The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-01
An Ex,raordinary Organization.

tee establishes beyond reasonable doubt
that 'the American committee" was and
is one OF the most extraordinary oreaniza-
tons ever known to exist in any country.
All the witnesses heretofore have said
that THOMPSON knew what was done with
the 8. 100000, and could give the desired
information. Banker SELIGMAN was sup
posed TO let little light on the situation
by his statement that the three banking
firms OF J, d W. SEIIGMAN 4 Co., DREXEI.
MORGAN & Co. and WiNsLOw, LANIER *
Co. took 81 100000 OF it, and that the
balance went TO GROUP of European
capitalists" whose names were not given.
But this was only an interme-
date step, for Mr.. SELIGMAS said this
money was given these firms for their Elm
fiuence," and what this influence was no
one has told. Besides there is no GER
taintv that this money was q part of the
S2.l00,OO0, aud there are very strong indi-
cations that It was not. Mr.. SELIGMAN
saws that they received their money. $50
000 per year for eight years, while large
part OF the =. 100000 was paid in cash and
OF the Grape resolution to assert tho
Monroe doctrine Mr. SEuGNAN AYERS he
knows nothing. and says: 1T is my i'm
preston that all matters OF this kind were
left to Mr.. THoNrsoS."
With the finger OF expectancy thus
pointing ut the silver-tongued orator of
the Wabash it was hoped that no would
furnish tine information for which the
country is clamoring. but he Ia H. He
does not know anything. President of
the American committee and receiving
50, 0O0 per anuum. he has no knowledge
Of the disbursements OF money except @
psitry $50 600 per snnum for "oilics eX-
pense." What sort OF an Office did this
concern have. anyway The Office force
appears to have consisted of one secretary,
who knows nothing. Ir. NATHAN APPLE-
Ton. VINO claims to have been attorney
for tho company at $4,000 per year. was
barely known by Mr.. THOMPSON. lie says
he did not even know what relation Ar
PLEroY bore to the company. He did
not know until this trial began that the
SELfGNANs and tho other bankers wero
getting $4,000 q year-and. by the way,
that demonstrates conclusivoly that their
money was no part of the 50. 100000.
Thus not knowing with whom hs was AS
Isolated, nor in what 1av be was asso-
ciated with them. Mr.. THOMPSON struggled
60 earn mis- salary and blow in his "ollice
expense" fund.
No man knows the grandeur OF that
struggle. No ono could know very we'll
except Uncle D.cg. and he says he does
not From a word dropped here aud there,
from few sentences IN his correspond.
ence, from tho present statement OF tho
iragmonlary facts still within his memory.
il would seem that he was sort
Of nonresident lobbyist lilo saws ex-
pressly that be ''siudiouoly kept away from
the lobby, and never caused 10 be pad
directly or indirectly one dollar for cor
rupt purposes" Aud yet he says in his
letters that he was engaged In some work
that congress wae considering. On Dec.
10 1884, he wrote to d. Lnssrrs
The question is lar more important than
II ever Was but we viii bring II 10 sue
cessiul conclusion. IL will require far
more caution in the future.
Again on Feb 8, 1883. he wrote.
twill be difficult to convey to YOU
full understanding Of how We nave CON
Quoted this contest and We must be very
cautious.
lie nows explains that he was struggling
against the Nicaraguan influence, and was
cautious to avoid antagonizing the admin
istration. lie says the Nicaragua
treaty was then before tho SEN
ate. The contest" whatever 1t NAV
have been. was evidently before con.
gress and il Is not surprising
that be found it difficult to convey TO
DE LEssEPs "a full understanding Of how
we have conducted this contest" 1t
would he difficult 10 explain that to any.
one. He saws hs did not go near the
lobby. Tie Indignantly denies that dol
lar WAS ever paid TO any newspaper with
his knowledge. He refused to pay man
for writing magazine article How did
he conduct the eontest2 lilo admits hay-
ing written one pamphlet, having pub
llshed It anonymously. and having dis
tributed It from Baltimore so that it's
origin might not boz suspected Beyond
this his work for tho company must have
consisted In retiring 10 some obscure cor
ner and communing with himself Verify
this was strange organization. and his
was strange service.
THERE is considerable apprehension that
the Haggard gas bill is scheme TO per-
nit natural gas companies TO rob the
people II has bean amended by striking
,rl The rinhl OF rnIn nani ea 10 nnn n,nlnra