Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-22
GEN. ALGER,s DENIAL.
Neither Promised Nor Paid for Vote
of Delegates.

OF Delegates.
Gen r. A. Alger has written long letter
to the Detroit Tribune in reply to Senator
John Sherman's charges against the gen.
erals friends, contained in the second
volume of Sherman's Recollections.
The writer quotes Senator Shermans IAN
guage, in which Sherman, in referring to the
circumstances attending the contest in the
republican national convention of 1883.
wrote: Il believe, and had, as / thought,
conclusive proof that the friends of Gen.
eral Alger substantially purchased the votes
of many of the delegates from the southern
states. who had been instructed by their con.
ventions to vote for me-"
He also quotes from Senator Sherman's
assertion to the effect that although he had
learned with complaiSance of the eXpiana-
tions of the wavering of the Ohio and New
York delegation from his (Sherman's) sup
port, that The only feeling of resentment
entertained was in regard to the action Of
the friends of General Alger in tempting
with money poor negroes to violate the in
structions of their constituents"
General Alger says that when the Sena-
tors charges were first made, Immediately
after the convention, he was especially dis
| tressed because of the warm friendship ex-
listing between himself and family and Gem
eral w. 7. Sherman and family. In view Of
this he wrote General Sherman, assuring
him that there was no foundation for the
charges and that he had not replied to them
on account, first, of the age of the Senator:
second, of his great name. and, third, be-
cause of the injury such talk would do the
party.
General Sherman, in reply, wrote: Il as
sure you that entertain for you the same
sentiment of respect and affection as al
ways. If anything ever shook my faith in
| you it was that You stopped to the level Of
| a politician. A soldier of rePute, gentle
| man, and one who has such a family and
| business as General Alger ought to hold
| himself above that level. But this is emin-
entity free country, and you had as good q
right to enter the race as had John Sher-
| man. You made a good show Of votes, and
IL you bought some, according to universal
usage, surely don't blame you. / laughed
at John for trying to throw off on anybody.
He was fairly beaten at the convention, and
congratulated him on his escape. l frank
ly answer your inquiry by saying that my
friendship to you has not been shaken in
the least that ] wish you all honor and
happiness, and that during my short re-
mainder We may often meet here or on the
Pacific"
Continuing, General Alger says that dur
ing the excitement Of IS he paid little at
tSntion to the reports in question, nothing
had appeared over Senator Sherman's name,
! but that now the case was different.
He then gives an analysis of the southern
votes received by Sherman and himself
at the Chicago Convention According to
this showing. Senator Sherman on the nth
ballot the one in which Alger received the
highest number of votes) received 100 votes
from southern states, against Ayers 60.
not including. however, IS votes from Arkan-
sas and Missouri which came voluntarily
pledged to Alger under the leadership, re-
spectively, of Gen. Powell Clayton and
Chaur cey l. Filley. OF the other 60 Gen.
Alger writes that more than half of them
had served in the Union or southern armies
during TIE war, and ii was not unnatural
that they should prefer soldier to a civil
ian. Many of these people j knew per-
sonally."
The general mentions list of soldiers and
other friends of his among these delegates
whom he concludes naturally used their
| utmost endeaYors with their respective del
egates in his behalf, and adds:
mo delegate friend who went to CHI
| cago in my behalf or voted for ME at the
| convention ever asked for or received o
| single pledge from me for money or for any
| office"
Gen. Alger relates instances of the friend
| ship between himself and the Senator OF
| late years, ard of assurances given him by
| Sherman that while his disappoin .ment had
| been great, ne did not believe that Alger had
| any part in the scramble for votes. etc, in
| SIS. Alger also quotes an autograph letter
| written him by Senator Sherman in 1872, IN
| which the letter reasserts: Il cherish NO
| prejudice or unkindness for thei incident
| of the national convention of 1885,.