Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-18
0'BRIEN-BAIN GOSSIP.
The Bibles on Which Presidents Take the
Oath of Omce-senator Jones on Nevudn
PoIitics-A Clear Case of Non. Residence.
fcoRREspoNpENcE or rHE p1srArcH.l

Politics-A Clear Case of Nom Residence.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPATCH.1
WASHINGTON, February 17.-Clerk McKen-
ney, of the United States Supreme Court, is
about to purchase the Bible on one of the pages
of which General Harrison will imprint a kiss
as he becomes President of the United States
two weeks from next Monday. The sacred
tones which have been used for Presidents
first oath have in the past been presented to
some near relative of the family as a memento
of a moment6us occasion. This custom was
not followed IN President Cleveland's case. As
will be remembered, he took the oath on a
Bible belonging to his mother. Mr.. McKen-
ney opened the safe in his private Office for my
benefit the other day and took from the paste.
board box the Bible which he had bought for
the Inauguration of President Cleveland. 1t
was a handsomely bound volume. morocco
covered, and in size large octave. 1t still re-
tanned the tissue paper that surrounded the
rich and fragrant leather the day it left the
manufacturers hands. l asked Mr.. McKen-
ney what he was going to do with the book
81 really don't know" he replied. IN a
strictly economic mood, the other day. l al
most determined that as the Bible was as per.
feet as the day bought it four years ago.
would use it for the ensuing ceremony. have
decided not to do this, however, and the Bible
will probably rest with the other curious souv-
enirs of the Supreme Court"
Mr.. McKenney, in referring to the several in
augurals in which he had played by no means
an unimportant part, explained how narrowly
he watched the spot in the open page on which
the lips of the Chief Magistrate have rested.
AS soon as the kiss is imprintedhe would mark
the spot with his finger nail, and lightly touch
it with pencil afterward.
The Bible that President Arthur kissed was
nrnSanfad IN Inv
Kenney, and the Garfield Bible was handed to
Mrs. Garfield by Mrs. McKenney on the 9th of
March, 1881.
Mr. McKenney's predecessor, D. W. Middle
ton, was in office when President Hayes took
the oath, but the present clerk was selected to
present the Bible to Mrs. Hayes. As Mr. Nc
Kenney handed the Bible to Mrs. Hayes in one
of the parlors of the Executive Mansion Mrs.
Hayes said: II hope Mr.. McKenney will be
kind enough to read the verses aloud" Those
present grouped themselves around as he COM
Piled with the request of Mrs. Hayes. The
last OF the verses read: "And they oppress me
yea, they persecute me-but in the name of
the Almighty God will destroy them" Mrs.
Hayes laughed good humoredly and said: "Oh,
no; don't believe that anybody will be de-
stroyed." Then she accepted the Bible, and
instructed Mr.. Mckenney to present to Mr..
Middleton her warmest thanks for the gift.
Nevada Campaign Expenses.
Senator Jones, of Nevada, resents the charge
SO often made and repeated, that political cor.
ruption is common in his State. Il once had
OCCASION" he said few days ago Ito tell
Charles Dana some plain facts about Nevada.
He had said in his paper that ours was the one
State in the Union where votes were bought
and sold openly, and without restraint. l
dropped in to see him not long after the publi-
cation, and asked him on what authority he
based his statement. 1 told him-what is
perfectly true-that there was no State in the
Union where it would be so difficult to buy
votes To buy vote in the Legislature would
be impossible. The members of the Legisla-
ture are instructed, and they would not dare
return to their people if they violated their in
structlons. AS to buying votes at the polls
that is almost out of the question. The voter
has 60 feet clear to go before depositing his
ballot and in that 60 feet no one can approach
him. 1t would be very foolish to attempt to
buy votes, for the man who bought would never
know whether he got delivery or not. think
our laws are the most stringent and the most
effective in the United States.'
l asked Senator Jones how it was that cleo
tIons cost SO much money. ''That is easily ex-
planned" he said. You have to conduct your
campaign on an expensive plan because CON-
mittees are scattered, and your speakers have
to spend great deal on travelling expenses.
Then you have to pay your speakers and orga-
nizers great deal of money for their services.
Money is not worth as much there as it is here.
Finally, and the last item is by no means the
least, you are continually meeting people you
have known for years and are hard up. They
want hundred or two to pay the grocer or
something. They are your friends, and if you
are flush you'd help them out anyhow. Only it
happens that in an election contest you come
into contact with them more than at any other
time, and so they form serious feature in your
expense account.