The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-16
A CAMPAIGN "REMINISCENCES
Story of Taggart's Finance Committee
and Letter.Carrier Dunn.
Trying TO Squeeze Money for the Cleveland
Campaign Fund Out of Democratic En-
plOyes Under Republican Regime.

The Journals Washington dispatches of
Saturday contained Civil-service Commits
sioner Roosevelt's caustic comments upon
the conduct of letter c. j. Dunn.
of this city, o ho,d-over from the Cleve-
land administration. The last issue of
Good Government. the organ of the Civil
service Commission. gives the facts in the
case as follows:
The report of Commissioner Roosevelt to
the United States Civil-service Commits
sion on the investigation OF q peculiar po-
litical assessment case in indianapolis has
just been gwen to the press. The facts as
certained from the witnesses examined
point to a special variety of Otfense differ
the public notice.
1t appears that the Democratic campaign
committee in Indianapolis found itself. at
the close of the late campaign, several
tee had its headquarters in the rooms of
the Hendricks Club, to which some of it's
members belonged. County Treasurer
Backus. prominent committeeman. spoke
the shortage, and suggested ap..
parently as a conclusion of
the committee. that the Democratic EN-.
ployes IN the postot1ice-the so-calIed
''hold-overs' under the present administra-
tlon-ought to make mp about 500 as their
share of 1t. Mr.. Backus further notified
Dunn to request various employees to come
to meeting ut the club Ito see what they
felt like doing"
Accordingly the invitations were distrib-
uted, mostly by Dunn, it being understood
that the meeting was partly for the pur-
pose of raising funds; partly with the idea
number, Mr. Lorenz. for snperIn-
tendent of carriers under the incom-
ing administration; and partly in order TO
meet q Mr.. Sahm. who, according TO the
l. fstA ~ h.I h4a
decided upon as the next postmaster. Mr..
Lorenz. himself. also. seems to have been
instrumental in inducing the carriers to
attend the meeting.
Alexander McNutt testified that Dam
told him of the straits of the COMMITTEES.
and asked 'if we could reach in our pock-
| cts and help them ont" that
Dunn approached him in regard
the deficiency. the request being made in
the letter-carrIers Office. but no specific
| amount being named. although it appeared
| as If about $40 apiece was expected. Nc
Mutt said that he did not contribute.
| In the case of the Old Dominion League,
| an organization composed partly of out
siders and partly Of individuals in govern
| ment employ. an attempt was made to col
lect funds from various employees in
the departments at Washington from
| the State of Virginia for the purpose
| of aiding the Republican campaign in
| that State. At Baltimore the postal en-
4 tG1oGnoT
| ployes In the Office of the collector and the
| marshal joined to assess one another, and
TO solicit and receive from one another
sums OF money to be expended in the inter
ests of one faction in the Republican
| primaries.
| w. A. Balk. letter carrier. testified that
/ Dunn asked him, in the carriers ROOM tor
contribution to campaign fund.
K. o. Shriner testified that Dunn said to
| him: 1.-The committee is short some money.
and we want to know If you can't help to
make it up" OF something to this effect.
| Jacob Methias testified that Dunn asked
| him to come down to the Hendricks Club.
| saying that there was shortage IN the
| Democratic campaign fund. and that he
| was authorized to notify "the boys
meaning the Democratic carriers in Office
| that they had to raise some money.
| William Darby testified that Dunn said
to him In the street that the committee
| would REQUIRE ten or fifteen dollars apiece
| from 1.-The boys" and invited him to attend
the meeting at the Hendricks Club.
F. A. Lorenz testified that Dunn told him
in the street that the committee was short
and wanted the Democrats in the post
| office to help it out. adding, What will
you dol" or will You do anythingp or
| "Can you do anythinQf' and stating that
| he expected the Democratic carriers to con-
| tribute about 500.
| e. w. Parish testified that Dunn men
toned to him the committees need of
money. told him to 60 to the Hendricks
contribution, as 1t was desired to raise
about 240O from ice. holders. Parish re-
fused Co give anything
w. =. Marlatt testified that Dunn told
| him. in effect, that the Democratic commit
tee would he glad to receive any contribu-
tion any one desired to give to make up
| the shortage.
Dunn'ssole defense was lack of memory.
He did rot remember speaking of the
| finances when he invited 1.-The boys" to the
Hendricks Club, but afterward admitted
that he might have told one or two that
there was q shortage"
About a dozen government employees,
/ chiefly carriers with a sprinkllng of clerks.
went down to the Hendricks Club at the
time appointed. A number of the ordi-
nary members of the club were present,
but the carriers met in q room by them
selves. no outsider except Mr.. Backus
being present. Mr.. Sahm was not in the
room, though at the club at the time.
Backus addressed the carriers. saying that
there was a shortage of several thousand
dollars and that the postoffice EN-
ployes ought TO raise three or four
hundred dollars OF the amount. The meet
ing. he said. was for the purpose of pay ing
the campaign expenses, but no assesame n {
would be made. the men being free TO ri 3 g
or not. He added that "the next post
master was named and that he was good
Democrat" and that those that con-
tributed freely would be remembered
Some discussion followed rs TO how the
money should be given. and objections W ere
made at once TO giving 1T to Mr. Dunn OF
warned that he bad better he careful in his
behavior lest be might get into trouble by
coming into contact with the civil-service
law.
At one time Dunn intimated that he
would receive the money himself. and
again it was suggested that contributions
should simply be- left In box in the Office