Telegram-herald., 1891-10-30
THEY WANTED HIS Cash
Stevenson and Nash ask Belknap
for Money.
IHEIR REQUEST VAS REFUSED
TAas h tbs ksal Ksssoa they are sixhs-
iaz aim aaetsf ths ever of Dsnss-
ssatie Guns AID for Dsmsesaatc
nos2lx-uF- Aash'. letter.

resOrtei 20 the most eontemptible
oi All political methods OF assault
personal 4bHse. OH Wednesday even
hlg iast. the Grand Rapids Leader
efpntalned "A long article In which
disappointed applicant for the Ionia
postmastership vented his yindictive-
uss. in language 50 harsh and bitter
that IL carried with it the conviction
that the writer was moved by spirit
a. maiaee. nurset BY fnanei iai eonsid
.rat5on. Among those most familiar
with the political history of MIR. ste
veasOn Il i practically understood
that the ehlefest principle IN his polit-
ral creed Is cash. He stands always
ready 70 respond when sufficient
indueement Is offered. In the present
case this man Stevenson, through
rrusty lieutenant. il believed TO have
made a demand upon Mr.. Beiknap
for money. as the price of his support
All the points In the ease seem 70 point
that way notwithstanding that he
calls upon his neighbOrs 20 vindieate
rs good character. In his remarka-
b.. letter 30 the Leader. he says that
ito make II more emphatic / have put
a. ia the form OF sworn statement,
and then offers this affidavit:
Daniel l. Nash. being duly sworn.
Opposes and says that during the year
1890. he was commander OF VIM. H..
Borden post. G.. y r OF Ionla. that in
In fall OF that year in company with
Wiili.,a IL H0wser. ad.'Itant OF the
post. be went 20 Grand Rapids to see
Congressman Iiclknap and urge upon
n fsf In
sas0h a. postmaster OF Ionla: Captain
Bolknap told them that he understood
CaDtain Stevenson was the choice ol
tn veterans Oi IOnia, and that he GER
talnIy was his dielknap's) choice. but
the money power semed 20 be- backing
another candidate and could not go
unreeogn.zed. | asked Mr.. Belknap
what he meant by the money power
whether he referred TO the republi-
eans in Ionia or 90 outside influences.
Capt. Belknap replied that General
AlRer, Governor Lnce. and Senators
StOekbf.dge and Mcmillan all seemed
90 favor tie other prominent candidate
and from their political standing and
wealth, OF course their wishes must
have some attention. Mr.. Nash re-
piled that he did not see on what pos
sible grounds persons living in distant
parts Os the state sbo1ld b. allo
10 control or influence the selection
@. postmaster for ionia; that 1t was
q matter wAlrh should be left to the
patrons of the office or to the choice
q the republicans OF that city, or the
veterans there IL an old soldier was
To be selected for the place. Congress
man Belknap then assured them that
II it could be shown TO him that a ma
iority OF the yerrans OF Ionia favored
Captain Stevenson he would have him
appointed: and he suggested that the
lOaia post hold 4 meeting and vote
upsn tac question, and be promised tC
abide by the result mi the vote. Mr.
Nash suggested to- him that voting
I'm that way might breed considerable
bad fellng within the post. and pro
posed that four trustworthy men b.
selected to take petitions TO the vet
rr;lns individually. and have them ex
press their preference OF candidates
This method. Beiknap said. would b,
entirely satisfactory to him, and prom
isetl implicitly 60 stand ,by the candi
date who should secure the endorse
ment OF The majority. The result wa,
that out OF zoo old soldiers who wers
interviewed. over so per cent. cheer
fully sgned the petition in favor o
Captain Stevenson's appointment
Signed.
DANIEL l.. NASH.
The plain purport and intent OF thi.
affidavit IL 70 show .hat Capt. Tsel
knap had prors scd TO give the post
mastersiip at Ionia To- Stevenson. Il
= probably true that Mr.. Belknap dit
promise 10 do all In HIS power 20 Sc
cure the appoiatmcut OF Mr.. steven
son. and II be so promised he did so
But unfortunately conrressfr n n
while having great Influence with In,
Po-fmaster-t,ene has absolutely NJ
power 10 dictate who shaii be naus
cd. The voice Of fhe senator's OF IN.
state of Mlhcigan are quite as power
fai. n not more 40, than the combine,
voices of all the congressman. It /
not represented that n bad man wa
appointed, but the whole grievanc
OF Mr.. stevenson - the fact that h.
was not appointed. and he ciarge
all the blame upon Nr. Belknap.
Below this outhurst of assumed IN
dfgnation there Il deeper motiv
for Mr. StevenSon's manifesto contain
ing Mr. Nash's affidavit That motiv
f. CsSH. Here IL the proof. Shortl,
after MIR. Belknap was nominated thl
Mr.. Nash wrote TO him asking 10
money and prom l@inr TO heal tha Il.
fiction OF Mr.. stevenson as,i hi
friends This request was denied. I
- fair 20 assume that finding no on
eoursgsm@nt in that directioa thes
two patriotic rpnub;lcans ~ turne,
l.. fr, ~. a -
rrati~ COMMITTEES. The committee wer
willing 70 nc seen. and the price 70
+he article appearing In the r.eaac
was agree. Spon- In proof - the fore
ropnx statements the following lette
. verbatim eopv of the original l. r.
prciuced:
Ieusa. wsch.. oct. soth. 'of.-Hon
cha.. r. ReltBsp. Nv Dear sir.
write vou after sDn,e matter of fact,
~ s-r,t interest 20 ron. The n0liflca
.xef.~u,esst - IN stiii way hein.
r,r~kesf M 20 a htrh manner yaa ~,
p~.,Hahfv aware thar I am Itkr knn
s1-a,s- ~ others Independent IN To
rtieaf rs-sters-wlas~n Cant SfeTrn~al
tas "a o4ve ~wsv 70 Gen Kidd IN -
s~~,,s.sf r.se-tt - pnsfraasfer hers 7
er-sa sssi much fft~safisfactions this 30
sort~ un,sr~sfau.f There - gre
r.-es~ure hcesx hraushf - A~ar =
r~o ffAs afi NJ We have a Naf .
sa-,se 200 s,.hsf~s--sfert voters that ~
SID M, srnss, iesfh as~tfre snrse tsFi
49,, harF wfker~ 20 fhs s8rr~~~ =
sfh~~ usFtv ~ one - 81
rousiefan~ of elss~v ps~tv kua-
Mr. ~ how th~v wffl sofe
a. we - aot snsferna sry trsr .
anv ere AaHine 49, tHflaenre -
-. ~ tfra 81 fltffH<res ~ ~iF'
ru,iers - Fslstiessns. Ns~ tas