The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-01
M'KINLEY FAT FRYING.
RAISING A CORRUPTION FUND OF
$25o,O00.

Republican Squabble which Probably
Will Not Hurt Democrats--senator Chan
dIer Attacks the Ohio Candidate.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-McKin-
ley's "fat-frying" methods continue to
annoy Senator Chandler. He has in
formation that the Ohio candidates
managers are trying to raise $3.50, 900
to make the nomination of their man
certain, and he is determined to block
the game if possible. He made fresh
onslaught upon Mckinley tonight
which abounds in good campaign ma
terial for the Democrats. It is based
ostenslbly, upon Misrepresentation
which the Senator says crept into his
published statement of March Is. He
declares that he said nothing unkind
of Mckinley personally in that state
ment, but "called attention to certain
methods of his managers ard protest
ed against their adoption" Then he
proceeds to fay the candidate in this
vigorous way:
1.-THE substance OF the charge made
by me was that the same men who
had assisted in raising the money to
pay Mr.. McKinley's debts were calling
upon the owners of protected indus
tries to make contributions to help
nominate him for President. Although
the charge has been denied by Gen.
Grosvenor and others, a review of the
subjects confirms my conviction that
it is true.
"As bearing upon the question,
whether the collection and the use OF
the funds are for reasonable and leglt-
mate nomination expenditures. I add
that the fund which it was planned to
raise was to be $780, 900, sum which
could not be needed except for illegiti-
mate purposes.
I'm view of the effort to raise this
large fund from protected interests,
my points were very simple and clear.
Such a movement is unfair and unjust
toward the other candidates, in whose
behalf it is certain no such large sums
of money are being raised or used.
"Messrs. Reed, Morton, Quay, Gull
lom, Allison, Davis and Manderson
are as devoted friends of protection as
Mr.. Mckinley is, and the triumph OF
any one of them would be as sure as a
guarantee of the enactment of judi
cious and effective tariff laws as would
be the victory of Mr.. Mckinley. For
manufacturers to contribute large
sums of money to be expended in
nominating Mr.. Mckinley over any
other candidate hitherto named would
be a most unjust and uncalled-for
proceeding.
THE interests of the Republican
party will be seriously injured by de-
manding and receiving such large
contributions from the representatives
of protected interests. 1t has been a
continuous cause of attack by the op.
ponents of protection-the belief that
the system has been maintained, Re-
publican victories achieved, and par
ticular tariff schedules secured from
Congress by the money of manufac-
turers.
whatever may be said in justi6ca-
ton of reasonable contributions from
such interests toward the expenses of
Presidential and Congressional elec-
tions after the nominations are made,
system of using money to control
Republican nominations for Office
would be scandalous in the highest
degree and fatal to all attempts to
maintain the purity and honesty of
the party organization.
"These things I said. If the facts
which were the basis of my utterances
do not exist the truth will appear, and
no one will suffer but myself, for no
one else suggested or was responsible
for or knew of my statement. I shall
be very glad to be convinced that l
was mistaken. Moreover, if the at
tempt to raise the fund of $3.50, 900 has
been arrested by reason of the public
ity given to it I shall be equally re-
joiced.
"If, however, the facts are true, and
to the natural popularity and strength
of Mr.. Mckinley, Messrs. Osborne and
Hanna are to continue to add the ex-
penditure in improper ways of large
sums of money collected by them
from the owners of industries protect
ed by the tariff, thoughtful Republi-
cans will do we'll to consider the con-
sequences a nomination thus made,
the character of the canvass which is
to ensue, the possible defeat which,
even with the bright prospects before
US, may come if we rush headlong in
to any egregious blunder, and the con.
troversies which, even if we are sue
cessful, are to follow such an admis'
sion of the standing charge of our op-
ponents that gross venality and cor
ruption attend the maintenance of
high tariff system by the Republican
party, which charge we have hitherto
truthfully denied.
ITO those who engage in vitupera-
ton of me on the ground that what
ever may be the size of the money con-
tributions which are being raised by
Mr.. McKinley's friends. or the use
which is being made of them, it is in
furious to the Republican party, and,
therefore, a mistake for me to call at
tention to them, little need be said.
Their argument recognizes no time or
circumstances when it is proper for a
faithful member of a political party to
expose and condemn the faults and
vices which develop in every party.
This precept is false one, and has