Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-16
CARLISLE'S TITLE CLEAR.
so SAYS THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS.


Al PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS.
5hobe's Charges Net by "a Mass OF Tostl.
mony In RefutatIon-The Wants OF the
Wool Mcn-A Schedule of Duties suS-
Gested TO Congress-Ciement's Views on
Civil Service Reform.
WASHINGTON CITY. Jan. 16 Speaker Car
lisle presented his reply to the case of Thobe,
the contestant for his seat, Saturday, and
with such effect that the committee refused
to reopen the matter, three Of the Republic
ans contenting themselves with not voting
and the other three voting with the Demo-
Gratis
Carlisle's counsel, Mr. HRllam, opened his
argument by holding that Thobe's complaint
showed no good reason for reopening the
case, and then proceeded TO read his tosti-
mony. One Of the first affiiavits was
from John A. Goodson, Carlisle's brother
in-law, positively denying that he had adj
mitted that Carlisle had been defeated,
which denial was confirmed by an affidavit
from Charles Easton. Goodson's affidavit
also denied that any relative OF the speaker
had approached Wood, Thobe's first counsel,
and attempted to influence him. This state
ment was backed up by an affidavit from
Wood, who swears that Thobe's case Ian.
guished because Thobe himself was indlffsr-
emit The statement in Thobe's evidence that
Carlisle or his friends had admitted his de-
feat on the day succeeding the election was
declared false by several other witnesses.
To meet the statements made by Thobe
touching the meeting of Carlisle's friends on
election night, the counsel produced an affl-
davlt signed by Judge George Parkins, w.
w. Cleary, commemorative attorney, and
number of other gentlemen, who declare
that no meeting of the kind described could
have been held without their knowledge, and
that they know Of no such conference or
meeting But the most crushing part Of this
testimony was letter from r. w. Nelson,
who was particularly mentioned in Thobe's
testimony as having refused to participate
in the alleged meeting In this letter, which
is addressed to Carlisle, Mr. Nelson declares
that he never attended such a meeting and
knew nothing of it,
In like manner the charges that the poll
books had been tempered with were met by
most conclusive statements. One of Thobe's
afIiiavits was from John j. Pierce, Of Gin
cinnati, to the effect that, with the excep-
tion of one precinct, ali of the returns
Of Carroll county appear to be in the
same handwriting. To meet this was pro-
duced the affidavit of R. f. Harrison, the
county clerk, who as custodian of the poll.
books, affirms the correctness of the vote A.
7. Leeple, Knight of Labor of Carrolton,
declared that he was present in Thobe's in.
terest when the votes of Carroll county was
counted, aud that he found them fair and
beyond question as to correctness. J. I.
Lewis a Republican and ex-postmaster OF
Carrollton, affirms the correctness of the en-
d.. ba 10, ;fa
from five of the eight precincts OF Carroll
county were presented.
In an affidavit Stephen Solar, a policeman
of Covington, says he has several times been
approached by counsel for Thobe, asking
him 90 make affidavit that he had seen Car
Isle and detective named Harris entering
the Office of The State Journal on the even
ing after election. He had been told that it
might be to his interest to make such an aft
davit, and that in the event OF his being out
Of employment he could make money by
making such an affidavit
Afidavts were also read showing that
Thobe was Indifferent and had said he would
like to get out of the matter; he had no
money to expend on the case, and the labor
people who had forced him into it had not
come forward with the funds
Speaker Carlisle's affidavit was then read,
which is in brief general and particular de-
NAL Of each aud every charge affecting him
made in the affidavits and statements
by Thobe. Referring to the state
ment of Sypher that the election was lost by
over confidence, and that the polls were not
opened or tickets on hand, Carlisle says he
personally sent tickets in good time to all the |
counties excep tone and that one the ex-
scutive committee attended to-
Attorney Woods afii lavit says he dropped |
The case because Thobe gave its entire direc- |
lion to Sypher; that Thoebe couldn't get |
funds was also reason for his action He |
pushed the case as rapidly as it was possible |
under the circumstances, and never told |
rhobe that he could max money by letting |
it drop. He had told him that street con-
between two or three democrats
lad been overheard wherein they had re-
marked that the easiest way out OF the mat
,er was to buy out the Thobe faction.
Then mild sensation was created by the
-eading of letters written to Lee Crandall, of
his city, by Sypher, in which the latter
Urged himself as a particularly fitted man to
AXE up Thobe's case He said that in addi-
ion to legal ability, diplomatic and political
influence would have TO be used il success
was to he hoped for, and that he (Sypher)
could influence certain Republican and pro-
ectionist friends to assist Thobe. Sypher
Vigorously protested against the reaulnB OF
hese letters but said there was nothing in
hem he was afraid of and finally withdrew
lis objection.
Sypher was then given half an hour to re-
lily to the contestee's case, but said nothing
If such Importance as to give the committee
new view. His address was devoted to ex-
,lanations and denals, and the reading of
editions.
The committee then went into executive
esson and refused to reopen the case,
cooper, of Ohio, voting wit h the Democrats.
nd Rowel, of Illinois, declining to vote.
hen a resolution declaring Carlisle's
light to the seat was carried by
be votes of the nine De mocrats,
nd Cooper of Ohio Rowell
( Illinois, and Johnston of Indiana. Messrs.
Iouck of Tennessee, Lodge of Massachusetts,,
nd Lyman of Iowa were excused from yot-
lg, SO there was no negative vote, but it is I
Understood that they will submit a minority
aport, in which they will set forth the
trongest points set forth by Thobe, and
lain, not that he was elected, but that there {
good ground for reopening the case to en-
BILE him to prove his case il he can, and this
Tas the general opinion of the Republican
lembers. q,
HE WOOL MEN STATE THEIR WANTS.
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