Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-11
BEECHER,S OPPOSITION.
He Believed Blaine Thoroughly Dishonest.
The Reasons for It

The Reasons for It
CHICAGO, December 9.-Msjor ]. B
Pond, who is in Chicago, CO; senied yester-
day to tell . the inside facts about the ia
nous controversy in 1884 between Henry
Ward Bescher and James F. Joy.
"In the Autumn of 1888, 1 think it was
in September" he said, "Mr. Beecber lect-
ured in Detroit. The evening before he
spoke he dined with Mr.. Joy at his home.
A dozen or moro well-known gentlemen
were present. Some remarkable things
were said at thst dinner, and the Dext day
Mr.. Beecher told me what had occurred.
What he said made deep impression on
my memory, and I recall it now clearly
and ciIcumstantially. Mr.. Joy was at
that time among those Republicans op.
posed to the nomination of Mr.. Blaine,
and 30 were all the gentlemen at the din
ner. It was q sort Of snti-Blaine nesting,
and an opportunity was taken to show the
old sores. Mr.. Beecher wondered why be
should have been there, but he was known
to regard Blaine as an insincere man and q
money making politician.
cat that dinner, Mr. Bsecher told me,
Mr.. Jog related The trouble he had had in
obtaining from the government railroad
franchises and land grants in Southern
Kansas. This was while Mr.. Blaine was
Speaker. In attempting to get the Land
Grant bill through Congress, Mr.. Joy said,
he was baked by Blaine. Through en-
agent Mr.. Blaine made a proposition to
see that the bill went through upon car
tain conditions. Mr.. Blsine's demands
were go high that Joy refused. There the
matter stood for some time. MIR. Joy,
finding he could do nothing without Mr..
Blsine's help, finally acceded to his propo-
sitions. A large block of the railroads
first mortgage bonds, duly executed, were
transferred to Mr.. Blaine. The exact
amount Mr.. Joy did not say, but it
amounted to thousands of dollars. After
ward, Mr.. Joy said, he received a notice
from Mr.. Blaine that his affair was ali
right, and in due time the bill passed Con-
grees.
1.-THE day after Blaine's nomination in
the Chicago Convention of 1884 Mr..
Beecher said: DO you recollect what |
told you of my dinner with Joy at De:
troit last Fall? Well, Joy nominated
Blaine at Chicago yesterdsy?' Mr.. Beech
er then said he supposed Joy and Blaine
had made up 1t was some time alter
wards that Mr.. Beecher gave an account OF
the Joy dinner to o little circle of clergy
men in Brooklyn. DR. Justin Fulton, the
Rev. DR.. Wayland Hoyt, the Rev. I. De
| Witt Talmsge and some others were pres
emit. In some way q badly gsrbled account
of what Mr.. Beecher said was printed IN
Truth, a paper published in New York.
After the publication Mr.. Beecher receiv-
ed o note Mr.. Blaine asking him to call
and nee him at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
Mr.. Beecher went up to Mr.. Blaine's room
and l waited in the corridOr. He was not
gone lopg-not more than ten minutes
and when he came down his head was
shaking. He passed me and went to the
carriage without saying 4 word. l fol-
lowed him.
1--WE had driven half way to Ful-
ton Ferry before he said
anything. Then, referring to the
Detroit dinner again, Mr.. Beecher told me
what had taken place in the interview with
MI. Blaine, and, as nearly as cln recall
them, bis wo;ds were: Mr.. B!aiGe asked
me # l had seen what was published about
me in Truth. l said I had not. He
showed ne the paper. read it and hand
ed it back to him. What do you think
of thst?' said Mr.. Blaine. About half
a lie and about half the truth, | replied.
That can't be true, for MI. Joy and are
friends slid MI. Blaine. What object
have / in telling a lie?' said l, and facing
about l left him.
'Mr. Beecber told me at that time"
continued Major Pond, THAT he believed
Blaine was n dangerous man, and that 80
long as ne lived Mr.. Blaine should never
sit in the Presidential chair if he could by
his ballot or his voice prevent it. During
the newspaper controversy between MIR.
JOY and Mr.. Beecher in the campaign Of
1884 the latter, replying in an open letter
to Mr.. Joy, said he was a continental Ilsr,
and you know it, To this letter MI. Joy
did not renlV