New-York tribune., 1886-01-18
THE OHIO CONSPIRACY.
HOW AND WHY PAYNE WAS MADE SENATOR.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The open letter re-
Gently addressed to Senator Payne by "sim" Donavin-
familiary known in the days OF John q. Ihompsohs
career as Sergeant tat-Arms as Slver-haired sim -
has been generally accepted open declaration OF
war by the Thurman wing of the Ohio Democracy
against tho adherents OF Senator Payne lha'
may be surface indication, but there is broader sig
nicance attached TO it than simple assault oy the
member OF faction upon the leader OF aho'her-o
rather the apparent leader, for Senator fayhs 10 n
leader in name. DoDavin's letter may NOT n"'o
been prompted by any suggestion or lnnuenee
other than inclination. but IL represents 'ne
thou and fear of many Democrats In ONO ana else
where They have been noting carefully the actions oi
q 90, erie of men, who having abandoned the environ
mcnt of State politics for tho broader one OF tho NATION
aarge aud with Washington as their base OF operauohs
are quietly perfectng their plans 70 capture tho Demo
cratic National Convention In 1885, dictate the Ronina
ton President and control the policy aud patronage
OF the Government The men who went down win
Pendleton his defeat aud tho adnerents Oh Juuse
Thurman in Ohio and elsewhere, who witnessed the
humiliation OF the " Old Roman" at Chicago In 1854,
know thoroughly the power Of tho men who defeated
them have gagged exactly their calculating persistehcy
and unscrupulousness and Donavns letter Is warning
to the Democracy.
The letter is also preface to bit OF political history
of recent date which when known can leave no DOUBT as
TO the character and purposes OF the men 10 "hou'
Donayin indirectly addressed his letter Tue letter
meuts would have mado more clear the purpose 'ha'
prompted it.
II charges also that the organization that defeated
Pcndcton and elected Henry b. Payne United STATES
Senator went about It in clumsy fashon' ouch was
not the case The canvass against Pendloton was man
aged by cool calculating men, and they ala not naAe
the mistake OF advertising themselves by sending out
hand of purchasing agents, to pick up purchasaDle
legislators here and there throughout the state OF oho
Afew facts connected with that notorious canvass
will serve 10 explanatory supplement 10 the Doua-
win open letter. show clearly the coherent pur
pose that originating in factonal tight In ONO ana IN
creasng Ia strength with success seeks pseei game
and broader fields
tits true, as Mr.. Donavin says that Henry b. Payne
was not mentioned during the Ohio canvass OF 1888 as
candidate for United States Senator but 1t net true
that Senator Pendletons right to reelection was con-
cedod The opposition to Senator Pende,on' beginning
in 1881 developed into bitter fight to control the state
orgauization in I8S2-aheu the Pcndeton mon won Dy
n scratch-and was continued in 1883 at the estate
Convention that nominated Judge Hoadly Tor GOV
ernor when the anttPendleton forces' leu
by John II. Mclean John Farley, Dave rage
81. Dan McConville, Charles Constantine and " Gil
Barger wrestea control of the State organization
from Senator Pendeton and captured the whole political
machinery Of tho Ohio Democracy. From that time
Pondleton and his friends recognized as struggle 10
the death. John r. Mclean was the warwick OF this
md preceding contests against Senator Pendleton out
representing at that time majority of the Ohio Demo
Gratis VINO did not feel kindly toward Senator Pendeton
after his Civil Service departure.
The opposition however. had not centred on any man
to Dit against Pendeton until after the state
election OF 1888 Early in November. 1883. meeting
was held at Cleveland which was attended by John IL
Mclean oliver Payne Colonel Thompson. Secretary OF
th, Standard Oil Company John Farley Charles Con-
sfxntiue Gil Barger and Dan " McConvile. The
availability of Durbin Ward George l. Converse, John
W. Bookwater and others was freely discussed aud IL
was finally decided that Henry b. Payne was the best
man upon whom 10 centre the opposition TO PEN
dIeton. Mclean the most strenuous advocate
of Senator Payne. and by his insstence won OiiVer
Payne to consent to placing his father III tho
field Senator Payne. at this time, had not been con-
suited and not aware until so ne time later that
fight was bong waged in his behalf against Senator
Pepdleton When the Cleveland eOnclave adjourned the
plan of tho Senatorial canvass had been fully de-
termined The Standard OIL office in Cleveland was to
be the principal eadq John r. Mclean was TO
tako care OF the Hamilton C0uAy deegatoh'
and careful men were to be selected IN every
county and Senatorial district in the State TO nvest
yatn and report whom their representatives and sena
tors favored, whether they were already committed
ho,esv undecided or stradding the fence waiting for
some one to knock them off with an tndueement Within
week after and plan had been selected active
operations wero begun, and backed by plenty Of
noney the work quickly and efficiently done Glove
Senators and Representatives. elect. They came
under cover generally accompanied by somo one
who could Introduce them properly but In some cases
they were we'll enough known not to require an escort
or introduction To mention any of them now is only
for the purpose rendering into definite form what was
vaguely limited at iu the Donavin letter. -
The Hon. Elmer White, who is AN applicant FOR MT
Rounds's place in the Government PRINTING Depart,
meat the Godfrey Jaeger. who has been appointed
special agent of the Internal Revenue Bureau the
Hon Henry BOIL, who wanted 10 be United states
Marshal for the Southern District OF ONO;
the Hon Messrs l. A. Drummer, Ranpy and MeLyman mar.
Representatveelect from Congressman Seneys county,
,"snt elect Brennsr Of Montgomery County
Cable of Miami County. Elliott OF Butler County, ana
Williams County Zeigler OF Crawford County, Mcbride
OF stark County Isle of Licking. and Young and Lowen
nmber eI who Tsed Cleveland All Of these mon repre-
sened constituencies that favored other than
''Forest Ciiy. resolent with the persuasive ana Tar
and determined adhorerts Of Mr. PAYNE.
When the Legislature convened at Columbus, head
Sanns Mhsr repaired John Mclean Oliver Payne
Colonel Thompson, Dave Paige, Farley Constantine
was summoned from Washington-his expenses being
paid by liberal renittanceto use bis influence as the
the legislative representative OF organized labor IN be-
half Of the father Of the or IN. an. o
at Fraukfortonthe- Msin Robert Shields. appointed
trct of Ohio aud many others were there also in Mr.
Payne's behalf. They were Oh hand. however TO wit
tbe Ensl Iuluiimoht VI "OoH %"
tered into before Legislature organized Ii
simply to see the goods delivered as Henry Paynes
election was assured before the "round up" at Colnm
bus January 1884. and all that was necessary was
70 keep tho stock In corral.
one OF tine potent Arguments however that were used
has yet to Ii this that the friends Of
MIR Payne having captured the state Organization and
elected Hoady had their ability as maup
and organizers and they we're entted to reeog
milton that accorded them, the Ohio Democracy would
be In trlm for 1884, aud In position TO nominate the
next Democratic candidate for the Presidency and trans
Ter 10 Democratic hands the controlling influence OF
Ohio In National affairs The storm OF Indignation that
arose however after the election or Senator Payne
some what disconnected tho plans OF those who had
m zde him the standard bearer Ia this hght. IL
evident that he would not be available
a Presidential candidate Thurman was looming up
and strong sentiment In his favor was being voiced
throughout the country Tho Thurman men claimed