The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-06-28
WAS BETRAYED
How Congress Was Induced to De-
monetize Silver--Sworn State
ment Made.
Especial to the G1obe-Democrat.l

OAAON "A A~uCASuOdCu Is d C1GlZ0u OIL
Denver and is we'll and favorably
known by many of Colorado's leading
business men. He has been engaged
Tor two years past introducing his
penumatic pulverizer, and has met
with f~attering success. 1t having
come to the ears of Mr.. M. II. Slater,
Chairman of the Executive Committee
of the State Silver League, that Mr..
Luckenbach possessed the startling in
formation contained in the following
affidavit, that energetic gentlemen
waited upon him and induced him to
put the whole story in explicit form
and give it to the public. This Mr..
LUckenbach did, and the result is the
affidavit published below:
STATE OF COLORADO, cc
County of Arapahoe, :"
Frederick A. Luckenbach, being first
worn, on oath deposes and says:
Il am 60 years of age. I was born
in Bucks county, Pa. I removed to
the City of Philadelphia in the year Of
1916, and continued to reside there
until 1866, when I removed to the City
of New York. In Philadelphia [ was
IN the furniture business. In New
York [ branched into machinery and
inventions, and am the patentee of
Luckenbach's penumatic pulverizer,
which machines are now in use gener
ally in the eastern part of the United
States and in Europe. [ now reside
IN Denver, having removed from New
York two years ago. I am well known
in New York. I have been a member
of the Produce Exchange and am well
acquainted with many members of
that body. I am we'll known by Mr..
Erastus Wiman. In the year of 1865
l visited London, England, for the
purpose of placing there Pennsylvania
oil properties in which I was interested.
I took with me let, ers of introduction
to many 6, ntleman in London, among
item one to Mr. Earnest Seyd, from
Robert M. Foust, e~x-Treasurer of Phila-
delphia. I became well acquainted
with Mr.. Seyd and with his brother,
Richard Seyd, who, l understand, is
yet living. I visited London there
after every year, and each visit re
newed my acquaintance with Mr.. Seyd,
and upon each occasion became his
guest, one or more times joining his
family at dinner or other meals. In
February, 1874, while on one of these
visits and while his guest at dinner, I,
among other things, alluded to rumors
adoat of Parliamentary corruption and
expressed astonishmeht that such cor
ruption should exist. In reply to this,
he told me he could relate facts about
corruption of the American Congress
that would place it far ahead of the
English Parliament in that line.
So far the conversation was at the
dinner table between us, His brother
Richard and others were there also,
but this was table talk between Mr..
Earnest Seyd and myself. After the
dinner ended he invited me to another
room where he resumed the conversa-
ton about legislative corruption. He
said IF you will pledge meyour honor
as a gentleman not to divulge what I
am about to tell you while live, I will
convince you that what I said about
the corruption of the American Con
gress is true" Igave him my promise,
and he then continued: q went to
America in the winter of 1872, author
lied to secure, if [ could, the passage
Of a bill demOnetizing silver. 1t was
to the interests of those whom l repre-
sent-the Governors of the Bank of
England-to have it done. Itook with
me 91OO, 900, with instructions if that
was not sufficient to accomplish the
object, to draw for another 91OO, 900
or as much more as was necessary"
He told me German bankers were also
interested in having it accomplished.
He said he was the financial adviser
Of the bank. He said: Il saw the
committees of the House and Senate
and paid the money and staid in
America, until | knew the measure
was safe"
I asked if he would give the names
of the members to whom he paid the
money, but this he declined to do. He
said: "Your people will not now
comprehend the ~far-reaching extent
of that measure, but they will in after
years. Whatever you may think Of
corruption in the English parliament,
y assure you I would not have dared
to make such an attempt here as l did
in your country"
expressed my shame to him for my
countrymen in our legislative bodies.
The conrrn rco+ion driffnd into other