The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-11-27
JOHN SHERMAN'S BOOK.

JOHN SHERMAN'S BOOK. -
MRS. MARION TODD SHOWS UP THE
OLD FRAUD-AN ABLE LETTER.
Editor Representative:
Evidently Senator Sherman has for
gotten very important epoch in his life.
He has been writing his "Recollec-
TONS of late, covering a period of 40
years in the house, senate and cabinet.
They fill two volumes, and yet por-
ton of the most active part Of his career
is overlooked.
He tells us all about his grievances as
an aspirant for the presidential chair,
but not word about that famous "Sher-
man campaign committee" established
especially for the advancement of his
ton.
The people would like to have heard
about that interesting era of the senator's
prosperity, when the needs of his commit
tee were so readily met out of the peo-
pies money, to the tune of hundreds of
dollars, when he was secretary of the
treasury.
His "Recollections," so vivid in many
things, do not even hint at those substan-
tial treasury experiences when, not only
his committee, but he individually, was
sumptuously served out of the public
funds with means whereby to pay his
have been forgotten as required, but a
nod and the door of the treasury would
roll back and the where-with-all spoken
into existence to purchase good drinks,
bay rum, perfumery and numerous other
Injuries?
If so, perhaps a gentle reminder of
write an appendix to his two volumes and
enlighten the masses.
The solemn secrecy of this matter at
the time may possibly have banished it
from his remembrance, and yet one
would suppose that senate Investigations
which followed the cry of abuse of public
funds over which he stood guardian,
would have stuck a pin in his memory
forever concerning this phase of unique
history.
The Chicago Inter Ocean of Nov. 9,
1895, quotes Col. Ingersoll in speech
in 1877 as saying with Gen. Sherman
at the head of the army and John Sher-
man at the head OF the tresury, the coun-
try can neither be whipped nor robbed"
The Inter Ocean says that "the career
of Mr.. Sherman, as secretary of the
treasury, fully justified this high COM
pliment.'
That Col. Ingersoll was ignorant at that
time of the possibility of such record as
has since stamped this ex-cabinet Of
ficer is not surprisirA but at this day
those presiding over our great dailies
should be sufficiently informed as to
escape the blunder of extending certi-
ficate of good moral character to the un-
clean.
If it is amatter of ignorance on the part
of the Inter Ocean writer, 1 would cite
him to senate report No. 265, which was
ordered printed March Is, 1882.
The committee making this report con-
sisted of Senator Allison, as chairman.
Just now while Mr.. Sherman is regal
ing the public with his "Recollections"
and Senator Allison is casting an anchor
to windward," trusting it may land him
in the white House," it might be we'll
to place the door ajar to these obscure
events
Sample paragraph, as follows
cat the instance Of Mr.. o. L. Pitney,
custodian in the treasury department,
Mr.. J. Brad. Adams furnished stationery,
etc., to the Sherman campaign commit
tee, political committee for the ad-
vancement of the candidacy of Hon. John
Sherman for the presidential nomination
in 18S0-whose headquarters were in the
Corcoran building, opposite the treasury
department building. For this station
cry, ETC., sundry vouchers or accounts
against the treasury department, aggre-
eating 1902 were made out, calling upon
their face for 'file-holders," as the arti-
cles actually purchased and were paid out
of the treasury. The 'file-holders' SO
named in such vouchers, were never pur-
chased or received in the treasury de-
partment. .-..
Certain gas fixtures and the work of
putting them in place for use were paid
for out of the treasury on vouchers upon
their face for REPAIRS ETC. Amount.
$11O.
Mr.. Pitney being sworn answers to the
following
Question. Did you make ARRANGEMENTS
with Mr.. Moses for furnishing these
rooms? 7yrS
Answer. Yes, sir. :.
Question. Why did you go to Mr..
Moses?
Answer. He was furniture man and
had dealings with the department.
Question. Did you tell Mr.. Feering
how the stationetry was to be paid for?
Answer. I told him we could get it paid
for by the department, but he must not
talk about it at ALL There was no mis-
understanding about it that the depart
ment would pay for these articles. 1t
was matter we did not allude to or talk
about.
Speaking about this investigation
told him (Mr. Shermsn) that if 1 was
called upon would have to state just the
facts as they occurred.
"IIe said he thought might see Mr..
Upton and Mr.. Powers and arrange some
story that would be satisfactory to the
committee. l stated that my reputation
was as dear to me as his was to him, and,
that could not do anything else but
make statement of these facts"
Question. Do you think that Mr. Sher-
man ever knew that any work was beinU