The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-04
Democratic Leaders Silencing
the Swindler's Victims.
sNlvELY SPEAKS AT VANCOUVER.
The People Of Clarke County Not
Satisfied With His Explanation.
Tacomans Admire McGraw. Though
They Detest Scatt,c--Col. Eddy Gets
Away with the Enemy at Gle Elum
Jefferson County In Good shape.

GRAFTON, ". Va, Nov. Especial. THAT
portion of the Washington gubcrnatoral cam
paign which has been transferred 10 Grafton is
progressing favorsbly TO the Republican ticket
since sniyeiy's agents came to the city to work
up sentiment in his favor. Things have been
lively here. The people OF West Virginia are
receiving great many newspapers from Seattle,
and are keeniy interested in the contest be-
tween McGraw and Sniyely az IL they had a
vote there. Democratic politicians feel that
their party is in a sarrowiui plight in Washing
ton and declare that the blow which the Democ-
racy OF the young state has received this fall
through the exposure OF Snivciy will cripple it
for years TO come. The leaders here have been
implored ny the state committee TO help
Snively out with certificate Of char
acter. and the national committee has Joined
in the request. III any facts favorable to
Sniveiy could be adducei they would cheeffuliy
be furnished by Grafton Democratic leaders for
the party's sake. This disposition is confined 10
a few politicians who desire the welfare of the
Democracy. The rank aud fic do not share the
wish, and condemn Sniyeiy as heartily as the
Republicans do, but though there are few who
would help Snive!y IL they con6, they ind it
impossible u do so. His victims here are so
numerous and the nature and extent OF his
swindIes well known that the man who
attempts 10 exonerate Sniyely only stultiies
himself
This was the case with Gerkins, who was out
rageously swinsiled by Snive.y. and has sung
his song of complaint daily for ,ix years. He
even gave a written statement OF the transaction
to Mr. Phillips. Now he has been induced, as "a
party necessity, to rcpudia,c this state
ment. 1t doesn't make the slightest diiter-
ence in the proofs. sniveiy worked a confidence
game on Gerkins. He induced him to indorse
a note for $500 with which, SO he claimed, he
was TO take up previous not. for the same
amount, which he had indorsed for him and,
instead of liquidatng the first note, he got the
second one casaed, and his victims were Com
PEELED to pay the full amount OF $1,000. These
facts would stand even If Sn'yey succeeded in
obtaining clean bill from all OF the parties
concerned to aid him in his present canvass.
When Gerkins was first asked to re.rac. his
charges against Snively he fatty declined TO do
SO unless he was paid in fuil the money that he
had been swindled out OF. Ii Is understood he
received his dues, and the impression prevails
in political circles that the national Democratic
committee has furnished some of the money to
help Snively MAKE his fight in this case. 1t is
probable that the Failen orphans. Martin Tighe
and other victims will b. settiet with. About
$i,oW 10 needed to clean up these debts, which
could be classed under the head OF embezz
mcnts. It would b, money well invested for
the Democracy.
b. +. Martin, a Democratic friend of Sriveiy,
was one OF the indorsers Of the first note with
Gerkfns, but not on the second, SO that he had
only one thr- OF the $50 to pay. He is one of
the few who have been niucei 10 give Snively
a certificate of character.
The agent of the Washington Democracy, who
has been here for two or three days trying to
straighten out Shivsly's crooked record, met
with a rebuff from onc of the leading merchants
here, named s. l.. Allen. He has large bill
against Saiveiy and has never so much as had q
decent acknowledgment OF the account in the
years that snively has been posing as n states
man in Washington. An effort was made to get
Alien to iudorse Sniveiy's character, which he
refused to do. Aliens vile is a close
friend OF Mrs. Sniyey and she interceded,
pleading with her husband to sign a statement
that he considered Sniveiys failure an honor
able one. The merchant firmly refused. re-
marking that when Snivey paid what he owed
him he would be glad to give him a receipt for
ii. There is considerable animation in town
over the story that Snively has been forced as q
political necessity to pay his debts The Mt
most secrecy is maintained All parties di-
rect!y concerned are pledged to silence.
ELLENsBURG. Nov. 3.--fSpcc;al. IA draft
drawn by the Democratic state committee on
Snively's partner here was today protested for
non-payment He seems to entertain the opn-
ion that IT is not a very judicious investment
for such a forlorn hope as Snively's election.