The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-12
THE PAYNE CASE.

Having Failed In Their Attempt to Snirch
His Character Senator Payne's Repub-
lican Enemies Propose to Lay Old Elk
pIcCed "Rumors Before the United
States Senate. =
For three months committee Of the
Ohio Legislature have been inyestigat-
ing Sim Donayin'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 one
for evidence in support of MIR. Dona-
WINS story. 'a''!H' no. -, '''.@'' ~
The exception is notable. As long
ago as january ~ MIR. Payne wrotet to
the committee asking for an opportu-
nifty to appear and 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 % to Mr..
Payne's letter, assuring the Senator
that he would be summoned in case
the inquiry developed any fact tending
to incul pate 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. a'"' %
The majority and minority reports
are now before the. Legislature, to-
gether with mass of inconclusive
testimony filling eight thousand printed
pages. No proof Of bribery has been
discovered. i, The Democrats of the
committee report that ''there has been
MISUNDERSTANDING found in any way
compromising the four members
charged, The Republican majority
''tind that the charge against four
members of this House-Shultze, Seig-
Ter, Baker and Hunt-named in the
resolution, has not been sustained"
Yet, although generating 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 Mr.. Payne in
any degree, the majority report car
| ries partisanship to such an extent that
| it proposes to turn the case over to the
United States Senate, and to ask the
Republicans of that body to attack
anew Senator Payne's right to the seat
which he occupies.
Here are the extraordinary grounds
on which Mr. Payne's enemies in Ohio,
after three months Of futile search at
home, ask renewal Of the investiga-
ton in Washington: 40 t"f u ''..' -
II. That the candidacy Of Henry B. Payne
| for United States Senator was not made known
| publicly Until considerable time after the
| general election of 1883 at which members OF
| the General Assembly were chosen.
SO That suspicion and charges OF the EN-
ployment OF illegal means to secure the cleo
ton Of the successful candidate for Senator
were very prevalent near the time of, and fol
weeks after, the Senatorial election, and thai
in many instances the suspicion amounted
almost to conviction. e,.t .!;,.. Ft1s-i.
'3. That as to choice of Senatorial candi
dates among members of tho General AZ
sembly there were numerous remarkable
changes difficult to account Tor without az
Stunning the use of unusual Inducements
! Senator Payne's attitude from tn,
first has been manly and honorable
and we do not believe that this attemp
to dump into the United States Senate
chamber for his further annoyance
the rumorsi; and unsubstantiatet
charges of the Columbus lobby, will
meet with. the approval of fair-mindet
men of either party.-N. Y. !Sua.