The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-01
TIE MAN SWAIN IFS.
sEfow His Appointsnent 0asae Nboat-iA UsHr
i01s tSlxinAin "a in bush
49,. n: 4l,,,, rA;a

sEFow His Appointsnent 0asae Abodt--iA UsHr
i0as :fskiaaAint5 in business.
tEpecafto Pittsburg Dispatch.
Swaim's appointment was simply and purely'a
deal In which Garfield figured as the Skimpole
and Swain occupied his natural aroie of I0per
center Garfield did not appoint Swarm. :al-
though the latter was confirmed after Gariefds
induction oofeer lat the special session of the
Senate. That Garfield wanted SWAIN ITO have
the place is evidenced by the fact that he, the
President-eect, persuaded Hayes. to make the
appointment Swain had "a smorteaee on Gar
field for a large'amount. !Thatis eoasay, hehad
loaned Garfield money and aheld "a mortgage
on the Garfield property in Ohio With his
characteristic ,shrewdeess in peeuaiary saffairs,
Swain careful mot to let his money
20 until Garfieldls election had become "a
certainty. Garfield found himself in "a tight
place when Swain indicated HOW this
mortgage was expected to be paid. He swas
mot president vet however ;and was at liberty
Ito use his influence attorney for Swain with
president Hayes He hadaal thennores reasen.to
do so to the best OF his ability since Swain must
tbeyiaid off utIderhis administrator If {itcofld
mot be done under that of his predecessor. $50
Garfield, by good turn in promises to take care
of some of Mr. Hayes's 5frienas.wfo were in
office. succeeded imgettng Hayes 10 give Swain
thesspnointnieIit helcovete4i at the SAME time
shifting the responsibility of that appointment,
and as he thought, clearing up the SRaortgase
the SAME time.
sThatwas the way Swain came Ito .beJu,1ee
acknowledgements Of tire army position for
which he was elbelit much fitted las; lrervsas
for the presidency of a benevolent society.
Swain held the tbaciSsdoor Skeysof the White
House under Garfield hy 'tlisvery manner of
Ibis appointment, and the Acknowledgements
FpoSsesscd of his patrons character. He held,
hrs mortgage, inone sense, at least, to the day,
noftCiariields death. when he soon found himself
lie trop. But he held asposver over the army,
and in the department which was greater than
aven.that of the Secretary-of War himself. Asl
1he leading spirit the army poker'eltib, officers
xas,xeak as Sol. Morrow were willing Ito dose
their money to him and duplicate their
pay accounts TO crafty not satisfy,
llis greed. To satisfy 1T was impossible.
sEsEaim played into the hands OF "a.
bucket-shop broker named 'Bateman, until even
the constituencies d3ateman could stand it no!
longer The .twossaueezed young Stanley Brown
out OF the concern-~a young man who served.
S~anl's turn in the White House. and who re
fused TO longer serve itinthe disreputable bust
ness he found them engsrsed:in. Tho War De
partment was hostile to. Swain, and he knew lit
Not I'm officer of tho army who WAS stationed in
Washington respected Swain, or would be seen
asseciating with him IN public. When the 10
per center saw this he knew that he would be
brought to book in the course of time. and
himself set agoiug the rumor that he was pefse
cuted for his affection to Garfield. Every card.
sharp in town repeated these accusations, and
Rttid Swain good FELLOW.
When the first trial the most elabo
rate preparations were made for iSw0imS de
fense. Tho court of the highest courts
IN the army that could DO conveniently got to-
gether Why didn't it convict and misunderstanding
Eram the aimy2 That rs what botliers other
army officers. Simply because the c0spt, IN
stead of being prejudiced against Swain, was
0reindiced against the War Office. In the army
when all officer gets above the rank OF Colonel
he is bigger than the entire War Department
and the Secretary of War incaneed. A major
general accepts the civilian secretary as q neces
sary evil, 10 be tolerated rs long he leaves tine
army alone When the civilian secretary u9f-
dertakes 10 show will of his own he is to I've
sat upon as temporary creature inter
feTlnS with the aristocracy. There is not
the slightest doubt but that had il not been
we'll known that Swain lad incurred the severe
displeasure Of the civil government the sentence
would have been disgraccful dismissal from the
army. AS Il was. the findings have been prop
erly characterized by President Arthur as alb
surd. uBcaled for, and an outrageous violation
of military and civil law. AS Judge Wyiie of
the Criminal Court, said to . Washington jury
in the Dempsey case, the President said in
effect: go long with you: I'm ashamed of YOU
You have violated your oaths.h
But the general officers of the court laugh
at &C. and falling back on their life teuures sneer
AZ the President and his Attorney general and
secretary Of War as political creatures who will
he dead next week aud forgotten next month
An officer Of the war department aptly says: "A
suspension Of twelve years on half pay with an
honorable retirement is not punishment; it Is
lna<iRROf Swain. 1t retires him now and
nssRer, ii places HIM beyond tho
of the Trial.
Feb. 23-Ons effect of
pc to lessen respect for