Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-02-06
THE DUDLEY CONTROVERSY.
A BsseIess Democratic SANDER That
should Re Proven Baseless-

A BsseIess Democratic SANDER That
should re Proven Baseless-
The Inter Ocean has expressed be-
lief that much ado has been made aboat
nothing relative to a letter which
Colonel Dudley is said to have written
concerning methods to be adopted by
the Republican managers in the State
of Indiana
The facts in the case, briefly, stand
thus: The indianapolis Sentinel pub
lished letter in which certain methods,
apparently corrupt, were enjoined upon
the Republican managers of Indiana; it
is known as ''the blocks-of-ive" letter,
and the Sentiners alleged fac-simile
bore the signature of Colonel Dudley.
If the SentinePs allegations were true
Colonel Dudley was criminal The
Inter Ocean does not believe that they
were true, because of these facts and
circumstances:
Colonel Dudley denied its authorship,
and entered suit for libel against certain
of the most widely-circulated newspa-
pers in which his pretended letter was
published. The suits have not been
prosecuted as yet, but as Colonel Dud-
lev has not dismissed them it is fair &c
assume that he intends to prosecute
them.
A grand jury sitting for the Federal
court of Indiana, impaneled by Demo
cratic marshal, and instructed by 3
Democratic prosecutor, refused to find
bill for corrupt electioneering practices
upon the evidence of the Sentinel's pre-
tended letter.
Very recently, Colonel Dudley being
arrested in Indianapolis upon affidavit
of a violent Democrat on charge of at
tempt TO corr upt the Presidential cleo
ton, the District Attorney, appointed
by President Harrison, refused to pros
ecute, averring that the affidavit did
not present cause of action, and that
Colonel Dudley was a most honorable
man and most righteous politician.
These are the facts in the case, and
upon them the Inter Ocean concludes
that there really is no case against
Colonel Dudley.
But the Democrats do not act upon
this belief. Senator Voorhees, intro
duced to the upper house and Congress
man Bynum is to introduce to the lower
house a resolution demanding informa-
ton as 20 the advice given by the legal
advisers of the President to the Dis
trict Attorney at Indianapolis concern
| ing his inaction upon the Democratic
affidavit for the prosecution of Mr.. Dud-
ley. Mr.. Voorhees, plainly said, and Mr..
Bynum is expected plainly to say, that
| the act of Dudley was guilty act, and
that the President of the United States,
then a candidate, had guilty knowledge
of it.
Because the SANDER is baseless it
should be proven baseless. The Presi-
dent should be as far above suspicion
as he is above reproach. 1t is not I'M
| likely that some of his friends in the
House of Representatives may be found
voting in support of Mr.. Bynum's mo-
| ton; it is natural to assume that the
| President will desire that they should.
For Mr.. Harrison's friends conducted
his campaign largely upon the plea
of his personal purity, and the plea was
indorsed by people among whom the
| desire LOT pure He1HOuS III appointments u
and elections daily grows more ardent
and resolute. Indiana, at best, is a
doubtful State, and it would be wretch
ed policy to allow the Democrats to as
sumo the aggressive by charging that
the Republican party in Congress re-
| fused to vindicate the methods of Mr..
Harrison's election. 1t would be poor
policy if the charge against Colonel
dudley were we'll grounded; it will be
worse than foolish, since the charge is
baseless. 1t should be proven haseless.
Chicago Inter Ocean.