New-York tribune., 1885-07-07
EXPOSING Mr.. MCPHERSON.
HIS SECRET INTERVIEW w1rHMR. sEwELL.
CONVERSATION THAT Mr.. WATSON SAYS HE ovrR.
HEARD IN A HOTEL
TBY TELEGRAPH no THE rvrpr~.

lBr TELEGRAPH 10 THE rRrBUNAI
TRENTON. July 6.-Tke True American will
publish tomorrow morning Its version Of the alleged
secret interview between United States Senators
Sewe and Mcpherson, said to have been held In the
Continental HOTEL ct Philadelphia, the evening Of
December s, 1873. 1t will say;
Next to the room in which Messrs Mcpherson and
sewell were holding their meeting was room No. 20,
and occupying 1t, he had been for severa
days. was Peter H. Watson. Of Ashtabula. Ohio.
He was in the occupancy of the Of the Continental
Hotel as guest Of several days. bis way to New.
York. and while there tho conversation Of the next
was pressed upon him. When he went to New
York he met Mr.. Abraham g. Hewitt, and to him told
what he bad heard BY the advice Of Mr. Hewitt he then
made memorandum Of what he had heard, and that
memorandum, In the handwriting Of Mr. Watson, just
he made It, is in possession Here is what It says:
Thursday night, December 8, 1873.
"'senator Mcpherson and Mr.. Sewell or soule, met
for consultation respecting the election Of to
Mr.. Randolph. Mr.. Mcpherson said after canvassing
the character and popularity OF several prominent poll
cians and their relations to the Pennsylvania Railroad
that Mr. sewe the person who could best subservo
the interests Of the Pennsylvania Railroad among
who could be eectedj that IL did not matter to him
(fcPhers0n) that Mr. sewell belonged to the opposite
political party so that he could most efficiently
serve the interests Of the Pennsyyana Bairoad in the
United States Senate and whose friends elected tho
Legislature In NewJersey would best the interests
OF the Pennsylvania Railroad In New-Jersey that In
order to succeed at the election year from this fall tho
plans should be laid this winter aud must be con-
ceaed that nobody in Mr.. Randophs interest will havo
the least suspicion OF them until after elections that IL
Mr. sewe should decide TO become candidate that he
must not let his best friends know It, but TO II that
persons friendly to him nominated ostensbly tho
ground Of protecting the railroad interests which he
represents and Of promoting the interests Of his party.
Finally, Mr. sewelI said that he would become cand.
data "a, t,a f.t.r - sho Dam Dali
road on two conditions: First. that Mr.. scots
would ask him to do SO, and second, that he would
that he did not lose his position and salary railroad
president during the term Of his senatorshp. Nc
Pherson agreed that Mr. Scott returned homo
he would him and wosd say that Mr. sewell tho
only in NewJersey who could efficiently serve tho
Pennsylvania Railroad interests whom they could Ger.
tainy elect; that they needed more interest In tho
United States Senate to resist improper and hostile
legislation and to needed legislation for the
Southern Pacific Railroad that Mr. Randolph must be
defeated that this could easily be done II he should noe
suspect them as he took no pains to conciliate
the "boys" and render himself popular with
them and would not be likely to do so;
Counties without which his election would be poss.
ble and by jldiccns manaEeaent ooth could oe easy
must be male through persons OF Influence who are nos
set some Of their friends the thing for them that
suitable persons for the Legislature would be Joa
Yard at Jersey City; Colonel Spencer. OF Erie. >.
"Mr. Mcpherson said that Mr.. Jcwett would use tho
whole influence Of the Erie in favor of the
the Pennsylvania Railroad and In certain contingen-
cics might himself become acanddate for Governor oe
New-Jersey, but not at present. That John Berrien
would be popular ia Phelps's district, anl could
be thoroughly relied upon to support sewe That he
(seweD must remember that IN the next
five years the Pennsylvania Railroad would
Trenton and Washington That he feared that
the Southern Pacific could not be carried through this
winter because there were too many captains LAMAR
Ransom aud Matthews were all employed by Scott, he
supposed he supposed that each could influence
Senators his section and each OF them seemed
equal authority and each was xous 10 accom
psh the desired legislation by his own plan so as to
show his Importance and his title to reward That
what any wanted do the others would noe
heartily support aud thus the likely TO fa
because 1t lacked directing head although It would
be easily carried by one competent man aud not at
cost Of more money than could readily be commanded
''Mr Nc Pherson said that he had met Mr. Randolph
either that day within day or two and they had
had talk about the next election. that Mr. Rans
dolph had asked him what policy he would recommend
aud what counties he should want to take In charge
and that he hal replied to him evasveiy as TO the nse
OF the question: and 10 the second had SAID nau
ne would any counties except those about his own
home where he had many friends among both parties
that he couldn't make an effective canvass wlthoue
making many personal enemies"