The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-08
1.-THE Demands From Democratic
Bankers and Civil Service
Employees.
LAST RESORT OF GoLD1TEs
A Seattle Leader Indignantly Rejects
an Offer to Aid in the
Bribery.

SPOKANE, WASH, June Through
papers left in private box in a restaurant
of this city by a prominent adminlstra-
ton Democrat 1t has been discovered that
an attempt will be made to corrupt silver
delegates at Chicago, and that a Demo-
cratic Congressional Committee is now
at work raising fund for this purpo Sc.
Many prominent men of this and other
coast States are interested in the work,
and it is believed they have compelled a
large number of administration and gold
men to pay sums into the fund.
Not long ago the order was issued ex-
tending the list of those who would come
under the civil service rule. This, it is
claimed, was a move to perpetuate in
Office a large mum Der of the followers of
Cleveland, it being secretly understood
that they were to contribute to a Demo-
cratic Congressional fund literally.
Previous to the recent Democratic Con-
vention in this State money was sent in
and its force brought to bear to cause the
rejection of silver plank in the platform.
1t was but partially successful. Among
those elected to go to Chicago was Hugh
Wallace, Democratic National committee
man and an aspirsnt for reelection to
that position and very close friend OF
the administration. Mr.. Wallace had
been at Washington, D. c., for some time
previous to the convention and came back
to this State with the edict to adminiStra-
ton Democrats that they must down the
''free-silver craze"
Within two weeks after the State Con-
vention Wallace went East again, and he
is now in consultation with leading gold
men. State after State in the Democratic
ranks declared in no uncertain terms for
free silver. 1t was not long before the
managers at Washington saw that unless
some great influence was brought to bear
they would be overwhelmingly defeated at
Chicago.
1t was idle to make promises, and other
means were resorted to. Gold mem bers of
the party did not wish to put up all the
money. and therefore the Democratic Ma
tional Congressional Committee sent some
of its best men through the country to Sc
cure the services of men in different Sec
tons to do the Ievying and collecting.
The State of Washington was not
neglected. 1t was about the time of the
Democratic State Convention that one of
these men visited Spokane and a former
banker of this city was chosen as an agent.
Leading gold men were called into con-
ference and the plan approved. The
Spokane agent, so it is said, then received
his commission. He is now supposed to
be in Utah carrying on this levying.
In Seattle there is a well-known Demo
crat, DR.. Marion. He has always stood
high with his party, and for that reason
welded great deal of power on the
Sound. He is strong silver man. When
the agent of the Democratic Congressional
Committee was in the State, he visited
Seattle and found that DR.. Marion was a
desirable man to have in the ranks. He
was accordingly approached, but the
matter of the use OF money to be collected
was not considered. He was offered a
good price if he would become one of the
soliciting committee.
The offer was accepted, but about q
month ago he received a letter of instruc-
ton from the committee, incloslng drafts
for expenses. DR.. Marion did not accept
the drafts, but sent them back, together
with the letter of instruction, for this let
ter had instructed him to secure subscrip-
tions from bankers, ana while it did not
in so many words say that the money so
secured was to be used to maintain lobby
at Chicago, the intlmation was so strong
that Dr. Marion would not engage in the
work, and so informed them.