The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-05
Republican Headquarters In Possess
sion OF An Unprecedented
Corruption Fund.
Wholesale Buying Of Votes and
Other Criminal Devices to
BE Employed.
Jersey From Pennsyivania In Charge
OF Martin.

in the state but one report COmea--that the
wheels of the machine are abundantly we'll
oiled with money. In 1883 the republicans
pleaded poverty. In ali of the doubtful
states, so-called--New Yo'k, New Jersey
Connecticut West Virginia and Indiana--
tho republican managers put on long faces,
and complained incessantly over the diff
Guilty in raising funds and in meeting the
ordinary expenses of conducting the cam
paiRn. Instances are known whore chair
mon of county committees advanced cash
from their own pockets TO defray running
expenses, and in Indiana, in Madison
county, the home of the republican candi-
date two weeks before election creditors
were harassing the local committee.
| This year. however, the programme la
printed in letters Of FURNISHED gold. The
republicans have made no conoealment of
their wealth. Not only has money been
more layishly used, in the Judgment of men
who watch these matters, but the prospects
for collections are brighter shan in 1888.
For up to date, 30 far as patient inquiry
goes, none of the sources of income which
the republicans leaders tap in this state
have been levied upon. 1t Is true that the
loss of the legislature last winter has very
seriously impaired the collecting abilities of
the state committee and cut off large slice
of rev enue which in the past was always to
be relied upon. Even the republican insti-
tutions that contribute without any con-
sideration of favors or protection to come
from the legislature have not yet been
called upon for their mite this year.
Up to date the republican national COM
mittee has been conducting the campaign
and from all indications has been supply
ing the resources of war; for the resources
of that committee are more diversified and
ample than those OF dozen state commit
mittees put together, So long as the
United States senate remains republican,
just 80 long will interests and corporations
that expect congressional legislation be
called upon to chip into the republican
! national committees treasury. Political
financiers figure that the republican COR
J ruption fund this year ought 70 exceed that
of 1888.
puhlioans spilled 100000 in the state of
, Indiana two weeks before election. The
3 amount which was used to rupt the
Empire state is variously estimated at
: from Sl000.000 to $1,500.000 In West
l ginia nearly half n million was distrib-
uted under the general direction of the
} present secretary of war. In New Jersey
and Connecticut money flowed like water.
3 After election the republicans, in spite of
. their prodigious outlays, had balance in
bank. The dem ocrats, on the other hand,
were in debt, both the Now York state and
the national committee.
The money only began to appear in big
/ chunks two weeks before election, showing
. that it was held in one vast mass until all
contributions were present and accounted
for. 1t was then divided and distributed
among those states where its efficacy would
prove of the greatest advantage to she
. party. The democrats, who up O that time
, had been lulled into the fancied security
l that republican prospects were destroyed.
that the party was poverty stricken were
' almost paralyzed at she food of money
8 which poured from the republican treas
ury. They had no means at command to
meet it, and in consequence saw New York
4 and Indiana slide from their grasp, while
D they only held on to West Virginia by the
, precarious plurality OF COG and to Con-
. nect.cut by 336.
, The two individuals who personally ool-
lected the most money for the republican
party In 1883 was John Wanamaker and
stephen b. Elkins, both of whom were hon.
ored for their services with places in Pres
ident Harrison's cabinet. The three men
who we're the chief distributors of this i'm
mense corruption fund were Blocks Of Five
Dudley, Matt QUAY, and Quay's factotum.
| Dave Martin. Dudley soon fell from grace.
d Quay and the president had a disagreem ent
4 aud Martin became collector of internal
> revenue for the First district of Pennsylva-
. MIA, which within two years he resigned,
having i'll the meantime purchased over
Q SAC. 900 worth of real estate. The natural
8 question which is asked nowadays is this:
n If Elkins and Wanamaker could, in 1883,
,aise individually the banner contributions
of the patty without the prestige of sue
- cessful administration or the influence OF a
o big office, how much more will they be Ca
0 pable of raising this fall with all the power
a OF cabinet office and an unsorupulous ad-
: ministraton to support them.
One of the best evidences that the repub-
lioans are in possession of an abundant
stock of money is shown in the application
that has been made in every election dis
/. trict in the state for a democratic worker.
a This il a modern political expedient born
: in Indiana in 1880, cultivated and put in
= general use by Senator Dorsey. 1t is a new
It type of the old form of repeating. The
Q democratic worker is supposed to know all
q the democratic tioaters in his district and
=, their market value. BY depriving his own
. party of his services the republicans enjoy
the additional advantage of having him
supply the loose material OF his bailiwick,
which otherwise would hoat to the other
. party.
. :. This scheme is believed to have been per.
feoted in 1883 by Matt Quay. and this year
8 to have been placed in Dave Martins
il hands. A Philadelphian who IL visiting III
this city tells the following story, indioR-
peaters did their work: At IN election hold
some years ago one of Martins gang APP
y pealed to colleague: "What the deuce il
: my name this timer"
o Look at your list" said his pal.
o Number one ran his eye over list he had
o in his hand and was reading the names on
J. which he had voted when Martin himself
v came along.
/ what the devil are you doing" Martin
o demanded.
II am looking for my name" replied the
repeater.
Don't you know your own name2" said
Martin.
y "Yea; but / have voted on ten names al
II ready, returned the repeater.
10 "Mell, you've done vour duty to-day,
n answered Martin. "You had better get
"a out of this and not vote any more. The
!, election officers will come to recognize you
after awhile"
A democrat who has returned from trip
through score or mere of counties ex-
pressed the greatest surprise over the energy
" and the wealth the republicans were dis
IA playing. He SAID it is proposed to
n run number of Pennsylvania re-
10 peaters over the line into the