
consideration, and that, so far as he (Plumb)
knows, there were no ''overtures" whatever be-
tween St John and the Republican party or any
person authorized to act for him or it. When
Mr.. St John gets this certificate. shall put
him on the track of another man who WILL if he
thinks proper testify that he knows of no
money subscribed or paid by Ohio Dem
ocrats to keep ST. John in the field
after the Republicans had refused to pay him
S25. 900 in three nstalments. and $50 night
for ecturing 1t is proper to remark that the
money thus paid to st. John now figures as an
item in the claim of an Ohio man upon Mr.
Cleveland's favorable consideration. Here is a
chance for Mr. st. John to vindcate himself by
getting two men out of the 80, 900, 900 inhabit-
ants of the United States to certify that they do
not know him to be ION the make in politics
All we shall ask in the event of the certificates
being against belief and knowledge in tho
matter, is the privilege of little rebutting testi-
mony. There's lots of fun in this thing if it's
we'll worked up The object of this paragraph
is to move the picket lines forward little so as
10 bring on general scrimmage.
The Springer Investigation.
CINCINNATI Jan 9-Tha Snrinper in vesticat