Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-12
ST. JOHN NOT A BRIBE TAKER
The Serious Charge that lie offered to
shape His Canvass so as To Help
Blaine Not Sustained


Blaine Not Sustained.
A special from Chicago says that J. S.
ClarksOn, a member of the Republican
National Committee from Iowa. has writ
ten letter in which he says: ''To my
knowledge st. John did have overtures
made, through a friend from his own
State, by which he offered, if paid $4,000
in cash, to withdraw as a candidate alto
gether, or to stay in the field and feather
his speeches as it was put in the Kansas
phrase) to the help of the Republicans.
lie was asked, in order to prove the sim
cerlty OF his offer, to withdraw from Ohio
In the last week before the October cleo
tiOn in that State. He did this under the
plea, which he said he would give, Of get
ting sore throat and. with the friend l
nave mentioned, went first to Pttsburg,
next to Philadelphia, and finally to New
\ Ork, where he 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.
ION Oct. %. through his friends, in a
letter still in existence, he demanded pay
ment of $4,000 alleged to have been
earned by him in getting a sore throat in
Ohio one week for the benefit Of the Re-
publican party. This letter and other
facts of detail, which will convince any
of St. John, and show the country what a
thrifty Christian he is, will be given to
the press whenever he shall ask and per-
suade his friend, who was the medium of
his Oyertures, to give his consent to have
them made public"
THE TRUE STORY.
The true inwardness Of the st. John sell
out came to light Friday at LeavenwOrth,
Kansas, in the confession of James f.
Legate, prominent Kansas politician
and prOhibitIonist. Legate cOnfesses
that he attempted to sell out st. John to
the Republican Committee. After the
October election it occurred to Legate's
mind that the Republican party was still
in danger from the bmarch OF prohibition.
Presuming upon his confidential relations
with st. John Mr.. Legate concluded to
visit the National Committee and lay be-
fore them the following propositions:
First, for the sum of $500 st. John will
so shape his campaign and canvass as
not to injure Blaine; second, he will with
draw from the canvass entirely for t&is
sum.
Mr.. Legate went to New York. He
talked with the committee and laid the
propositions before them and pressed his
points with all the power that he could
bring to bear. Chairman Jones refused
to listen to the proposition. Mr.. Legate
mittee so that Mr.. Blaine should not be
harmed, but they would not listen to me,
and verify they have their reward"
James +. Legate has been member of
the Kansas Legislature for twelve years.
Gen. Grant appointed him Governor Of
Washington Territory in 1872, but Charles
Sumner arose in the Senate and denounced
Legate and the appointment was not con-
tirmed. He had trouble with Senator
Pomeroy in 1880, which caused a scandal,
and gave Ingalls, the SenatOrship. He SAYS
that st. John did not know Of his plan.
THE BLAINE MANAGERS KNEW THAT
LEGATE
was st. Johns confidential friend, and
they took the proposal under adYisement.
1t was while they were considering the
scheme that the political atmosphere
was filled with rumOrs that st. John had
withdrawn, or was about to withdraw.
The committee were short of funds and
hesitated. Then they asked Legate to
produce some evidence of his power to
deliver the goods he proposed to sell. He
assured them of his ability, and of the
willingness Of his principal to fulfill the
contract.
They asked for some scrap of writing
from st. John as guarantee, but Legate
could not produce it and the bargain was
not made. This is the whole story of the
great st. John sell-out. No offer was
ever made to the Democrats and there
was no hint OF dickeT.
WHAT ST. JOHN SAYS ABOUT IT.
With reference to Clarkson's statement
st. John said in Chicago Friday: at is a
tissue of lies so far as | am concerned.
from beginning to end. Mr.. ClarksOn has
either been deceived or he wilfully lies. /
have never asked or received a cent of
money from any committee, Democratic
or
communication with any medium, nor
have L written any letters or kilograms
to any medium showing or insinuating a
disposition to play the Prohibition party
false. This matter is one Of pure revenge
for the defeat of Mr.. Blaine. Mr.. Blalne's
defeat was due to himself and mis- party.
The cornerstone was laid here in Chi
cago in June, when the Republican party
refused to allow the people TO exercise
the right of thinking for themselves"
MIR. st. John INDUCED in some personal
abuse of Mr.. Blaine, and declared that he
had been defeated purely by the fact of
the DelmOnicO dinner, and had he not
been blinded by vanity would have fore
seen it. He then said: ''All these things
combined to defeat him, not |. Save for
revenge, | would not be mentioned. In
regard to Mr.. ClarksOn's charge. l never
had sore throat nor complained of having
it."
"Were you ever approached by the Re
publicans with reference to selling out?"
''Of that l do not care to speak now.
My appointments for the campaign were
made solely by the Prohibition party in
Chicago"
Mr.. st. John finally said that it would
be folly for him to accept $4,000 from the
Republican Committee when he could
have had $10O,000 from the distillers. He
also declared that at the proper time he
would have something to say against the
Republican Committee, and declared that
if pressed he would tell of happenings in
Ohio through Republican instrumentality
which placed the happenings at CODiah