The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-16
THE FREE SILVER CAMPAIGN.
Wanamaker's Contribution to the Indi-
ana Corruption Fund.
pecial to the News and Observer.
WASHINGTON, d. O., Nov.

WASHINGTON, ID. o., NOV. 10.
Senator Harris, the chairman of the
executive committee of six appointed at
the Washington conference of last Au-
gust to organize for the campaign OF
1896 the free silver Democrats Of the
country, lbs sent a letter to his col
leagues, the chief feature OF which is
the following:
"In the light of recent election results
there is no hope of Democratic success
in 1896 unless we can succeed in so or
ganizing the bimetallic Democrats as TO
secure in the national convention
plain distinct and unmistakable declara-
tion in favor of the free and unlimited
coinage of both silver and gold without
regard to the financial politics of any
country, and therefore it appears to me
that we should redouble our efforts to
secure such organization.
Senator Harris colleagues are Senator
Jones, of Arkansas; Senator TurpIe, of
Indiana; Gov. Stone, of Missouri; Hon.
William H. Hinrichsen, of Illinois, and
Casey Young, of Tennessee.
The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Daily News gives the details of
ton fund that Wanamaker has recently
had to pay. He writes that John Wana-
maker, Postmaster General under Presi
dent Harrison. recently sent his personal
check for $40 900 to prominent Indiana
politician. He did SO under protest, after
vainly trying for three years to compel
the Republican national committee to
pay the sum. The obligation was in
cured by Mr.. Wanamaker at the time
he visited Indianapolis during tie last
presidential campaign. Talking with
several local Republicans, friends of
Harrison on the outlook in Indiana, the
Postmaster General inquired how they
were off for campaign funds. Mr.
Wanamaker ventured the suggestion
that $40, 900 might be used to advant-
age in Marion county alone. The In
diana Republican leaders fell in with the
suggestion. W. T. Durbin, of Anderson,
came forward with the suggestion that
he could easily raise the SO, 900 among
wealthy Republican friends OIL Harrison
if Mr. Wanamaker would personally
guarantee that it would be repaid. The
Postmaster General agreed to do so.
After the election Mr.. Durbin and bis
friends called on Mr.. Wanamaker to
make good his guaranty, representing
that they had advanced the $fo, 900, ro
lying on the good faith of Postmaster
General Wanamaker. The latter de-
clined to pay the debt, claiming that the
obligation rested on the national Re
publican Committee A strong effort
was made to drag ex President Harrison
into the affair, bnt he disayowed any
knowledge of the transaction. For nearly
three years the Postmaster General
stood out against the demand, but re-
Gently decided to pay it and sent his
personal check to w. T. Durbin, of An
derson.
1t was widely rumored that Mr.. Wana-
maker gave SIC, 900 TO the first Harri-
s1n campaign on strength of a promise
| from Senator Quay that he would be ap-
pointed Postmaster General. This he
| denied, but there is no doubt of the fact
that he gave $4,000 to the last cam
paign, although he expects to be re
| imbursed. Friends of Mr.. Wanamaker
assert that he paid the amount because
he feared publication and scandal. The
affair, it is said, ives source of deep
humiliation to Benjamin Harrison.
Mrs. J. Y. Joyner and children, OF
Greensboro are visiting at DR.. Sander
| Inns.
The belief here is current now that the
President will appoint Mr.. Carlisle tc
the vacancy on the Supreme Court
bench and make Mr.. Chas. s. Fairchiid,
Secretary of the Treasury.