The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-02
A POLITICAL "REMINISCENCES.
How Senator Mcpherson Prevented the
Republicans from Capturing New Jersey.

How Senator Mcpherson Prevented the
Republicans from Capturing New Jersey.
Senator Mcpherson, of New Jersey, has
remained in Washington du, ing the
spring. He is a very intimate friend of
the President, and is probably as near to
him as any of the Senators. Mr.. Cleve-
land is under special obligations to him.
The story of the occasion for his special
gratitude has never been told. If it had
not been for the Senator the Democrats
would not have elected a President. 1t
was he who discovered a secret conspiracy
to carry New Jersey for the Republicans.
During the latter part of the campaign he
went over the State with one or two
trained men for the purpose of seeing how
the election was going. In the northern
part of the State one of his agents came to
him and said: 1.-THE Republicans are
strangely confident. l do not understand
it. l know a Republican, a Woodworking
man, who has scraped together nine hun
dred dollars, the savings of three or four
years. He told me only last night that he
intended to bet this money upon Blaine's
carrying the State" This report caused
grave apprehension in Senator McPher-
sons mind. He thought it very strange
that this man would be willing to risk his
savings upon anything less than a GER
amined him. By promising to make good
to him the amount of his bet this specula-
tive Republican was induced to tell the
reasons for his confidence.
After some hesitation the man told the
story of the trade that had been made.
Three of the leading candidates for county
positions in the northern part of New Jer-
sey had made definite arrangement with
the Chairman of the Republican State
Central Committee to throw overheard
the National ticket in return for help on the
local ticket. The Senator instantly saw
the Importance of the story. Such details
or the trade were given him as to make
him positive that it could be carried out
unless the conspiracy was exposed. If the
trade should stand, New Jersey would go
Republican by about $500 majority. The
Senator does not care to mention the
names of these Democrats who were de-
tected in this conspiracy. He visited them
very promptly after he had heard the
story. He charged them directly with the
intention OF selling out the National ticket.
He was able to so convince them of his
knowledge of this conspiracy that they
found it useless to even attempt denial.
He warned all of the Democrats in the COM
munitieS where the trade had been
made, and notified the traitors that
if they attempted to carry out
their plan they would never again
be allowed to live in the State of New
Jersey. Terrified by this awful threat,
they rallied to sense of duty and did not
sell out. The dav of the election about
noon Senator Mcpherson met the Chair
man of the Republican State Central Com
mittee. He said: Mcpherson, am about
sending out dispatches to the chairmen of
the State Central Committees in New
York, Connecticut and Indiana. Ihave no
objection to your seeing them" what
have you told them:" said Mcpherson. II
have told Them" said he, that this State
will go for Blaine by twenty five hundred
majority; that nothing on earth can pre-
vent it. l am sending this out to encOur-
age them to pile up good majorities in
their States" Senator Mcpherson smiled
at this Dragging statement. He said: Il
am too good fri nd OF yours to want to
see you make a fool OF yourself. l have
no doubt what you have written would
have been true if the election had taken
place a week ago. But we discovered your
little game. 1t has been headed Off. This
State will go Democratic by four thousand
majority" The Republican Chairman
looked at the Senator moment as If in
doubt. The tone of his voice perhaps con-
vinced him Of the truth of his declaration.
He tore up his dispatches AMI walked
away looking very much chagrined.-COr.
". 7. World.