National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-29
Tho Fncts in shclInyis Cnse.

Like the celebrated shocstrlng district oil
Tennessee, the fourth Alabama district
was Dcmocrotically designed for Ropub-
lican corral. 1t has an unquostlonel Re-
publican majority on a full vote Of not less
than 15,O0O.
Charles W. Shelley, now candidate for
confirmation for the Office Of fourth audi.
tor Of the treasury, has shown up three
times in Washington with certificate of
election TO Congress from that district, de-
spite a majority of ten to twelve thousand
votes recorded against him, and has taken
his seat. He has drawn not less than $780,
eco from the United States treasury In the
shape of salary and expenses of defending
his claiml There Is not Democrat In
Alabama or in Congress who does not know
that shelley's claim, in each and all Of the
three cases, was as glaring and barcfaccd a
fraud as any political trickster ever at
tempted. His certificate was not volun-
tarily given him, but was obtained by bull
doing the state officials. His moral right
to the money he has drawn was and is no
better than the burglars title to the booty
he gets by night raids on the homes Of
peaceful women.
This mans last appearance as a claimant
holding a certificate to q seat In the House
was at the opening of the forty-eighth Com
gress, in December, 'S3 The contestant,
Judge Craig, had been elected by majority
of $4,000. OF course, Shelley was seated on
his credentials, but there was not Demo.
crat in the House who did not know, and
most OF them admitted, that his certificate
was brazenly insolent fraud,
In July, 1884, after a patient investiga-
tion, Representative Lowndes II. Davis, of
Missouri, Democrat of Democrats, but
withal, an honest man, submitted the re-
port of the committee, showing what every
body had known for almost two years-the
election of Craig and the non-electlon of
Shelley No evidence was taken. by Shelley,
for none could be had. There was never
even pretense in his state that he had
come within thousands of votes of an cleo
tion.
But the submission Of this report and the
contempt Of decent men In the House
did not shake Shelley's hold on the treasury.
AS hungry calf clingS to teat and sucks
and sucks-so Shelley held to his seat, care.
less of contempt so long as he got his pay.
1t was close up to the time for the
forty-eighth Congress to expire by limi-
tation when the House adopted the report
submitted by the Democratic elections COM
mittee about eight months before, and
Charles w, Shelley walked out of the
House, which lie had so long dlsgaced by
fraudulent tenure OF seat therein.
When the representative of fraud went out,
the duly elected member, Judge Craig-the
man whose election had never been doubted
came in, with only few days Of his two
years. term uneXpired. And who Is Craig
A native of Alabama, n scholarly gentle
man, gallant soldier in the confederate
army, lawyer of excellent repute, for
twelve years circuit judge by election IN
his state, man of probity, respected by all
for those qualities that command respect.
just before the close of President Arthur
term this gentleman, who had been KEEP
out Of his seat In the House for nearly thu
whole Of his term, was nominated and con
flrmed as judge of the district of Alabama
But when the "reform" Democratic ad
ministration came in, Judge Craig was sum
marily bounced and, to preserve its con
sistency, the administration installed shel
ley as fourth auditor of the treasury
The Republican Senate should take hi
nomination on a shovel or in the tongs an,
drop it out Of rear window.