Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-02
He Wanted to Defeat the Democrats
in West Virginia.
PARTICULARLY CONGRESSMAN WILSON
Because Senators Faulkner and
Camden Voted Against Him.
MR.. j. W. COLES STORY

ton, is true Mr.. Charles H. ]. Taylor Of
Kansas recorder Of deeds Of the District Of
Columbia, has endangered his official head
by an attempt at revenge. 1t may be re-
membered that the nomination OF Taylor
was vigorously opposed by the real friends
of the District when the President sent 1t
to the Senate. There was great strife be-
fore the committee on the District OF Co
lumbia, the citizens of Washington oppos-
ing the nomina ton almost unanimously
upon the ground that the appointee was not
q local man. The committee voted seven to
two against the name, among the negative
votes being that of Senator Faulkner OF
West Virginia, now chairman Of the demo-
cratic congressional committee Mr. Faulk-
ner also voted against Taylor in the Senate.
but without avail, as the Kansas man was
confirmed.
1t has been generally asserted that the
new recorder has been regularly punlsnlng
those Senators who voted against him by
ignoring any representations that they
might make to him in behalf Of applicants
for office, but no one has ever believed that
Mr.. Taylor would go SO far as to try to cut
the political ground from beneath the feet
of the members of his own party, who
could not consistently vote for his con-
firmation In the Senate Yet this is what
Mr.. Coles says that Recorder Taylor has
just been trying to do. Mr.. Coles said to-
day to a Star reporter:
Mr. Coles Story.
II am a republican. and have always
been a members Of that party. / am
originally from Virginia, and have taught
school for several years. But of late
have been in Washington, and SO l have
lost my residence in Virginia. 1 have a
brother. Prof. r. T. Coles, in Kansas, who
is a supervising principal Of public schools
in one Of the large cities in that state, who
is a friend of Mr.. Taylor's.
He is also a republican. Some months
ago was told that my brother had written
to Mr.. Taylor urging him to give me an ap-
pcintment in bis office, on grounds Of old
friendship. Mr.. Taylor, l understood
promised my brother that he would do this
and sent word to me that this would be
done. He held out the hope that 1 was to
get 500 place. / have heard from him off
and on for some mont this, but my appoint
ment has never come.
.On Frtiay, October II. I received a let
ter from Mr.. Taylor, written on the official
paper of the recorders Office, dated Thurs
":Dear Friend: This is important. Come
to see me Saturday morning, $50. Do not
come unless you desire to go into West Vir-
".Your friend.
&C. H. ]. Taylor.
".P s. Bring this letter with you
II received this letter, as I say, on Fri
day. and on Saturday morning l called to
see Mr.. Taylor he had requested He
told me he wanted to have a very conf
dental talk with me. aud he did not want
a living soul outside of himself and myself
to know anything about it. He started off
by saying that he was politician, and he
wanted me to do some work for him in
West Virginia.
When he said this imagined. of course
that he wanted me to so. cut and help the
democratic campaign, and / felt little
queer about that, as 1 am republican.
But you can imagine my surprise when he
went on to say that both Senators Faulk-
ner and Camden had incurred his dislike
ty voting against him In the Senate. and
that they were also very much interested
in the investigation that Is being made
into Taylors matters by the civil service
commission. He said he wanted TO hurt
them in some way, and he then declared
that he wanted me to go to West Virginia
and stay until the 9TH of November, and do
all could by speaking and working quietly
among the colored voters of that state to
defeat the democratic ticket: He said he
wanted the democrats of that state de-
feated, especially Mr.. Wilson.
Kept Him Waiting.
II was astounded. as had always thought
Taylor was a democrat. But 1 was a re-
publican, and 1 wanted n Job. / had no
scruples about working against the dem
ocratic ticket. Taylor said that he would
give me 500 If l would go, to bear my ex-
penses and pay myself for my trouble l
then accepted the offer. He told me to call
on him on Monday, the 18th. AS l had
been making a canvass for the republicans
out in Maryland. ami had several dates ar
ranged for speeches, l Cancelled all these
engagements, and made my preparations to
go to West Virginia.
1T was arranged between US that was 20
start on Tuesday, the 10th. l called On
Monday, as he had asked me to do, and he
then told me that was pay day and he was
very busy and l must call on Tuesday He
Tuesday n ha pa1u for
me to go yet, but he would send me a line
in day or two. OF course there was moth
ing to do but to wait. SO / did wait until
Saturday, the 10th, and then, having heard
nothing from him. 1 called at his Office, but
he would not see me at all. On the follow
ing Monday l wrote him letter reminding
him of his engagement with me, and asking
him what he proposed to do about the mat
ter l intimated that / might have to lay
the case before the democratic authorities
If he did not keep his promise to me. Yes
terday l received the following, letter from
Mr.. Taylor, dated October 80, and also
written on official paper:
Dear sir: BY calling on Senator Faux
ner and showing him my note to you and
telling him of our conversation you will
render me a great service. Shall / with
draw your application. which am pressing
for an appointment? I fear neither man
nor devil. When Prof. r. Il. Coles told
about you l thought you were like him, but
l find am mistaken. Yours. friendly,
&C. II. J. TAYLOR.
'P.S-By all means call on Mr.. faulk-
ner and Mr.. Gardner and tell them every
thing If you desire
He Didn't Scare u Bit.
Upon the receipt Of this letter 1 wrote
to Mr.. Taylor. saying that If he did lot
keep his engagement to me within twenty
four hours l should either lay the matter
before Senator Faulkner make the let
ters and the conversation between us pub
lie through The Star. The time elapsed
this morning, and l am now trying to
give you an idea of what sort of demo-
crat is Charles II. J. Taylor of Kansas.
That last letter of his was a regular bluff
1t did not scare me bit. In the first place.
| have no application on file for position
in his office or elsewhere. My brother may
have filed one for me, but l do not believe
1t. / have never asked Taylor for any
thing. He once told me that he might be
able to get me place in the printing Office
but he volunteered the statement, and l nave
never suggested anything of the sort to
him. or course l wanted a place, but 1
am now convinced that he has none worth
taking in his gift
Il forgot to tell you," concluded Mr.
Coles, that Mr.. Taylor suggested during
our first interview that / should get some
sort OF credentials from the republican