The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-12-20

| SNn+A$ ~ kCpOWiC1u Or UCIuOCIs1JlC
paper, to my knowledge. ever pub
lished that charge or the alleged
proofs OF it, Only the Infamous Fish
has ever dared TO allude to it. In all
the heat Of that tremendous cam
paign Of 1892 no old-party politician
ever rose in any Of my meetings and
produced that book or asked for any
explanation of the charges contained
init.
II it be true that Gov. Nelson took
o book out Of his valise ut Il pub
lie meeting, and flourished it in
| the air, and said it contained posi-
tive proof that had received 5000
from the Union Pacific railroad, what
opportunity had the audience to ex-
anime that book and verify his state
ment? The book might have been
Gibbons decline and Fall OF the Re-
man Empire, for all that audience
knew or could know. could have
flourished the Koran at one Of nv
meetings and said ii proved that.
knute Nelson had been guilty of
horse stealing. But be assured that
II there had been any such evidence
OF knute's guilt, our central commit
tee would have flooded the whole
state with fac-simile copies Of the
Indictment, the evidence, and the
verdict
With no desire 10 revive the bitter
ness OF the past campaign, | now
challenge Gov. Nelson to produce the
proofs which it is asserted he claimed
to possess in that book. If / anna
thorn in the side Of the two old par,
ties, as it is said, it is not too late vt
to prove, that which the Rj6feer
Press with their $4,000 attorneys
could not prove, that / took bribe
OF 5000 from the Union Pacific rail
road company.
l have never seen tile congressional
report in question. It embraced. I
understand, the report of a demo-
cratic congressional committee, made
seventeen or eighteen gears after l left con-
gsess, s,-during the Hrst administra-
tion Of President Cleveland. Was
there any evidence that received
5000 as a bribe from the Union Pa
ci6c railroad? Not a particle. Was
my name mentioned in that report?
Yes. There was man, Of doubtful.
character and lprofligate life, hang
ing around congress, named Fran.
chot. He died soon after / left con-
gress. In 1885 I had contested
election battle with VIM ID. Wash
burn for seat in congress. The sub
election committee reported that
$4,000 had been spent in behalf OF
Washburn, and gave the names OF
80 cases Of distinct bribery The
sub committee reported in favor Of
unseating Washburn and seating me.
Bill King suddenly appeared On the
scene. VIM. NJ. Springer, leading
democrat, chairman Of the commit
tee on elections, received letter Of
fering him 5000 if he would ''keep
Washburn in his seat; His wife, in
his absence, received the letter and
made its contents known. After
that time he opposed me. charged
that the letter had been written by
Bill King. A fierce fight followed.
The democrats did not want to see
Springer destroyed and rallied to his
support. There was strong ill-feeling
against me among both republicans
and democrats, as an anti-mOnopOly
disturber OF the peace of nations.
About that time, as understand, it
was alleged that among the lobbyist
Franchot's papers was found this en-
try, ITO Gov. Donnelly, of Minneso-
ia, for Ch'S, $1,000 The 'Ch'y'.'
was supposed to mean charity
This entry was supposed to be eigh-
teen years old and it was alleged was
found among the papers Of a lobbyist
long since dead, with whom never
had any dealings, and only the slight
est acquaintance. was not at that
time, any more than now, an object
OF charity, for I was in receipt OF
s., 600 year salary as congressman.
II it is said that that word charity"
was cover for bribe, why did Fran
chot preserve In black and white, ev-
idence that would have sent him to
the penitentiary? And why did he
make this entry Of my name alone?
And why did he not give the names
Of the hundreds of other members
who, it appeared afterwards, ,ocrc
bribed by the Union Pacific company?
And if that $1,000 was paid to me as
a bribe, srhere acas the cote I gdre for 1t?
There is none. And how did it hap
pen that / came out of congress at
the end of six years, as poor as l en-
tered it, while other members became
millionaires. Window died rich;
Blaine ditto; Bill King came home to
Minneapolis with $3.50, 200 in his pock-
ct; Ramsey's brother fled to the Pa