The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-08-26
Democratic Reform,

A Washington special to the New York
by no means constitute happy family. Some
of them openly declare that the President has
become the unconscious tool of a ''rng' which
proposes not only to manipulate and control
official patronage, but to fill its pockets by
shrewd and timely speculatons in the light of
official favor. An old resident of the District
who is man of means and Il thorough Demo-
crat said to-day:
"Somc time ago deed was put on record
from Marshal A. a. Wilson to President Cleve-
land for a suburban residence in the extreme
northwestern part of the city. Marshal Will
son had been informed that the President de-
sired to purchase suburban place which he
could use as quiet retreat from cares and in
trusion. There was considerable comment on
this at the time, and it was increased when the
newspapers published the fact that on August
3 another deed was recorded from certain pro-
performers to Dorsey Claggett, another par
ticular friend of Marshal Wilson's. for a large
number of acres of ground for $36.600. This
property is Immediately adjoining that convey
ed by A. A. Wilson to the President. Marshal
W llson kept the negotiation for the President
profound secret until the refusal in writing
for the adjoining property had been secured bv
Dorsey Claggett and then closed the trade and
made the transfer to the President. Dorsey
Claggett is known to be a man of little or no
means, and this transfer of large amount of
property to him was made to keep dark the
names of the real members of pool of which
1t is believed Dorsey Claggett is the figure
head. Following this transaction closely comes
his appointment as Register of Wills to succeed
man whose term expired thirteen months
ago. In all that period the Democrats of the
district had not been able to move the Presi-
dent to make the appointment. But after the
re- n had tirnl1, tn,l li.,l,.
il seems that Marshal Wilson experienced little
difficulty in bringing it about. Now look out
for large expenditures from the District appro-
prlatons to improve the roads leading from
Washington to the Cleveland CIaggett- Wilson
suburb. | have heard it whispered more than
once that certain real estate spectators put up
the money for the Presidents property in or
der to boom other property owned by them
i'll that neighborhood.'
Who is Marshal Wilson and why do you
think his influence is powerful?"
''Well, he is the son Of an honest carpenter
who died and left him some money. He was
president of the Columbia Democratic Club I'M
til recently. This club was the successor of
the Hancock and English Campaign Club of
1850. That club proposed to Chairman Bar
mum to contribute 100000 to the campaign
treasury in return for written guarantee
from General llanC ock that in the event of his
election he would give the club control of the
District patronage. The proposition was not
accepted. MI. llSon boasted that he was the
originator of the project As president of the
Columbia Club he appointed a special commit
tee to visit the various departments and de-
mand the dismissal of men who were known
to be Republicans. Wilson was appointed
United States Marshal, as understand and be-
licve, in pursuance of promise made to him
by Senator German. who appointed him to
raise campaign funds in the District in 1884.
Wilson himself was pretty liberal contribu-
tor and he raised a good deal of money. Cor
man is building up here political ring like the
one he controls in Maryland"