The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-13
Another Damaging Letter from Legat.

Another Damaging Letter from Legate.
ST. Louis, JAM 12-The Globe Democrat will
tomorrow publish long interview with j. S..
Carkson, member Of the Republican national
committee. in connection with the charges which
have been made against Ex-Governor st. John,
of Kansas. late Prohibition candidate for Presi-
dent The interview is very long and
refers to various conversations had by
Mr.. Clarkson with James F. Legate
of Kansas, and to a conference had between
Clarkson, Legate and r. G. Kerins, of ST. Louis,
who had been sent out from New York by the
national Republican committee to aid or advise
with Clarkson in the latter's negotiations with
Legate 1t also embraces two or three dispatches
of some significance IN connection with the mar
rative, but which are of little import by them
selves. The following letter is the most inter-
esting document, which bears signature, that
the interview contains:
TOPEKA Kan, Oct. 4, 1884.
'lIr J. s. Ciarkson:
''Sir-When the election is over read this;
then do as you see fit about the matter. 1 saw
the Importance of controlling, measuraby
the Prohibition vote for the Republicans,
and when talked to by st. John I lent
an attentive ear At Senator P.'s request
came to see you at Cincinnati. You seemed to
share my views and read me your talk
awaited the arrival from New York, and sup
posed the matter would be closed up, but after
the consultation at Columbus it was deemed
wiser that l should look after st. John and
meet him at Cincinnati having previourly agreed
with him to go to Michigan, with sore throat.
telegraphed him and made him specific prom
se to go with him to Pittsburg, expecting to find
some word there, bat failed said to him,
based upon what you had said, and
with what was said by Senator P, the night
after the conference at Columbus, that would
guarantee $4,000 He was satisfied and went
with me. to Philadelphia. l there per
ssiaded him to write letters tc D. w.
Gage, the State organizer for Ohio; A. L. Cerrey,
Of Samantha. Rev. g. Gegan, of Columbus,
and Professor w. G. Frost at Oberhn, urging
them to aid the Republican State ticket, saying
that II the Republican State ticket was elected,
he believed his vote in November would be
largely increased. My judgment is that his
leaving the State and writing these letters added
a very large number to the Republican majority
in OHIO. At Philadelphia, I received a dis
patch t3aat the matters would be fixed at New
York, where, with him, went. I found Mr..
Elkins who seemed to know nothing, and
would do nothing 1t did look as though we had
been fooled. 1t places me in position where
l would not have been placed for much larger
amount Whatever st. John has done since, we
got the benefit of his absence and the use of his
friends a6irmatively in Ohio, and that under my
promise. For the sake of my good faith to him.
as we'll as results in the future, if
Mr.. Blaine Is elected, as l hope he will be, I
want you, before You close the committee work,
to be enabled to make good my promise, made
under the circumstances, the party having
profted by its results 1t is promise made.
and guaranteed it should be fulfilled, and it
shall be if | am compelled to sell
the house that shelters my wife and children
Everybody here is anxious about New York,
and at Major Smitlson's request I have
telegraphed. 1t is, as supposed
it was, too late 70 accomplish good;
but it is not too late to make good prom
ise. At YOUR leisure let me hear from you
Yours, truly, JAS. H. LEGArE
To this letter Mr. Clarkson says he made no
reply, as be had at no time made any promise to
pay ST. John any money.
MIR Kerins was also briefly interviewed, and
eorroborated Mr.. Clarkson's statements, so far
as he knew the facts and circumstances in the