The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-02
1T WAS A BUNCO GAME
GORMAN'S WHITE CALL BE-
FORE HE MADE HIS LATE SPEECH.
Cleveland's Friends Think the Mary
lander Sought to Trap the Presi-
dent, but the Scheme Failed.
Washington Letter in New York Evening

Post.
Last Monday there occurred one of the
most theatrical scenes ever witnessed in the
United States Senate chamber. "Dramat-
ic" is the word commonly used, but that it
is too dignified to describe this episode will
be seen from what follows.
While Mr.. German was standing on the
floor of the Senate in the attitude of a
Tombs lawyer preparing to make a hyp-
Noticed jury believe that black was white;
while he conjured up a pathetic break in
his utterance and a suggestion of choking
back an outburst of tears; while he was
manufacturing a mock Indignation which
imposed on no intelligent spectator; while
he was pulling up his coat sleeves and
throwing back his head, and calling his
witnesses to the stand, one by one, to tell
their own stories in their own way, all this
time his henchmen were circulating among
the newspaper correspondents the story
that he had just come from the White
House, where he had served notice of his
purpose, and where the President had plead
ed and threatened and tried every art to
dissuade him from making these damag-
ing revelations. The story put into circu-
lation was very circumstantial-that the
President had asked for the interview in the
hope of heading off the speech, and that the
meeting between the two great men had
been arranged by Secretary Lamont.
Mr.. Lamont's name was chosen to play
this part in the story unquestionably be-
cause the Secretary has always favored a
policy of Cancellation and harmony within
the party, and the public would be more
likely to accept the theory of his interver-
ton on this account. The scheme worked
well. Many were deceived by it. To this
day newspapers in various parts of the
country are still printing the statement that
Mr.. Cleveland played the sutton and that
Mr.. Lamont acted as go-between.
This is wholly false. 1t is unjust alike to
the President and to the Secretary of War,
neither of whom did what he has been ac-
cused of doing. There are two documents
in existence-unless Mr.. German, in his pru-
dence. has made away with them-wnich
cut an important figure in that days the
atricalS. One is a note from the President
to Mr.. German; the other is a note TO the
same man from his partner in the bunco
business, Senator Brice, of Ohio. To under
stand their bearing it will be necessary TO
rehearse a few incidents.
Messrs. German and Brice perceived
from the popular enthusiasm which the
aroused throughout the country that some
thing must be done to save themselves
from rout, In the first place. the public
was frightened at a pending disclosure of
his duplicity; in the second place, the Pres
ldenC must be made 10 pelleve that he had
blundered in carrying his criticism so far,
and that the Senate compromisers had a
real ground for their grievance against
dent 10 weaker never so little, Immediate
~ following the circulation OF a story that
he was frightened, the combination would
cause a moral revulsion among the people,
to the damage of the President, and, as a
German and Brice.
PLANNING THE GAME.
Accordingly Mr.. Brice laid siege to the
President. He did not hint that Mr.. Cor
man was about to attack the administra-
ton; he did not suggest that the attack be
headed off before it was too late; he
dwelt entirely upon the injustice uninten-
tionally done Mr.. German and the other
compromisers by the Presidents letter.
1t would be a just, as well as a kindly act,
on the Presidents part, he urged, to invite
Mr.. German to the White House and talk
the situation over with him. merely to
show the Senator from Maryland that the
severe phrases of the letter to Mr.. Wilson
were not to be interpreted as a personal
affront.
MIR. Cleveland reads the newspapers
enough to know what a bunco game is.
He scented one at once. No man OF in
telligence, he reasoned within himself. could
honestly interpret his letter as having any
other meaning than that which it bore upon
its surface. If any man did accept il as
a direct affront TO himself it must be be-
cause of a pricking conscience. If any one
knew what the letter said and meant,
dlQ I'LL SlS III putting dllOllcI inter-
probation upon ii. that man was merely a
meddlesome fellow seeking a quarrel, and
his feelings deserved no consideration. He
was disinclined, therefore, 10 pay any at
tention to Mr.. Brice's advice.
But Mr.. Brice was not TO be got rid of so
easily. He persisted. He pleaded with the
air of one who had a strong personal inter-
est in the issue. This put a somewhat
different face on the affair. What Mr..
Cleveland did not think ii worth while TO
do for his own sake, and what he saw no
reason for doing on general principles.
he was willing TO do as a matter of good
nature if il would make Mr.. Brice any
more comfortable. SO he wrote a note in
viting Nh. German to Gala short note,
but long enough TO have this significant
beginning:
AT the earnest solicitation of your friend,
Senator Brice-'
Unless Mr.. German has destroyed that
note or given Ii away, ii is now in his pos
session. Ii will make an interesting Eek
hibit A. TO put into an appendix 10 mis- ia.
nous speech of Monday last when he pub
fishes 1t in pamphlet form asa Republican
campaign document, for IL tells quite a lit
tie story of itself. and stamps with the
brand of falsehood the statements set in
President sought the interview on Monday
morning at the instance OF a member Of his
I Cabinet, and because he dreaded the rev
elations'' of which ne had been warned.
But there is still another letter which will
make interesting reading IN view of all tina
Mr.. Germans lawyer-like style of dealing
with his foes before the bar OF public opan-
ion-be marked exhibit b."
WORKED WELL AT FIRST.
The first half of the Brice-Gorman scheme
had apparently succeeded to the satisfac.
ton of it's authors. The President had beer
q .-a,ozd 20 sanl IN Soma wav-no matte,