The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-13
How Adlai +. StevensOns Loan
Association Got Money.
INVESTORS AT PORT TOWNSEND.
An A. P. A. Municipal Ticket Placed
in the Field at Spokane.
Members of the Order Say the Repul,-
Ecans VIII Indor~e Nominations
Divekeepers Arrested Between Car
bonado and Wilke>on-Suit Over a
Disputed Land Grant.

Port Townsend. April I2-Special.-The
Interstate Building and Loan Associa-
ton. OF Bloomington. Ia, of which
Ailai r. Stevenson. vice president OF the
United States. is president. and which
is now being investigated by the Illinois
legislature, victimizei and succeeded in
relieving several prominent citizens OF
this city OF various sums OF money. The
account in Thursdays Post-lnteliigencer
from Springfield. Ill.. merely confirmed
the opinion OF the local dupes here who
had been deceived.
Last November one w n. Stafford
who claimed 10 be a first cousin OF Vice
president Stevenson. came 10 Port Town
send, and, after .acquainting himself with
me business men, broached the object
OF h.s visit by saying that when Mr.
stevenson on his Western tour, accom-
panied by his family. visited Port Towns
end, he was so charmed with the sur
roundings that he had interested his
company. the Intersiate Building and
Loan Association. of Bloomington suffi-
GENTLY 10 solicit loans on Port Townsend
property. The bait was gobDled up Ike
trout in brock leaping for flies. AS a
preliminary contingent however, Mr.
stafford said IL would be necessary for
applicants TO subscribe for certain
number Of shares of stock in
the company before Grover clevelanti's
running mate would condescend TO
make loans on Port Townsend real
estate The idea of interesting the sec
ond official OF the United States In local
realty took like wild fire. and the way
applications flowed in on Mr.. Stafford
fairly took away the latter's breath.
One of the first TO enrich the vice presi-
dents exchequer we're Judge j. A. Kuhn
and Postmaster G. G.. -.-~samara, both
OF whom were personally acquainted with
Mr.. Stevenson. 1t was upon the latters
recommendation that Mcnamara got the
appointment of postmaster. Judge Kuhn
while a member of the national Demo
cratic central committee visited Washing
ton City frequently, and became well ac-
quainted with Mr.. Stevenson. and was
a loyal supporter of his during the cam
paign. Many times he said he wished
Stevenson headed the national ticket in
preference to Grover Cleveland. Since
he was so outrageously taken In he
thinks differently. Stafford received
from Kuhn ard Mcnamara $50 and gave
receipts therefor and took their applica-
tions for the loans. Many other citizens
were taken in in the same manner.
Time rolled by and nothing was heard
of Stafford or the promised loans. Then
7. J. Bum. the company's secretary, was
teiegraphed to about the matter and he
wired back: We have no loans, and
no one is authorized to solicit the same.
However. he did send Messrs. Kuhn and
McNamara certificates OF shares of
stocks. which were signed Ivy A. r.. Stew
enson. as president That was all they
ever got for their so. In speaking OF the
matter Friday, Judge Kuhn characterized
the scheme as a petit larceny swindling
institution. and he properly roasted the
vice president of the United States for his
connection In the matter.