The Washington critic., 1888-09-15
RICHARD II. SYLVESTER. Editor
WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER l5, 1888.

In THE CoLLoQUY yesterday between
Senator Vest of Missouri and Senator
Hoar of Massachusetts, relative to con-
tributions to the campaign fund, and
especially the alleged contribution of
500, 900 by Hon. William L. Scott to that
fund, the gallant Senator from Missouri
had decidedly the best Of the argument.
In fact he was right all the way through,
not only as to principle, but in the mat
ter of good taste and common sense.
1t was certainly in very bad form for
Mr.. Hoar to make even the slightest al
lusion to Mr.. Scotts contribution. To
put it in plain terms, it was none of Mr..
Hoar's business whether Mr.. Scott sent
in check for $780, 900 or simply inclosed
to the committee two-dollar bill.
4 The statement was originally made by
the New York World that the Pennsyl-
vania Congressman had subscribed $780,
600, as it was his right to do if he saw fit
TO aid the campaign in that way.
But Mr.. Scott emphatically denied
that such was the case, and Mr.. Hoar
having erred in the first place by arraign-
ing Member of Congress for doing
what he was at liberty to do in per-
fectly legitimate way, erred again in not
manfully acknowledging his mistake;
erred still further in harping on the
Voorhees, bill prohibiting a contribution
by any executive officer of the Govern
ment to the campaign fund of any polit-
ical party, with which bill he did not at
all concur
1t was Mr.. Hoar's idea, of course to
show that Mr.. Scott, in making his re-
puted contribution to the Democratic
campaign fund, did so not in his indi-
vidual character, but as the representa-
tive of great railway syndicate or
"trust;" but the mere fact that he made
no such contribution as was attributed to
him, either individually or collectively,
disposes of Mr.. Hoar's ungenerous and
dscourteous criticisms at once.
Mr.. Vest in the course of the discus
sion stated the merits of the case very
fairly and concisely, and it must be
borne in mind that the Missouri Senator
has always been consistent Civil Service
Reformer. He said:
have no hesitation in saying that Mr.. Scott
or any other Democrat, has the perfect and
complete right to give his money, that belongs
TO him, to the legitimate purposes of o cam
paign as much as he has to make donation to
any eleemosyna ry or religious inststution. II
he believes the Democratic party is right, tina,
its principles are necessary TO the welfare anG
the honor of this country, he would be derelict
In bis duty as an American citizen II he did not
do all that an honorable man can do in order tC
promote those principles and put them into &C
tive operation.
The fact that Mr.. Scott is connected with tht
management of %, 900 miles of railway Is n,
argument that he is making improper use of hi
m oney. IL is no argument against his character
on the contrary. 1t simply shows that as u self
made man he illustrates the activity and enter
prise and brain work of the American people
and he demonstrates the possibilities that ar
offered in this country to any man, no matte
how poor or obscure, TO achieve position AM
fortune by his own honorable individual Ell
fort
That Mr.. Hoar is Of the same opinion
is manifest from the admission he mad,
that he should make contribution him
self 'to the extent of his ability and be
yond his ability" before the campaign
was over. In this announcement h
gave himself entirely away and whateve
point he expected to make vanished int
thin air.