Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-19
HE CHEATS AT CARDS.
An Influential Washington Official
Accused Of That ''Crime."
A Sensation Likely to Come That Will Rival
Famous Baccarat Case.

Some day or other the country will ENJOY
a sensation almost as great rs shat pro
duced by the famous baccarat case in Lon
don few years ago 1t is not aprince OF
the realm that is involved in this case
but q high public functionary in this cap
ital. one of the most influential and high
ly honored men in Washington. For some
weeks there has been a great deal of whis-
pered conversation concerning this mans
cheating at cards, and it now chances GER
tain associates CT his, fully familiar with
all the facts and able to provo their case,
are threatening to expose him. If the ex
pose comes, it will produce "a great sensa
ton, and, such are the peculiar circum-
stances attending the matter, have great
effect upon legislation as well.
A Certain Game of Poker.
The story is that this official, whose
name is well known to me, but which l
shall not print, has been caught cheating
at poker on great number of occasions.
Some years ago, while engaged in game
for high stakes at John Chamberlin's ho-
tel, number of senators being partici-
pants, a western senator now dead detect
ed this man stealing cards, accused him of
the act and for answer received blow in
the face. The accuser then defended him.
self by raising chair, when others inter
fered, and the battle was at an end. On
several other occasions, it is said, the &C
cused has been detected cheating at poker
A general of the United States army, than
whom none stands higher in public es-
TEEN. has said in my hearing that he has
seen tho nameless official steal cards at
poker a gallant senator from "a southern
state has made the statement. A promi-
uent stock broker of Chicago, u man well
known throughout the country, told me
he saw the same person cheat in game of
poker in which tho stakes We're very heavy.
At the time all parties to the game were
guests of a Chicago millionaire at his sum-
mer home on the St Lawrence river. Such
an accumulation of evidence dealing with
incidents widely separate in time and
place. is pretty conclusive as to the guilt
of the man in question. If the men in
possession of tho evidence conclude to make
an expose Of their former associate and
companion, there will follow resignation
from one of the highest offices in the gov
eminent and perhaps general scandal.
Many readers of newspapers wonder how
it is that public men who are savagely
criticised in the press arc able to sleep
nights. l had Il conversation a few days
ago with Senator German of Maryland on
this score. AS is well known, no has been
much abused in the papers for his connec-
ton with the tariff bill, and also for the
part he played in the efforts to repeal the
Sherman law. 1 asked Mr. German how
he could endure SO much newspaper criti-
cism, and he replied: 1T is nothing. 1t
does not worry me in the slightest. One
can endure anything of this sort when one
gets accustomed to it. Iadmit that if these
criticisms had como upon me when I first
entered public life they would have driven
me crazy. 1 simply could not have en-
dured them. But they came by degrees,
and 1 gradually became accustomed to
them. Now they are as drops of rain on a
spring morning. think / should feel of
Tended if tho newspapers and some of you
here at Washington were
to stop abusing me-
Where He Made q Mistake.
Chairman Wilson of the ways and means
committee was pretty well attended to by
the press last summer too. Tho newspa-
pers teemed with criticisms of him, some
of them rather bitter in their tone. Mr..
Wilson was asked how he managed to en-
dure so much goading from the press, and
he replied, ITO what do you refer?" Then
the matter was explained to him as deli
cately as possible. well" said Mr.. Viii
son, this is the first have heard of it. I
pledge you my word that l have not read
a newspaper for six weeks. l have been
so hard worked with the tariff bill that I
cannot even read tho news of tho day. II
the papers have abused me, l hayo been
blissfuily ignorant of it till this minute"
AS this session of congress draws near
its end the anxiety among the employees
of the senate increases. They do not as yet
know if they will be able to retain their
places or whether they will have to give
way to now lot of men. OF course all the
present employees are Democrats, and ths
question is, Will the Republicans organize
the senate after the 4th of March, One
day it is said tho Republican leaders have
not to take possession of the or
inaSmuch rs it will be impos-
sible for them to do so without the votes
of one or two Populist senator's The next
day it is reported tho Republicans and
Populists have formed a combination to
take possession of the committees and APP
point their own men to tho various posi-
tions in the gift of the senate. All this
tends to keep tho poor employees on tenter
hooks. Tho final decision of the matter
means great deal to them.
Little Love Spats Only.
One of the peculiarities of life in Wash
ington is the ever recurring rumor Of res.
ignations from and quarrels in the cabinet.
Once awcek or so we poor newspaper men
start out to run down one Of these rumors.
We feel morally certain before wo set out
that there is nothing in it, so oft have we
been fooled before. But our duty to our
papers requires us to DO absolutely sure
before putting our heads to pillow. The |
trouble is that some people cannot recog |
nize a distinction between difference OF |
opinion in the cabinet and a quarrel. |
of the cabinet may have differ
ences of opinion without quarreling just |
as members of business firm may have |
such differences, or a man and his wife.
Senator Morgan of Alabama, author OF |
the now immortal expression, cuckoo"
continues to say queer things in the sen
, 70 Tho other day in TALKING On tho |