The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-10-30
Farmers Alliance editors into sup

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Farmers lliance editors into sup
porting their movements" second,
that Artist Mcdowell was anxious to
get himself before the country as OPP
posing the third party adventure;
and third, that Press Censor Nc
DOwelI, for the sake Of notOriety and
Democratic boom in Tennessee,
sometimes gives out to the much de-
spised ''subsidiZed press" very inn
pOrtant Alliance secrets, and is there
fore as culpable as though he was
paid hireling" actively in its en-
plOy.
Early in January last I met Mr..
Mcdowell in Nashville and we dis
cussed the Alliance outlook at length.
The National Alliance Legislative
Council had been called to meet In
Washington City on Feb. 6, and he
expressed the gravest apprehension
lest Macune and other third party
leaders would capture the council
and defect its policy in furtherance
of their political schemes. L sug-
gested that this would afford fine
opportunity to reopen the Georgia
senatorial stll-Out case against Ma
cune, and if it was pushed with nerve
and back bone that he (Macune)
would not be i'll a frame of mind to
render much aid in getting the third
party on it's feet at II at meeting.
Mr.. Mcdowell thought the sugges-
ton good one, and urged me to at
tend the meeting with him and as
sist in foiling Macune's political de-
signs. Just at this time Mr.. Nc
DOwell published in the Toiler an
open letter in answer to demand
made upon him by a Tennessee
County Alliance for the facts in the
Al ct 10 m
which he most aGrOitly admitted
Macune's guilt.
This letter caused Macune serious
alarm, and he at once employed his
crafty hand in cOnciliating and win
ming over Mr.. Mcdowell, which he
practically accomplished by publish
ing in the NatiOIal Economist of
Jan. "a a shrewdly conceived edito-
rial, in which he lavished the most
eXtravagant praises on Mcdowell aud
the TOiler, urging Alliance men to
rally to the support OF Mr.. Nc
Dowell's paper, which was said to be
lin point of makeup and editorial
ability far above any of its con-
temp0raries." This sickening lauda-
ton a man who had just publicly as
sailed Macune was continued for
over two columns. Its manifest pur-
pose WAS to smooth the way to rec
onciliatiOn.
| attended the meeting of the Leg
islative Council in Washington City
and reminded Mr.. Mcdowell of our
agreement at Nashville several weeks
prior to there reopen the Macuhe
scandal. To my surprise he emphat-
ically advised against it, stating that
upon reflection he was convinced that
no good would result from it, but
great deal of harm. Latterly L
learned that the day before Mr.. Me-
Dowell had called on Macune at the
Economist office, and then l was able
to account for the unexpected change
that had "cOme over the Virtuous
spirit of his dreams" The evening
after the council adjourned Hon. u.
! ) Hall, President Frank McGrath
| aud myself held consultation and
decided to arraign Macune before the
| public, having dispaired of getting
| him fairly on trial before Alliance
| tribunals. The country is familiar
with last springs exposure, and to
what extent we lived up to our agree
| ment. En- route home L expressed
regret to Mr.. Mcdowell that no ac-
! ton was taken against Macune, and
reminded him of his indignation at
Ocala and what he promised Mr..
| Hall and me to do. He frankly ad-
mitted that his feelings in the matter
had undergone a change, and said
! Macune had appealed to his magma
nimitV in the editorial on the TOller,
and in courtesies extended him while
in Washington City. He finally
agreed, however, that if Mr.. Hall aud
| forced the issue that he would stand
by us and furnish the proof, which
he said he would soon get from Dem
ming. Early in last March L wrote
him for it, and he replied that Dem
ming had been sick and had failed to
furnish the copy promised. Late i'll
March | wrote him again for the au-
thenticated proof, stating distinctly
that if he had not received it to s nd
me the more important points foT
publication from the notes he made
during the investigation.
In response to this request he wrote
me his celebrated letter of March 81
for the publication of which three
months afterwards he charges me
with betraying his confidence and i'm
posing upon him generally. Inas-
much as Mr.. Mcdowell has assalle0
me bitterly and persistently upon
this line, [ wish to discuss the matter
somewhat in detail and show to what
desperate straits the man has had to
resort as a penalty for becoming the
apt ally, tool and henchman OF T.. w
Macune & Co. In my exposure OF
/ Macune early in April 4 did not give
Mr.. Mcdowell as my Informant FOL
the facts stated, nor did | In any wise
use the facts furnished by him in his
letter of March 81. Mr.. Hall and ]
made general charges of bribery and
corruption against Mscune in ouI
April publieatiOns-hold back the
facts in detail, so as to be Fortified in
case he (Macune) attempted to deny"
Not long after our publication ap'
peared / read The Nashville Ameri'
can, and heard from otherwise re-
liable sources, to my utter horror and
amazement that Mr.. Mcdowell was
loudly proclaiming Macune's limo
ceuce all over Tennessee, and charg'
g Mr. Hall and myself with mali
cioIasly pers cutting him at the insti.
CATION of the "suosidized press"
wrote Mr. Mcdowell for an eXplana'
ii IN of his singular conduct, but failed
to get a reply. Two months later, in
June, / met him at Durant, Miss ,anC
questioned him about what / haC
heard. He stated in explanation that
Secretary Turner had told him in
Washington City in the preceding
February that Macune did borrow
he $1,000 from Pat Calhoun, and that
1t was repaid through nun, uTueT
that Carmack, of The American, was
destr wing him and the Tennessee AL
lance with the matter furnished by
Hall and me, and that he, Mcdowell
had been compelled to come square
ly out for Macune to save the order
| was shocked and Gisgusted with Nj
Mcdowell, for he had disappointed
me worse than any man | had ever
met or knew. Being in no doubt
. whether he intended conveying the
impression that it was Turner's state
ment or Carmack's terrible guns thai
compelled him to come squarely out
for Macune," l asked him if he be
Iieved Turner. He answered that he
had no reason to doubt his statement
and then launched of on Carmack
and how he, Mcdowell, was punish
ing him with bOyootts, which i'm
pressed me that Carmack's batteries
had more to do with his being "com-
PEELED to come squarely out for Ma
cune" than did Turner's version.
at on saw that Mr.. Mcdowell in
volved himself in a glaring contra
diction, and now comes the rub. II
Secretary Turner told Mr.. Mcdowell
what he said he did in February, and
he, Mcdowell, accepted it as true
why did he, Mcdowell, write me two
months later, on March 81: 81 dc
not want at this time to be forced in.
to controversy with Macune. When
do, 1 want the whole record that