Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-27
GENERAL ALGER
Replies ito the Charges of Bribery Made by Sherman-He Denies That Money Was
 Used by Him or His Friegds.

Gen. R. A. Alger has written a 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 recollec- tions.
 The writer quotes Senator Sherman's language, in which sherman, in referring to the circumstances attending the con test i'll the republican national conven- ton of 1888 wrote: T believe and had, as l thought, conclusive proof that the friends of General Alger substantially purchased the votes of many of the dele, gates from the southern states who had been instructed by their conventions to vote for me-"
 He also quotes Senator Sherman's as- sertion to the effect that although he had learned, with complaisance, of the ex- plantations of the wavering of the Ohio and New York delegation from his (Sher- man's) support that "the only feeling of resentment I entertained was in regard to the action Of the friends of General Alger in tempting, with money, poor ne- gToes to violate the instructions of their constituents"
 In reply to these quotations General Alger says that he should not have in- truded this matter upon the public were it not for the fact that it appeared that Senator Sherman had gone out of the Nh5 lO iiiouib iiio AkAi66I SJ dS Wel as himself
 What he writes" says Alger, would be less objectionable were 1t not that the second word in the first paragraph is written in the present tense."
 Continuing. General Alger gives an analysis of the southern vote received by Sherman and himself at the Chicago convention. According to this showing Senator sherman on the fifth ballot (the one in which Alger received the highest number of votes) received 100 votes from southern states, against Alger's 50. not including, however, 2S votes from Arkan- sas and Missouri, which came voluntari- ly pledged to Alger and under the leader ship respectively of Gen. Powell Clayton and Hon. Chauncey I. Filley. Of the other sixty General Alger writes that more than one-half of them had served either in the union or southern armies during the war, and 1t was not unnat- ural that they should prefer a soldier to civilian. Many of these people I knew personally. No delegate or friend who went to Chicago in my behalf, or voted for me at the convention" contin- ues MT. Alger. lever asked for or receiv ed single pledge from me for money or any office."
 General Alger relates instances of friendship between himself and the sen- ator of late years and of assurances given by him to Sherman that while his disappointment had been great, he did not believe that Alger had any part in the scramble for votes, etc, in 1888
 "In conclusion" writes General Alger. "I will only add that if Senator Sherman is willing to leave a record made up largely of adverse criticisms of the pub lie men of his day, many of whom have passed from earth, he is welcome to the task. I am sure he stands alone among our public men who would be willing by his own act to blight the honorable rec ord of the living and the dead
 A letter from James Lewis (colored) of New Orleans is appended, stating that the writer voted for AIger in the 1888 con- vention as second choice to Sherman, and denying that negro delegates were in the habit of selling their votes