The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-05-06
THE PAYNE CASE.

Having Failed In Their Attempt to Ssnirch
His Character Senator Psyne's Repub-
Iican Enemies Propose to Lay Old Ex-
ploded RumoIs Before the United
States Senate.
For three months committee Of tho
Ohio Legislature have been investigat-
ing Sim Donavin's charge that the
nomination of Hon. Henry E. Payne
for United States Senator was accom-
plished in the Democratic caucus by
the bribery of certain members A
majority of this committee are Repub-
licans, and with partisan zeal they
have explored every quarter except ono
for evidence in support OF Mr.. Dona-
wins story.
The exception is notable. As long
ago as January % Mr.. Payne wrote to
the committee asking for an opportu-
nifty to appear aud to be examined un-
der oath, and Offering to submit his
account books and private correspond
ence to the most thorough scrutiny.
Mr.. Cowgirl, the chairman of the COM
mittee, replied on january 25 to Mr..
Payne's letter, assuring the Senator
that he would be summoned in case
the inquiry developed any fact tending
to inculpate him in any degree with any
questionable transaction. Mr.. Payne
has not been summoned; his private let
ter books and accounts have not been
asked for by the committee.
The majority and minority reports
are now before the Legislature, to-
gether with a mass of inconclusive
testimony filing eightthousand printed
pages. No proof Of bribery has been
discovered. The Democrats of the
committee report that there has been
absolutely nothing found in any way
compromising the four members
charged" The Republican majority
s'find that the charge against four
members of this House-Shultze, Seig-
ler, Baker and Hunt-named in the
resolution, has not been sustained. "
Yet, although exonerating the members
of their own body who were charged
with bribery, and practically admitting
that they have failed to discover any
, fact tending to inculpate MIR. Payne in
any degree, the majority report car
ries partisanship to such an extent that
! it proposes to turn the case over to the
I United States Senate, and to ask the
, Republicans of that body to attack
{ anew Senator Payne's right to the seal
which he occupies.
{ Here are the extraordinary grounds
on which Mr.. Payne's enemies in Ohio,
after three months of futile search al
, home, ask a renewal of the investiga
s ton in Washington:
8 II. That the candidacy Of Henry B. Payne
6 for United States Senator was not made kuowI
l publicly until a considerable time after tn
q general eecto of 1883, at which members
o the General Assembly were chosen.
~. That suspicion and charges OF the en-
, ployment of illegal means to secure the cleo
: ton of the succe ssful candidate for senate
| were very prevalent near the time or. ana 10
> weeks after, the Senatorial election, ana tina
i in many Instances the suspicion amounke'
almost to convict on
''3 That as to choice OF senatorial rano
dates among members OF tho General A.
semby there were numerous remarknDt
changes difficult to account for without u
r. suming the use of unusual Inducements
Senator Payne's attitude from tn
!. first has been manly and honorable
" and we do not believe that this attemI
= to dump into the United States Senat
n chamber, for his further annoyancs
e, the rumors and unsubstantiate
d charges of the Columbus lobby, wi
" meet with the approval of fair-minde
' men of either party.-M Y. Sun.