Morning journal and courier., 1886-11-18
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
CLEVELAND BACKS down
An Offensive Partisan Re-
stored To Office.
JUDGMENT GIVEN FOR MOEN.
doc" Wilson Must Pay
Heavy Damages.
COLD WEATHER IN THE WEST. |
Boodler McQuade Picking
A New Jury.
COLD WEATHER In THE WEST.
THE president BACKS DOWN.

He Accepts District Attorney Benton's
Explanation OF His Political Activi
ty aud ReinsIates Him In OHce.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE President
has reinstated Maecinas E. Benton as United
States attorney for the western district of
Missouri, who was recently suspended for &C.
tive participation in politics. The CORE
spondence in the case is as follows:
NEosHo, Mo-, Nov. 10, 1886.
Hon. A. H. Garland, Attorney General,
Washington.
Sir-Your letter of the list instant with in
closures apprising me of the basis of my sus-
pension from the Office of attorney of the
United States for the western district of
Missouri was received. I desire to make a
plain statement of facts in relation to the
list of appointments to make campaign
speeches. The United States district court
for the eastern division of my dis
trict convened on the 9th day of
September. I had been there with my assis-
tant for several days prior to that date pre-
pairing the cases for trial. The district bust
ness Except few pleas of guilty)was finished
on the Oath of September, and on the follow
ing day the court adjourned. On the night
of hs 25th 1 spoke at Jefferson City and MIR.
Rush, my assistant, and prepared ourselves
for the October term of the court for the
western division. Meanwhile L had at the
VEINS and others, candidates for Congress, and
the Democratic State Central committee, and
with the knowledge of Senators Cockrell and
Vest, agreed to make some campaign speeches.
After SO arranging them as to time as not
to interfere with my official business
I gave the list to DIR. H. Shields, chairman,
and this list was published, the dates begin
ming September 81 at pm. at Aurora. The
appointments were made on each side OF my
district SO that l could reach Kansas City
once in each week, which did, to look after
the routine business of the Office. My assist
ant, Mr.. Rush, was in the office all the time
that was away. Two of my appointments
were made Webb City and Sareox-
sie-conveniently near to Joplin,
where 1 appeared in two cases on the
fourth day of October before Clark Cray
croft, United States commissioner. 1 filled
my engagement, to Saturday, October IL, at
Seneca Monday, October 10, the district
court for the western division began its term;
every indictment and information was pre-
pared In consequence of this the grand
Jury was dismissed at noon of the third day.
had thought that could get though the
business of this short term in one
week: had two engagements to speak dur
i aia that not "s'f one The Il d. other, at
Kansas City, did fill at night after the ad
journment found on Saturday, the 23d
of October, that had six important cases
which I believed should be tried. On
that night came here and got my partner,
Hon. Joseph Cravens, Hon. j. T. Teel of
Mount Vernon and DIR. James Evans of
Nichols, Greene county, to agree to fill my
appointments, beginning with Southwest
CITY on the Goth of October, and Immediate
" returned to Kansas City and announced
myself ready for trial. The District court
docket was called. remained in court and
attended to the cases until 1 received the
Presidents letter suspending me.
As to my record as q public officer am
willing for the department reports of my
success in trials, the court officers of the cir
cult and district courts and those who have
had business with the Office to say. I relied
on the following clauses of the Presidents
letter of July 10 in making the engagements
to speak: "Individual interest and activity
in political affairs are by no means condemn
ed, oficeholders are neither DISTINGUISHED,
nor forbidden the exercise of political privi-
leges, but their privileges are not enlarged,
nor is their duty to party increased to PERM
cious activity by oficeholding." Ii the max
ing of political speeches is the cause of my
suspension I can make no defense, but if it
is inferred that I neglected my official
duties by SO doing am not guilty and ask
the fullest scrutiny of the facts. I respect
fully ask that this communication be re-
ferred to the President with such recon-
mendation as you deem just l have but to
add that had no idea that making political
speeches would be taken to be in violation of
the Presidents letter of July 49, 1885.
Very respectfully,
EXECUTIVE MANSION, !