New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-10
THE ST. JOHN CONTROVERSY
MR.. J. s. cLARKsoN's SERIOUS CHARGES,
ASSERTING THAT ST. JOHN OFFERED TO WITHDRAW
FOR $25, 25,000-rHRzATs OF THE PROHIBITION
CANDIDATE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE I


CANDIDATE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNEl
CHICAGO, Jan. 81. 8. Clapkson, member of
the Republican National Committee sent the following
letter from Des Mones to Joseph Med with respect 70
the st. John controversy:
In reply to 20 direct inquiry. II know personally
not whether st. John offered to withdraw as candi.
date for President for q money consideration can
answer not only to the fact, without yet 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 paid $25, 900 in cash. to
withdraw as candidate altogether, or to stay in the
field and feather his speeches 1t put In the
Kansas phrase to the help Of the Republicans. He was
asked, in order to prove the sincerity OF his Offer to
withdraw from Ohio in the week before the October
election in that State lie did this the plea which he
said he would gve Of getting throat and with the
friend have mentioned, went first to Pttsburg next
Philadelphia and finally to New York. where he hoped to
meet the part Of the Republican National
Committee who would be ready to make the deal and
pay the cash.
"On October 90 through his friends, in a letter still In
existence he demanded payment Of $4,000 alleged to
have been earned by him in getting throat in Ohio
one week for the benefit Of the Republican party This
letter and other facts Of detail which viii convince any
airminded Of the real character OF St. John and
show to the country what thrifty Christian he is, will
be given to the press whenever he shall ask and persuade
his friend who the medium Of his overtures to give
his consent to have them made public.
a. might add that neither the National Committee
any acting for 1t ever made overture or propos.
ton OF any kind to st. John All that t
did listen to and discuss the and pro-
positions made to it through the medium which he en-
ployed 10 push It,
'Severai other members Of the National Committee
and some other gentlemen connected with the Ohio
campaign had frequent conversations with this friend OF
st. John with the facts and details
Of myself They know that st. Johns friend was in
constant elegrapbc and frequent personal consultation
John his movements in Ohio pledged by that
friend and carried out by St John. In many ways
teegaphc correspondence between them and shown TO
several 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"
MR.. ST. JOHN DENIES THE TRUTH OF THE CHARGES.
Mr.. st. John has been in the city to-day
and has been engaged in preparing long reply to the
direct charge made in Mr.. Clarkson's letter He
In his at the Sherman House to-day by news
paper representative, and said
This attack Is most untrue and villainous and ia
prompted by petty spirit OF revenge"
Do you object to saying what truth there Is In i'll"
None whatever. IL is tissue Of lies so far as am
concerned from beginning TO end Mr.. Carltson has
either been deceived he wfully lies. I have never
asked received cent OF money from any committee.
Democratic or Republican, have never been In COM
munlcation with any medium, nor have l written any
letters kilograms TO any medium showing or
insmuating q disposition TO play the Prohibition
eest Of Mr. Blaine Mr. Blanes defeat was due TO him.
self and his party The cornerstone laid here In
Chicagon June when the Republican party refusedto al
low the people exercise the right OF thinking for them
selvcAp
Mr. 81. John INDUCED in some personal abuse OF Mr..
Blaine and declared that he had been defeated purely by
the fact the DclmOnico dinner and had he not been
blinded by vanity would have foreseen It, He then said:
All these things combined defeat him, Save for
revenge | would not be mentioned. In regard Mr..
ClarksOns chargeI never had throat complain
ed of having it, The last place In Ohio where spoke was
2SsT pSss cco peops Sss
have not been in Pttsburs for over year went to
Philadelphia and thence TO Baltimore. and then to New
York Michigan, and accompanied by George T.
Scott, OF The Nen YORK Witness Mr.. Clarkson has been
challenged time and again % publish any letters ele-
grams anything else lie has but he sneaks behind the
plea OF confidential relations with friend who by his
admission. Is "A woui-be bribe-taker. II had de-
sired reach the Republican Committee, Mr.. Clark
there would never have been any need FOR middle
man" -
/" Were You ever approached by the Republicans with
reference 10 selling out /"
OF that do not to speak now. My appoint.
for the campaign were made solely by the Prohi'
btOn party in Chicago"
Mr St John finally said that It would be folly Cor him
10 accept S25 900 from the Republican Committee when
he could have had 900 from the disters. lie also
declared that at the proper time he would have something
to say against the Republican Committee, and declared
that II pressed he would tell Of happenings IN Ohio
through Republican nstrumentaity which placed the
happenings at Copiah and Danville in the shade