Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-12
THE ST. JOHN CONTROVERSY.
Mr.. J. S. Clarkson's Serious
Charges
Asserting that ST. John offered TO with
draw for S25, ,OOO-Threats OF the
Prohibition Candidate
CHICAGO, Jan. ..

CHICAGO, Jan. 9.
j. S. Clarkson, member of the Republican
National Committee, sent the following let
ter from Des Moines to Joseph Medhill with
respect in the ST. John controversy
'In reply to your direct inquiry, if know
personally or not, whether St, John offered
to withdraw as a candidate for president for
money consideration, can answer not only
as to the.fsct, without get being at liberty
to make public the details. To my knowledge
he did have overtures made. through friend
from his own State, by which he offered. if
paid S25, 200 in cash, to withdraw as a candi-
date altogether, or to stay in the field and
| feather his speeches, Gas it was put in the
Kansas phrase) to the help of the republi
cans. 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 men,
toned, went first to Ptttsburg, next to Phila-
delphia, and finally to New York, 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.
On October 20, through his friends, in
| letter still in existance, he demanded the
payment of $40, 900, alleged to have been
earned by him in getting sore throat in
| Ohio one week for the benefit of the republi-
can party. This letter and other facts of
detail, which will convince anv falr minded
person of the real character of St. John and
shew to the country what thrifty christian
he is, will be given to the press whenever il
shall ask and persuade his friend. who was
the medium of his overtures, to give his con-
sent to have them made public.
| | might add that neither the National Com
mttee nor any one acting for them ever
made an overture proposition of auy
kind to st. John. All that il did was to lis
/ ten to and discuss the overtures and PROPOSE
tions made to il through the medium which
he employed to push it
| Several other members of the National
| Committee and some other gentlemen con-
nected with the Ohio campaign had frequent
conversations with this friend of s., Jehn and
are as conversant with the facts and details
of it as myself. They know that St. Johns
friend was in constant telegraphic and FIRE
quent personal consultation with him, and
| that things that 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 offered
us, including the exchange of telegraphic
correspondence between them and shown to
other persons, proving that his friend was
acting with st. John and under his authority.
One other person is in possession of more
written evidence than have"
MIR. ST. JOHN DENIES THE TRUTH OF THE
CHARGES.
Mr. st. John has been in the city today
and has been engaged in preparing long re-
ply to the direct charge made in Mr.. Clark
sons letter. He was seen in his room in
the Sherman House today by a newspaper
reporter and said
''This attack is most untrue and v!llanous,
and is prompted by petty spirit of re-
venge."
Do you object to saying what truth there
is in it?"
None whatever, 1t is a tissue of lies, so
far as | am concerned, from beginning to
end Mr. Clarkson has either been deceived
or he wifully lies. | have never asked or
received a cent of money from anv committee.
democratic or republican. l have never
been in communication with any medium,
nor have written any kilograms or letters
to any medium showing or insinuating dis
position to play the prohibition party false.
The matter is one of pure revenge for he de-
feat of Mr.. Blaine. Mr.. Blaine's defeat was
due to himself and to his party. The corner
stone was laid here in Chicago in June, when
the republican party refused to allow the
people to exercise the right of thinking for
themselves"
st. John indulged in some personal abuse of
Mr.. Blaine and declared that he had been de-
feated purely by the fact of the Delmonco
dinner, and had he not been blinded by vanity
won have foreseen it. He then said:
"All these things combined to defeat him !;
fNr 7 h
mentioned. In regard to Mr.. Clarkson's
charge-l never had a sore throat, nor COM
planned of having it. The last place in Ohio
where spoke was Oberlin, whence went to
Adriana, Mich, and spoke before 10000 peo
Pile. Ihave not been in Pittsburg for over
year, | went to Philadelphia, and thence to
Baltimore, and then to New
York, from Michigan and was accompa-
MED by George X. Scott, late of the New
York Witness. Mr., Clarkson has been chal
lenged time and again to publish any letters,
kilograms hr anything else he has, but he
sneaks behing the plea Of confidential rela-
tons with friend who, by his own admis-
sion, is a would be bribe-taker. If had de-
sired to reach Mr.. Clarkson or the republican
committee there would never have been any
need for middle man.
"Were you ever approached by the repub-
licans with reference to selling Outr'
''Of that do not care to speak now. My
appointments for the campaign were made
solely by the prohibition party in Chi
cago."
Mr., ST. John finally said that it would
have been folly for him to have accepted
s25, 900 from the republican committee when
he could have had 100000 from the dis
tillers. 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 instrumdntality
which placed the happenings at Copiah and
Danville in the shade.