The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-22
To the Statement That He
Bought Votes
SHERMAN'S " FORTY YEARS"
Reviews the Bitter Anim0sities of Old
Times
AIger Says He Bought No Votes General
Sherman Says lie Doesn't
Care if He Did
Associated Press special Wire.

A9H0cldte0 PRESS SneClAl w Ire.
DETROIT, Mich, Nov. 21.-General
r. A. Alger bias written a len gthy letter
to the Detroit Tribune in reply to Sena-
tor John Sherman's charges against the
generals friends, as contained in the
second volume of Sherman's Recollec-
tions.
The writer quotes Senator Sherman's
language in which Sherman, in referring
to the circumstances attending the con-
test in the Republican National conven-
ton of 1888. wrote: ~ believe, and had,
as thought, conclusive proof. that this
friends of Gensral hlgei substantially
purchased the votes of many of the dele
gates from the southern states, VINO had
been instructed by their own conventions
to vote fer me.'
He also quotes Senator Sherman's as
Sertion to the effect that although he had
learned with complaisance of the explain.
atoms of the wavering Ono and New
YORK delegations from his (Sherman's)
support, that 'the only feeling of resent
'ment entertained was in regard to the
action of the friends of General Alger in
tempting with money poor negroes to vi
o.ate the instructions of their cunstitu-
snts.'
In reply to these quotations, General
Alger says that be should not have in
truded this matter on tie public were it
not for the fact that it appeared that Sem
ator Sherman had gone out of the way to
insult his (Alger's) friends as well as
himself.
"Whst he writes" says General Alger.
"would BE- less obi ecti0nalbe we're it not
that the second word in the first para
graph is written in the present tense.
General Alger says wnen Senator Sher-
mans charges we're first maze, lmmsdi-
ately after the convention, ne was espe-
ciaily distressed because of the warm
friendship existing between himself and
family and General W. I. Sherman and
family. In view of this fact 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, on account of his great name,
and third, because of the injury such
talk would DO the party.
General Sherman, in reply, wrote: 81
assure you that | entertain for you the
sentiment OF respect and affection as al
ways. If anything ever shook my faith
in yo,, it was that you stopped to the lev
81 OF politician. A soldier of reputs a
gentleman, and one who has such a fam
lily and business as General Alger ought
to hold himself above that level. But this
is eminently a free country, and you
have as good right TO enter the race as
John Sherman. You made good show
OF votes, and if you bought some, accord
ing to universal usage, surely | don't
blame you. 1 laughed at John for trying
to throw off on any body. He was fairly
beaten at that convention, and | congrst-
ulated him on his escape. l frankly an
swer your inquiry by saying that my
friendship to you has not been shaken
in the least; that l wish you { Ii honor
and happiness, and that during nv short
remainder we may often meet here and
on ta sg rasiS With SF'a' F sHRsSM sts
Up. S-Best love TO the family"
Continuing, General Alger says that
during the excitement of So he said little
attention to the report in question, as
nothing had appeared over Senator Sher-
mans name, but that now the case is
different. He tn, n gives an ANALYSIS of
the southern votes received by Sherman
and himself at the Chicago convention.
According to this showing Senator Sher-
man on the fifth ballot (the one in v hich
Alger received the highest mum Der of
votes. received 109 votes from southern
states, against Alger's co. not including,
however, % votes from Arkansas and
Missouri, which came voluntarily pledged
to Alger, under the leadership, respect.
lively, of General Powell Clayton and
Chauncey l. Filley. OF the other 60,
General Alger writes that more than one
half Of them mad served either in the
union or southern armies during the war,
and 1t was not unnatural that they
should prefer soldier to civilian.
Many OF these people knew personally"
The general mentions list of soldiers
and other friends of his among these del
cgates whom, he concludes, naturally
used their utmost endeavors with their
respective delegates in his benalf, and
ADDS:
mo delePate or friend who won't to
Chicago in my behalf or voted for me at
The convention, ever asked for or re.
ceived, single pledge from me for
money or any office"
General Aiger relates instances of
frien dship between himself and the sen.
ator OF late years, and of assurances given
him by Sherman that while his disap-
nointmsnt had been great he did not be-
lleve that Aleer had any part in the
scramble for votes, etc, IN 1888. Alger
also quotes an autograph letter written
senator reasserts: Il cherish no prejudice
or unkindness for thu incident of the
national convention of 1885,
In conclusion," writes General Aleer,
~ will only add that if Senator sherman
is willing to leave a record made up
largely OF adverse criticisms o: the public
Inen OF his day, many of whom have
passed from earth, he is welcome to the
task. | am sure he stands alone among
our public men who woLid 10 willing by
his own act to blight the honorable
record OF the living and the dead
letter from James Lewis (colored) or
New Orleans is appended, stating that
the writer voted for Alger in the IS con-
ven ion as second choice 10 sherman and
denying that negro delegates were in the
habit OF selling their votes