The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-22
No One Who Attended the Convention,
He Says, Was Promised or Received
Money for His Vote.
SHERMAN'S MEMORY FAULTY
ONE OF HIS STATEMENTS CORRECT
ED BY JOSEPH II. MANLEY.
Ex-senator Hiscock Says that Ii Was
at His Suggestion the New York
Delegation swung to Harrison.


A. Alger has written lengthy letter to the
Detroit Tribune in reply to Senator John
Sherman's charges against the Generals
friends as contained in the second volume
Of Sherman's 'Recollections.' The writer
quotes Senator Sherman's language. In
which Sherman, in referring to the circum-
stances attending the contest in the Re-
publican national convention of 1888.
wrote: Il believe and had, as ! thought,
conclusive proof that the friends of General
Alger substantially purchased the votes of
many of the delegates from the Southern
States who had been instructed by their
conventions TO vote for me-" He also
quotes Senator Sherman's assertion to the
effect that although he had learned with
complaisance of the explanations of the
wavering of the Ohio and New York dele
CATION from his (Sherman's) support, that
''the only feeling of resentment I enter
tanned was in regard to the action of the
friends of General Alger in tempting with
money poor negroes to violate the instruc-
tions of their constituents"
In reply to these quotations General
Alger says that he should not have in
truded this matter on the public were 1t
not for the fact that IL appeared that Sen
ator Sherran had gone out of the way
to insult his (Algers) friends as well as
himself What he writes" says General
Alger, would be less Objectionable were
II not that the second word In the first
paragraph IL written in the present tense"
General Alger says that when the Sem
ator's charges were first made Immediately
after the convention, he was especially dis
tressed because OF the warm friendship eX-
isting between himself and family and
Gen. w. T. Sherman and family In view
of this he wrote General Sherman, assur-
ing 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. OF his great name, and
third. because of the injury such talk
would do the party. General Sherman, in
reply, wrote:
Il assure you that 1 entertain for you
the same sentiment OF respect and affec-
tion as always. IL anything ever shook
to the level of a politician. a soldier of
repute, "A gentleman and one who has such
a family and business as General Alger
ought. to hold himself above that level:
But this Is eminently a free country, and
you had as good a right to enter the race
as had John Sherman. You made a good
cording TO universal usage, surely / don't [
blame you. / laughed at John for trying
to throw Off anybody. He was fairly
beaten at the convention and ! congratu-
lated him on his escape. ! frankly answer
your inquiry by saying that my friendship
TO you has not been shaken In the least
that / wish you all honor and happiness,
and that during my short remainder We
may often meet here, or on the Pacific.
With great respect. w. T. SHERMAN.
"P. S.-Best love to the family"
Continuing. General Alger says that dur
ing the excitement of the campaign of
-
in question as nothing had appeared over
Senator Shermans name. but that now the
case is different. He then gives an anal
ysis OF the Southern votes received by
Sherman and himself at the Chicago con-
vention. According TO this showing. Sem
ator Sherman. on the Nth ballot (the one
In which Alger received the highest number
of votes), received 109 votes from Southern
States, against Ayers co. not including,
however. rs votes from Arkansas and Mis-
souri,, which came voluntarily pledged TO
Alger under the leadership, respectively, of
Gen. Powell Clayton and Hon. Chauncey
]. Filley. or the other sixty, General AL
ger writes that more than one-half of
them had served either I'm the Union or
Southern armies during the war, and IL
was not unnatural that they should prefer
a soldier TO a civilian. Many OF these peo-
pie the General knew personally. The Gen.
eral mentions a list of soldiers and other
friends OF his among these delegates whom
ne COncluues naturally uSeu lnelT utf1Ost
endeavors with their respective delegates
I'm his behalf, and adds: "No delegate or
friend who went 10 Chicago in my behalf
or voted for me at the convention ever
asked for or received single pledge from
me for money or any of1ice.
General Alger relates instances or the
friendship between himself and the Sena-
tor of late years and OF assurances given
him by sherman that while his disappoint-
ment had been great. he did not believe
that Alger had any part in the scramble
for votes. etc. I'm 1883. Alger also quotes
an autograph letter written him by Sher-
man in 1892. In which the Senator reasserts:
II cherish no prejudice or unkindness for
the incident of the national convention OF
1885,"
.'In conclusion" writes General Alger, Il
will only add that IL Senator Sherman is
willing To leave record made up largely
OF adverse criticisms of the public men
of his day, many Of whom have passed
from earth, he Is welcome TO the task.
L am sure he stands alone among our pub
lie men, who would be willing. by his own
act. TO blight the honorable record of the
living and the dead"
A letter from James Lewis (colored). of
New Orleans, is appended. stating that the
writer voted for -Alger in the convention
of 1888. as second choice TO Sherman. and
denying that negro delegates We're In the
habit of selling their votes