The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-03
AFTER THE "FLOATERs."
The New York Scheme That Rivals the
"Blocks of Five"

The New York Scheme That Rivals the
"Blocits of Five"
NKw YORK, Got. 2.-Ihe "campaign of
education which Chairman Hackett, of the
republican state executive committee, be-
gan by means of his green goods circular"
was outlined on a very comprehensive scale.
The work was to be done by Wholesale.
The "confdentiar' circular was designed to
bring to state headquarters the names of
enough "hoaters" to change the result in
this state If they could be induced" to
vote the republican ticket. 1t was larger
job than the one which Dudley attem pted
by his "blocks Of tive' circular. for that was
outlined simply to bring Harrison's plural
ity in Indiana up to the 10000 mark, ac-
cording to Dudley's own estimate In his NO.
torious letter. Chairman Hackett WAS at
tempting to "ipduce" enough "hoaters''
to vote the republican, ticket to
overcome the entire democratic ma
jority below Harlem river. AS nearly as
can be estimated AT republican state head
quarters, 10000 of the &C ntdential''
on which the instrument of corruption was
being printed were still going. and the
green goods" document Was still being
run off Mt n merry ate, when, through some
person who evidently could not keep
secret" the whole plot was exposed. and,
The 10000 copies were scattered to all pa ts
of the state. Wherever, In city or country,
there was evidence of the existence of "a
democrat who could be induced to vote
for Ben njamin Harrison, the circular was
sent. 1t went, as nearly as can be ascer-
tanned, inso the hands of men who are
comparatively new In the business of prao-
tcal politics. In making up the list OF COR
respondents who were to be asked to help
the state committee in its 'confdentinf'
effort to "indoce'' democrats to change
their politics. great Gal g was exercised. The
ability to keep a secret WAS enjoined not
only on those who were to send in the names
who mapped out the scheme and
furnished to Hackett the names of men
who would probably be useful In the par
ticular service" required. 1t was not OK
pseted that each of the circulars would
yield reply, for Chairman Hackett has
had expsr ienoe enough to know that con-
siderable number of persons, under the
most careful pruning of the list. would pay
no attention to the circular. In addition
to the men who toss into the waste basket
any printed circular, there would be Il con-
| siderable number who would hesitate to en-
gage i'll any secret and mysterious political
game of the nature indicated by Chairman
Hackett's letter. Bearing these facts i'll
| mind. republicans say that All the most
Chairman Haekett could have expected to
receive from the 10000 copies OF the green
goods circular" the names of not more
that 20, 600 "foaters."
But even SO Wholesale a scheme of cor
ruption as this has called the attention of
republicans and democrats to what il con-
esed serious thing in the history of
politics. Suppose Chairman Haekstt
statement that he wanted the names simply
for the purposes of campaign OF educa-
ton be accepted as true" 1t was argued.
"the circular has NO excuse for its exist
ence. 1t ID clearly and unde-
niably an attempt to introduce nm element
of mystery and secrecy into the campaign.
which cannot be defended. The names of
men who are TO be attacked by some msans
of 'inducement are TO be gotten together
secretly. The circular says, i'll effect, that
the men must not be told that the commit
tee has deaiRns on them of any sort. Ii
asks that their names, unknown TO them
seises, shall be collected and sent. under