The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-31

state were in favor of the election of Mr..
Crawford. The legislature. however, then
chose the electors, and while majority of
that body seemed likely to favor Crawford,
yet division of sentiment was such that
Weed, who was then q young man learn
ing his first lesson in politics, and some
others believed that fusion ticket would
be offered which would be carried by the
legislature.
Crawford's friends were many of them
wealthy New Workers, and they were de-
termined to give him the electoral vote.
Having told so much of the preliminary
history of that canvass, Mr.. Weed with q
gentle smile added: ''And now I am go
ing to tell you what my first experiences
of the accidents or chances of politics
| were"
Then he went on to say that he was a
passenger on the Erie canal boat on the
way to Albany. On the same boat was q
| member of the legislature elected as an
Adams man. Somewhere on the trip q
man boarded the canal boat whom Mr.
Weed recognized as a person employed to
procure legislation, or what is nowadays
known as as lobbyist. And this lobbyist
was soon in close conversation with the
Adams legislator who did not know Mr.
Weed.
As result Of their conference two let
tiers were written and mailed from the
canal boat, and Mr.. Weed was sharp
enough to see to whom they were ad-
dressed. They were mailed to two other
members, also chosen by Adams men,
Then Mr.. Weeds suspicious were aroused
and he determined to play the detect
a falI Oh nj
the member not only to Albany, but
from Albany TO New York city; Swallowed
them until they reached a hotel. where
they met a wealthy manufacturer, who
was also a strong Crawford man, and Mr..
Weed, in a manner which he did not care
10 reveal, was soon in possession of facts
showing him that downright attempt at
bribery was being made by this man, and
that large sum of money, at least for
that day, had been raised 10 corrupt enough
Adams members 10 secure the election of
a solid body of electors who would vote
for Crawford.
OF course the friends Of Adams were
put to their Wits ends 10 prevent this,
| and Mr.. Weed suggested the way in
which it could be done. With General
Spencer, then very influential politi-
, eian, and one other, Mr.. Weed faced
some OF these members upon whom BRIDE
cleared that if they voted for Crawford
they would be publicly charged IN the
legislature with bribery. General Spencer
also added that he would himself give
them tickets Endorsed with his name upon
| the back so that it could be discovered
| whether they were faithful or had De-
trayed their constituents.
On Sunday preceding the election in the
legislature Mr.. Weed locked himself in
little printing office, put on an apron,
rolled up his sleeves. set up and printed
the fusion ticket, majority OF the names
upon II being those of Adams electors. but
there were some for Crawford and for
Jackson, as il was not possible 10 elect a
so.ld Adams electoral ticket.
These ballots We're secretly distributed.
heu the Joint session Of the legislature
met ana the voting began, the president
OF the Senate saw that a printed ballot,
something unprecedented, was deposited,
and forgetting himself he turned to the
Members and said, a printed ballot IS
being voted" and one of the senators,
jumping Ia his feet, shouted, 'Ireachery,
by -, and II seemed for few moments
as though there would be a riot IN the
chamber. The Crawford men understood
tnat the printed ballot would reveal that
those who had voted it had been true 10
their pledge, and the attempt to
suhorn members had thereby miscar-
red. let. IS there was no law against
printed ballot. those offered were neces-
sarliy received, and as a result fusion
ticket was elected. This gave majority
OF the electoral votes 10 Adams, thus max
ing Ii possible TO present his name 10 the
House OF Representatives at Washington,
where. as there had'been no choice IN the
electoral college, the election was carried.
had II not been tor this action Mr. Craw-
ford would have received the electoral
Vote OF New York, and would undoubtedly
have been chosen president.
But for the chance coincidence which
brought the lobbyist and myself upon the