The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-10-26
PLOT TO Buy NEVADA.
BELIEF THAT THE SCHEME WAS TO
BE ATTEMPTED.
Thwartcd by Publicity-An InfIuen-
tiaI Citizen Approached on the
Subject-He Talks About the Mat
ter and the Hannn Agents Are
Frightened Of-silver Men Much
Agftated Over the Plot.

San Francisco Examiner: One Oh tn.
most extraordinary political stories o.
the campaign is now the theme of tn,
gossips in financial and mining circle.
in this city. The story involves moth
ing less than an alleged attempt t
purchase the electoral vote of the stat,
of Nevada for Mckinley The story
goes that the conspiracy was cleverlS
and quietly worked among mining mer
of this city and of Nevada. 1t is said
/ that the money which was to have
been the purchase price OF the Silver
state was at hand. Agents were dele
gated for their dangerous work, and
the plan, it claimed, failed because a
traitor was needed and could not be
found. The friends OF H. ID. Levy have
| given currency and substance to the
rumors and vouch for the truth OF their
assertion that the first overture was
| made to Levy. In what follows is
given substantially what these men in
| s'lst were actual occurrences.
Several days ago, according to their
representations, Jere Lynch, mining
man, Bohemian and goldbug, entered
the office OF II. NJ. Levy of the Hale
& Norcross mine.
Say, old man." declared Lynch, chow
much will it cost to buy the state OF
Nevada?" .s;@
The question astounded Levy He
hardly knew what his friend meant. A
few questions resolved all doubt. Lynch
explained, the gossips assert, that ne
was authorized to buy the state of
Nevada for the goldbugs. He explained
that he was acting, not for the Re
NJ OF; oil fnn Htr+ fnr.
Mark Hanna himself. II have ten
days" Lynch declared, lin which to
give my answer. Can the state be
bought and how much will it cost?"
Levy and Lynch are on the closest
terms of friendship. Levy has excep-
tionally large interests in Nevada, and
controls by employment a large num-
Der of men. He is thoroughly Informed
on the situation in the silver state and
politically is an advocate OF gold.
If you are speaking seriously Jere,"
he replied, II think your plan is prepos-
ferrous. If you want an offer off-hand,
/ Will tell You that L don't think the
state can be bought for Mckinley at
any price. The proposition is an alb
surd one, and l think 1 am in posi-
ton to know
The extraordinary overture that had
been made to Levy was more than he
could keep to himself. He told it in
confidence to several of his friends and
gradually it leaked out. The silver men
became alarmed and several confer
ences were held. Levy claimed to have
received information that left no doubt
OF the existence of the plot. The de-
tails had all been explained and it
looked very much as if Hanna was
fixed in his purpose to buy the state.
William Sharon was delegated to see
Levy and learn definitely from him the
particulars OF the plot and plan of
operation. In the presence of several
prominent men, divided politically on
the financial question, Levy repeated
his conversation with Lynch, and tolG
all of the details of the scheme. The
silver men were aroused to the neces-
slty OF immediate action. They were
not quite sure whether it were best
TO warn the silver men of Nevada or
to attempt a counter plot and trap
the goldbugs into giving their gold to
help along the silver cause. Whether
the story were true or false, the silver
men were aroused to excited action.
they are still debating that question,
but the gold men, it is explained, have
learned of the counter plot, and have
given up their scheme in disgust. A
few days after Levy's reputed CONVEX
sation with Lynch there was a new
and startling development in the af-
fair c. c. Powning, chairman of the
Nevada state silver compaign commit
tee, was in this city. He called ct the
Office of H. NJ. Levy and was given
full particulars of the plot of the gold
bugs.
Powning at once notified his asso-
ciates On the campaign committee AMI
warned them of the significance of the
situation. A consultation was held in
this city and a new plan to get Han
mas money and expose his conspiracy
was arranged. Powning's friends in
attempting to make this plan success
full quietly circulated a report that he
was willing to betray the silver cause
in Nevada. 1t was thought that the
ruse would lead to new overtures from
the gold men. By judicious manipula-
ton it was hoped that the money of
the McKinleyites could be obtained
and then the expose could be made
complete. Too many people knew the
secret, however, and the gold men were
wary.
All negotiations were suspended, al
though the silver men know that Han
na had literally supplied the coast
with money. Positive information had
been received that $4,000 had been
sent to Oregon and $4,000 to Washing
ton. There was to be none for Ne
vada, however, since the scheme of the
purchase had become so generally
known and that fact frustrated The
affair created intense excitement N
local political and financial circles. The
silver campaign committee in this city
has been warned and has placed it's
coast organizations on their guard.
Those who figured in the affair are
extremely rericent in discussing it. The
silver mon claim RI have the r-OofS
necessary to support their assertions,
and the gold men prefer to keep quiet
AS a matter OF fact, it is said, no
amount of money could buy the state
for the gold standard. Even those
who wish to assist the Mckinley cause
do not entertain the remotest idea that
the scheme could have been successful
under any conditions.