The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-23
New York SUM-

WASHINGTON, May l5.-A sensation
was created in the Senate cloak rooms
to-day by an authorized announcement
that an attempt was recently made to
bribe Senator Hunton of Virginia and
Senator Kyle of South Dakota with
money to vote against the pending
Tariff bill. Ever since the tariff fight
commenced in the Senate there have
been rumors floating around the
Capitol to the effect that certain bene-
fciaries Of the high protection system
proposed to spend large sums of money
if necessary to prevent the passage of
the Tariff bill. Suspicion has rested
upon more than one Democratic Sena-
tor, ,elthougnit has been practically i'm
possible to find any direct and convic-
ing proofs OF their yielding to tempta-
ton. To-day, however, for the first
time, Senator Hunton informed some
Of bis Senatorial colleagues that man
who how resides in South Dakota, had
offered to pay $4,000 for his vote
against the Tariff bill. Senator Hunton
was naturally greatly mortified that
any one should for single moment
imagine that his vote On any measure
is purcbasable, and he was naturally
reluctant to have the fact that he had
been thus approached made public.
To the reporter of the Sun the fol-
lowing story Of the affair was told to-
day by Senator who was consulted
Oh the subject by Senator Hunton. The
man who offered the brioe is Well
known, and is remembered in South
Carolina as member of the carpet-bag
Government prior to 1876. He has for
several years resided in Dakota. Since
the tariff fight began in the Senate he
has been in Washington frequently,
and says that he represents certain
business interests in New York, and
that a million dollars, if necessary, will
be spent by those whom he represents
to prevent the passage Of the Tariff
bill.
This man did not submit his propo-
sition directly to Senator Hunton, Int
went to Warrenton, Va, the home of
the Senator, and submitted the propo-
sition to the Senator's son. The cor
RESP ondence that has passed between
father and son on the subject is in ex-
istence and will probably come out in
the Congressional investigation that is
likely to follow, when the name of the
man who offered to bribe will be made
known. It is said that he offered to
give the younger Hunton $4,000 if bis
father could be induced to vote against
the bill. The Senator's son resented
the attempt to dishonor his fathers
good name, and at once notified the
Senator. Mr.. Hunten promptly con-
suited some of his personal friends on
the subject. he was advised to ignore
the matter and dismiss it without fur
ther notice. The mere intimation that
he might be open to such proposition,
either directly or indirectly, was so re-
pulsive to him that he quietly COM
menced an investigation to ascertain
who is behind the gentleman from
Dakota and South Carolina in this
transaction. The Senator has not yet
fully succeeded in this, however.
In the course of his investigation
Senator Hunton discovered that Sena-
tor Kyle had also been approached by
the same man on the same business.
It appears that the agent of the bribers
was not discouraged by his unsuccess-
full efforts to buy Senator Huntoa's
vote, but turned his attention to the
Populist Senator from South Dakota,
who was Congregational minister
before he entered the Senate. Senator
Kyle did not lose his temper when the
man called upon him and offered to
guarantee him a snug sum if ne would
vote against the bill. He was shrewd
enough to realize that he might need a
witness to such 8 transaction, so he
politely referred his visitor to the clerk
to the Senate Com mittee on Education,
Mr.. McFsrlane, who is his personal
friend and private secretary. To Mr..
McFarlane the man with the bribe said
that he was authorized to enter into
financial negotiations with Senator
Kyle or his representative for his vote
against the bill. He explained that.h
represented business syndicate that
would be willing to spend sl,0O0,00 to
defeat the pending bill. He added that
it would be worth at least $4,000 to
Senator Kyle or his friend, ifthe Sena-
tor votes to de feat the bill.
Mr.. McFarlane endeavored to extract
more detailed information from his
caller as to his responsibility and his
clients. In this he was not successful,
A To DIT ON