The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-28
CoNGER AND THE LOBBYIST.
How . Great Plot was Exposed Through an
Honest Mans atchfulness.

Honest Mans watchfulness.
E. W. L, in Pittsburg Dispatch.
In twenty years of experience in the
Congress of the United States,r said a gen.
Senate n House, Il have never known
more than half a dozen instances in which
l was satisfied bribery had been used. That
was during the long II memorable con-
test for the reissue of many i'm
portant patents. which occurred many
years ago. The owners of all
the sewing-machine patents were
on hand to secure a renewal, as
the seventeen years for which the patents
were to run had expired. The hearings
petore the committee on patents. of which
Nh. Conger was chairman. were very pro-
tracted. and toward the close things began
TO get hot. 1t was evident the agents of
the corporations must make some tremend-
Gus effort to gain their purpose or all was
lost. h sewing-machine men gathered
themselves together for q grand coup.
chairman Copger was called away for
q day or two on private business,
and, during his absence, important
reconsidered and reversed. When the
chairman came pack there was a pretty
row. Conger plainly limited that the
lobbyists had got IN their work, and de-
clared that a portion of the committee
could not rescind any action of the com
mlttee IN the absence of the remainder OF
the committee. There was a heated argu-
ment on the point. The members who had
been convinced" did not readily yield
the committee by the declaration that if
the former decision of the committee were
not restored he would go upon the floor of
the House, his resignation. and
give his reasons in the most unmistakable
language. This had the desired effect, and
the committee took the back track.
"As a. last and desperate resort the
agents of the sewing-machine lobby deter
mined to attempt to reach the chairman
himself. Accustomed to see men fall down
before the golden calf, they fancied the
great show of virtue on the part of Conger
was merely for the purpose of striking for
a high figure; and so they laid their heads
together and decided to beard the moral
lion in his den.
The leading attorney of the sewing-ma-
chine combination himself agreed to un-
dertake the difficult capture of the chair
man. He set about to cultivate the genial
gentleman from Michigan. He was a brill
liant man. a splendid %raconteur, a perfect
gentleman In his INT a fascinating
companion In every way. His approaches
were not repulsed. Conger has a wonderful
keen sense of wit, and no man appreciates
brilliancy and eloquence more than be. He
allowed. but did not seek, the of
the attractive attorney. Finally the time
came to strike the blow. One evening the
attorney called on the chairman at the lat
tere rooms. He found him alone, and en-
PAO "a Aio POWCIS VI COI-
versation to put the victim in a proper
frame of mind to be ruined.
HE went over all of the most specious
arguments that had been advanced in sup
port of the reissue of the patents. and
ended by q confession that a refusal to re-
issue would result in the almost bankruptcy
OF the great companies interested, and that
they would be willing to spend almost any
amount at the moment to accomplish their
ends.
"'Do.you mean to say that the companies
would be willing to pay a large amount in
cash to have the patents reissuedF said
Congert imldly, and yet with a show of ex-
pectatiOn.
That's exactly what l MEANT said the
attorney.
ITO whom would the money be paidf'
asked COnger, with the innocence of a
child.
"'Well. to any one you NAV name-say-
say-the members of the committee. Or
orwell, yourself, for instance said the
attorney, showing the first sign of embar-
rassment.
DO you mean to say that you would pay
me a large sum II l secure the reissue of the
patentsr said Conger with such a %counte-
nance of perfect acquiescence that the at
torney was completely deceived. and came
boldly to the point.
THAT is exactly what I mean he re-
Piled.
".About how muchs' said the chairman,
in a thoroughly business-like tone. "A few
hundreds
IA few hundredsi Thousands! Thou
sands upoDthonsands. You may write the
figures YOURSELF
What! Tens of thousands?' said Conger,
sweetly. i may write the figures myself!'
".You may
"Qulck as lightning the entire demeanor
of Chairman Conger was transformed. Be-
fore the attorney could say a word Conger
was on his feet towering over him, his eyes
blazing with fury.
AT last I have made you unmask your-
self. you internal scoundrel,' he hundred.
Il have suspected from the beginning that
you were here to bride and corrupt, as we'll
as to argue, and now you have exposed the
full extent of YOUR damnable villainy. Dc
| you see that doorg Get out of it at once,
and never enter it again. Not a word-not
one word more, or l will call the servants
and have you kicked into the street. Get
out of this house and out of this city. II
you are here tomorrow 1 will expose you
and have you put under arrest. Get out,
you scoundrel.'
And you may be sure the attorney got
out. He went to his hotel. packed his bag,
took the first train for home. and from that
night has never been seen in the city. Of