The evening times., 1895-09-23
,ront. The National company was awarded

profit. The National company was awarded
the contract and took up the printing.
A plant was secured and made complete
for printing the Gazette. Mr.. Kcnncy was
in charge as active manager, assisted by
Mr. Bailey. AT the same time Mr.. Kenncy
acquired control of the National Economist.
the organ of the National Farmers ALI
ance. and of its printing house On North
Capitol street. There was the outlook for
a great and profitable business, with two
horns.
But presently trouble appeared. 1t was
charged by President Loucks, of the Farm
ers' Alliance, that c. W. Macune, editor
and chief promoter Of the National Econo-
mist, had during the campaign sold out
the influence of the organ tn the Demo.
rrats, and that j. Fount Tilman, now
Register of the Treasury, had been active
in using the publishing house OF the ALI
ance to scatter broadcast democratic lit
erature.
These charges had an immediate effect
upon the circulation of the Economist. Mr..
nenney took responsible control OF the
Economist and Mr.. Macune retired. This
gave color to the charges of treachery and
it was an uphill fight for the paper.
At the National Lithographing Company
difficulties appeared no less perplexing.
The Gazette could not be got out until two
to three weeks after it W as due and there
were serious complaints by patent attorneys
against the character Of the work. The
Patent Office officials were lenient and
agreed that the fault-finding attorneys were
set on by the disappointed bidders. The
quality of the work was all right, they
said
They also held that any new contractor
must have few months in which to "get
the hang" of the requirements. Gradually
the National company caught up with the
time of publication and everything ap-
peared to be working smoothly. There
were still some complaint, but only enough
to prove the original defense that the trouble
was not in the character of the phOto-litho-
graphing, but with the attitude OF persons
disappointed in the letting of the contract.
1t was pointed out in addition that the new
contract saved a handsome amount to the
government
Mr.. Kenney seemed in q position to win.
But Just then came crushing blow. 1t
was charged that the letting of the contract
had been influenced by fayoritism in the
interests of officials of the administration.
An investigation was held and it was
found that Mr.. Josiah Quincy, then Assist
ant Secretary of State, was a creditor Of
Mr.. Kenney to the extentof $4,000. The
publication of the facts caused a great deal
Of talk and after a time Mr.. Quincy re-
signed.
Then when the contract was let again
it went to the Norris-P Peters Company. The
National company struggled on for a time
finally closed its doors. The National
Economist had also gotten its death blow
and about year ago it suspended. The
business of the printing office continued
along but without gaining. Several suits
accompanied the gradual decline of the two
businesses and only little while ago .
Judgment Of $l5, 900 to $40, 900 was re-
ceived against the Economist company.
The sale Of the lithographing plant win
be near the close of the dissipation of the
bright hopes Of two years ago.