Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-29
Some More Inside History.

From the Wilkes Barre Telephone.
There is another instance cited to
show more of the mercenary methods
and political treachery resorted to by
Mr., Hines toward his party and his
friends, which if true ought to merit the
most severe condemnation of every
Democratic voter within the district. 1t
is asserted by several prominent Demo-
Gratis, who profess to be familiar with all
the facts and details, that Congressman
Hines sadly overreached himself in an
effort to share the spoils incident to the
appointment of internal revenue collec-
tor for this district last winter. Among
the aspirants were L. M. Commit, of
Plains. Ex-County Treasurer John S.
McGroarty was also mentioned and Sc
cured considerable encouragement from
party leaders as suitable candidate for
the position. The other two rival aspir-
ants were Grant Herring, of Bloomsbury,
the present incumbent, and Ex-Deputy
Collector Staples, of Monroe county.
As the story goes it appears that Presi-
dent Cleveland delayed considerable
time in making the appointment in hopes
that Mr.. Hines and his colleagues might
agree. Finally, during the course of
events, it is stated that Mr.. McGroarty
refused to enter into an agreement with
Congressman Hines by which the latter
was to receive stated percentage of the
emouments of the office and control of
certain subordinate positions. This
caused Mr.. McGroarty to withdraw,
hence Congressman Hines was thus en-
abled to devote all his efforts and infu-
ence to secure the collectorship for I. NJ
Commit. 1t is generally supposed that
Hines did his little best" so to speak
to secure the coveted place for his friend,
but it seems the method by which he
could he successfully checkmated was
too well understood by the hackers of
Grant Herring and Deputy Collector
Staples.
1t is more than hinted at by Demo-
Gratis in position to vouch for the truth
of their statements that when the ap-
pointment of Commit had been practi-
cally agreed to by President Cleveland,
a shrewd emissary from Monroe or Car
bon county was sent to privately consult
with Congressman Hines and make GER
tain overtures in the interest of Staples.
All that transpired is of course known
only to those Democrats in the district
to whom Staples doubtless divulged the
facts However, it is at present a
matter of political hearsay that Congress-
man Hines was offered the control of
several appointments including chief
clerk, chief deputy, guagers, ETC., besides
divyy of 81 900, provided that under a
certain contingency that might arise he
would agree to the appointment of
Staples as internal revenue collector.
This proposition was at first rejected
by Hines with utter contempt He in
formed the agent of ex-Colector Staples
that he had every reason to be assured
that Commit would get the appointment
in a few days. And in that event he
(Hines) would receive 81, 800 and the
privilege of selecting the men to fill all
the minor positions. If, however, he
could be convinced that there was any
such contingency to arise as would de-
feat Commit, he was not opposed to sup
porting Staples in preference to Grant
Herring, provided Staples could increase
the divyy to $1,000. This ended the
private consultation and the agent who
had cleyerly accomplished the object of
his mission departed with a written
promise obtained from Congressman
Hines that he was prepared to fulfill his
part of the contract.
But unexpected results are quite COM
mon in modern politics. 1t proved so in
this instance, The letter of Congressman
Hines by some planned means came
into possession of ex-senator Eekley b.
Coke, of Drifton, and ex-State Chairman
Elliot p. Kisner, of Hazleton. These
two influential Democrats, being both
active and staunch friends of Grant
Herring, at once exposed the letter to
President Cleveland showing Congress-
man Hines up in bad shape as political
gambler and boodler.
The result was that Grant Herring, of
Bloomsbury, was Immediately appointed
collector of internal revenue for the
district, and T. NJ. Commit and his host
of warm personal friends were added to
the number of hard-working Democrats
in Luzerne, who have been victims OF
misplaced confidence and duplcity on
the part of the self-seeking little con-
gressman, who will after the 9th of No.
vember be relegated to private life with
the privilege of resuming pettifoging
practice in the courts and occasionally
writing himself down as ex-Hon. w. H.
Hines, counselor-at-law.