Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-24
NS TO MK. ENENkN.K.

The st. Paul Pioneer Press is the most
partisan.y republic newspaper west of Chi
cago. And II is 10y far the abCst news
paper west of New York. II supported
fire alarm Foraker in his un-shakcn
hand fight with Cleveland but it can not
stand Forakcr's record during the last
OHIO campaign ON the ballot box fraud.
That matter is now being investigated 10y
Il congressional committee. Mr. Foraker
has been before the committee and told his
story. In the minds of nine out of ten
honest men. Foraker $ own testimony con
victcd him. But when the testimony of
Major Mosely. of Cincinnati, and that of
Foraker man Friday Wood-was added
to it. there was not doubt to be enter
tanned, even by Foraker s friends, of his
guilt.
The Pioneer Press admits this, and
under the heading of The Disappearance
of Mr.. Foraker, ',cditorialy says:
IF anybody comes out of the investiga-
tion into the forged contract that played
SO important part III the recent Ohio
election in sOrrIer fashion than Mr., Murat
Halstead L is Mr.. j. b, Foraker late gov
ernor of the state and candidate for higher
honors Everybody seems to he ready to
make excuses for IIaIStead as a man of
Fash temper and defective Judgment; but
nobody is Offering any apology for Fora
krr. nor does he seem to deserve Il dcfCn-
der. His blunder, to call it by no harsh
term. was Indreu IN atrO'lous one; how
atrOcious is only beginning TO appear. II
will be remembered that there was pub
lished, in the heat of the campaign, pre-
tended contract with the makers of pa
tent ballot box by which the persons whose
names appeared were to receive an inter
est in profits in return for assistance in
securing its adoption by the Legislature.
These signatures included not only Mr.
Campbell. the democratic candidate
for governor, but senator Sherman, Con-
gressmen Butterworth and Mckinley, the
late S. S. Cox and other prominent men.
These signatures were immediately proved
forgrries. and the gentlemen implicated
demanded an investigation. They cared
nothing for Halstead, but they were after
Foraker, who was suspected to desire the
scalp of prominent Ohio republicans, rivals
of his for future political hOnors. They
called him to Washington, have put him
on the stand, and given him probably the
most uncomfortable hours of his life.
1T appears. now that the whole story
comes out. that the forged document was
prepared bv one Wood n fellow of no
character. and given 10y him to Foraker
and bv Foraker 10 the Commercial Gazette
for publication. Wood. as his reward,
was to receive an appointment as smoke
inspector This low rascal testihes that
Foraker suggested to him the reproduction
Of such a document and knew that the
signatures were, forgcrles. Foraker, Of
course, protests that he acted in
good faith and was deceived by
the scoundrcI. The public will accept his
statement without hesitation, and acquit
him Of intentional completely in the dis
graceful business. But it will find no
sufficient apology for his conduct. He is
not to be forgiven for maintaining any
relation with a man whose low character
was as we'll established as that Of Wood.
He is not TO be forgiven for accepting and
circulating 50 grave a charge on such
evidence Least Of all will he be forgiven
for believing it possible that his political
associates. men Of the highest honor and
standing. could be implicated in this dis
reputable transaction, and for making
public this paper 10 which their names
were signed without inquiring Of one of
them if it were genuine, or giving one Of
them an opportunity to explain away the
damaging circumstance. This must cost
him the support Of honorable republicans
in Ohio. as 1t has already arrayed against
him almost every man eminent in politics
in the state.
The passing Of Foraker will not be re-
gretted He is a politician Of small and
vulgar type. He has succeeded largely by
buster and appeals to popular passion
rather than reason. He is not in politics
to support principles. He has been a loud
talker. and made himself solid with the
boys" He has caught eagerly at every
chance for a sensation, and catered to the
demagogic spirit. His aim was personal,
and the open distrust Of other leaders is
now justified. This episode completely
finished bis political career. 1t Is more
than doubtful whether, after such an ex-
pOsure, he could secure an election TO the
smallest local Office in the state. The
party can get along very well without a
man who would not scruple to satisfy his
personal ambition by the sacrifice Of those
who had trusted and helped him. He ic
iitly punished for something worse than an
indiscretion. We have probably heard
the last Of Foraker. and the party and the
country can space him without incon-
venienoe or regret.