The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-22
Harrison Was q Party to tho Crime
CT D.bauching Voters in
IEdiaEa.
re Personally Handled Money
That Was Designed for This
Unlswful Purpose.
Ya~rpartuer Miller an Active Factor In
the CoEapiracy-The Pen Stared
Them in the Face.

Sentinel published Monday morning some
Interesting statements regarding the act
i've part taken by President Harrison, At
torney-Geueral Miller and other prominent
republicans in the canvass of 1855. They
we're made by gentlemen whom the Ssnti-
mel editorinlly indorses as republicans OF
influence, lawyers of large practice anu OF
the beat position at the bar. Following are
extracts:
..Dudley wrote the ~'blocks-of-fve' letter
it ia true, but he never touched a dollar OF
the money raised to convert hoatefs TO
Harrison. He mapped out the campaign
and indicated where the money could DO
had. Can President Harrison and Attot-
rey-Gsnsral Miller say as muchs lhey
would not dare to say upon oash maj COT
ruption money did not touch their fingers,
for there are too many people living Ill
this state who re naember that Law partner
Miller attended personally to the distrlbu-
ton of the money to tho various counties.
..Mr, Miller himself" continued the SEN
tinel's informant, handed all the money
to the representative from my county. l
was present at the time. In one instance,
/ an told there was = disagreement az to
the amount a certain county should receive,
and Mr., Harrison settled the matter. l
was not chairman of my county, nor DAD
the chairman have anything to do with the
financial part OF the campaign. The Har-
rison people did not trust him, on account
Of his grasping proclivltles.
t.The secretary of the committee was an
older in his church, a man of the Harrison
type, on a small scale, who held family
PRAYERS and believed that it was his duty to
his God and country to beat the denocrstlo
party. even by buying votes. Under
Arthur's administration Senator Harrison
had him appointed to e minor federal odhce.
He was willing to do anything for Harrl-
son. He was the only menbes OF inc
county committee intrqstea WI Wy &c.
orets Of the campaign. l myself ana Two
other outsiders. together with the secre-
tary, constituted what you will call a Junss.
Dudley addressed all his correspondence to
the secretary. I saw every letter and tele-
gram that Dudley sent to our country"
WAS there a 'blooks-of-hys' letter re-
ceived in your county," was asked.
Eyes; the secretary before referred to
received one. When he was subpenseed be-
fore the grand jury to testify in this mat
tar he came to me for advice. J came With
him to indianapolis two hours before he
took the witness stand, whore he testified,
under oath, that he had never received one.
advice. I advised him to tell the truth
about the matter. and, having no
letter in his possession, of course
he could not swear that the letter he re-
ceived was identical With the one IN the
possession.of the grand jury. However, just
before going to the federal court ne met
some one in the Nsw Deunisou hotel, who
told him that if he testified that he had re-
ceiyed a 'blocks-of-fys' letter he would
never receive an appointment from Mr,
Harrison. He did not get as big an office
as he expected, but he has been we'll taken
care of.
"By the way" went on the informant.
'ovary man who received a 'blocks-of-hve
letter is in Office to-day, from Smiley
Chambers, tho present United States dis
trict attorney, down to Sam kercheval. All
during the campaign of 1888 Benjamin Har-
rison counscled regarding the use OF money
at the election with men who afterward
went out and bought or s~uperintended the
getting of votes.
= "Moreover, Mr.. Harrison, through his
agents, supplied men with the money with
which they made the purchases. For in
stance, Matt Hill, chairman of the rspub-
lican committee of Monroe county, and
Joseph G. MePheeters, of the same county.
came to Indianapolis during the campaign
Oh 1000 duu eaW 1eAe1dl 1ut1isoA aAG
Kitchener. Hill told them his plan of oper-
alton in this county and the amount of
money he would need to put it through
tina buying Of votes. etc. Harrison an0
Kitchener were satisfied and said Hill
should have the money, and it was given
him. Just before he received it, however,
Harrison left the room, saying it might be
we'll if he was not present when the money
was paid.
After the election a number of mon in
Monroe county who had been influenced by
the money obtained BIZ Hill and some who
had aided him in his management. were in
ticted by the federal grand jury. Hill
then came to Indianapolis and again ms;
Harrison and Miehener and told them what
had occurred and demanded that something
be done. &c.,
'Thay both said they did not understand
that Hill had obtained money to be useC
improperly. Hill became angry and tolc
Harrison and MicEaner it would not do
that ne had fully informed them of hi,
plans. etc. Miehene- then said: We will
Hes what can be DONE yhereupon Hill
laid to MioheneI: IF these prosecution.
are pressed the defendants and myself will
go to the pe%nitsntiary. II can't BIS avoided
and if l go TO Jacksonville you will have
to go there. too, instead OF going to Wash,
ington,,
"At the close Of the campaign of 1881
there were a number of mel in Indiana wht
knew enough of the dolngs of Beujami,
BaErlGon III that campaign to have secured
AIS conviction had he been indicted 70
conspiracy, the object of which was to cor
rupt and debauch voters of Indiana at tn,
election of which tho representatives il