The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-06-24
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION. /.
HOW 1T WAS OFFICERED.

IN W - w 40 OI E AOGAS4>Os
A Jewish rabbi opened the proceed
ings with prayer.
A Railroad Attorney and lobbyist,
Thurston, of Nebraska, was perma'
nent chairman.
The chief Secretary was Charles w.
johnson, formerly of Minneapolis.
now Of New York.
II our readers are curious to know
what kind of critter this animal is we
respectfully refer them to the official
records OF Congress, based on the
sworn testimony Of unimpeached and
uncontrolled ,oitnesses.
The Election Committee Of the
House of Represen TIA tives in the re-
Donnelly versus Washburu Up. 5 Of Re
port, 1SS0) says:
BERNARD Cloutier (see page 211 Of
Testimony residing in Minneapolis at
the time or the election and sold ma.
chinery. He was, and always had
been Democrat, and generally took
an active part in politics. About a
week or ten days before the election
he met John Baxter, friend OF the
sitting member, (Washburn). Cloutier
told HIM, in answer TO a question by
Baxter, that he Cioutier did not in
tend to take any part in the election.
He says, 81 told him that l had
made up my mind to take no part in
the election, as l had heretofore been
promised q good deal and Meier got any
thing for It," Thereupon Baxter re-
QueSted witness to see Charles W..
johnson, secretary Of the Republican
committee of the Third congressional
district.) Two or three days there
after Baxter met Cloutier again and
asked MIN if he had seen Johnson.
Cloutier said no. Baxter said that
was queer, as Johnson had promised
he would see Cloutier. Cloutier then
took him to the office OF the sitting
member. Washburn, and they told him
there that Johnson had just gone out.
Cloutier went to Washburn's
office and there met Charles w. john
son. johnson wanted Clou-
tier to go out and e!ectioneer for
Washburn. Cloutier said he would
do SO if he was paid for his time and
expense. johnson paid him
$50. The following Wednesday Clou-
tier met Johnson again at Wash
burns office. Il told him l wanted
some more money. He asked me how
much | wanted and l told him l
wanted $40. He (Johnson) went into
the next room and commenced talk
ing with Mr.. Washburn, the sitting
member. He came back and handed
me 500 dollars. =
cit appears by his Cloutier's testi
mony in chief that he had made up his
mind to take no part in the election
because he had been previously prom
iSed brides which were not paid; and
thereupon he Was paid $50 to convert
him from that position Of neutrality
and indifference into a warm support
er OF the sitting member. n
The contract OF bribery was made
by the secretary of WaShburn's COM
mittee, UohnsOn:) in Washburn's Of
flee, in his presence, and under Cir
cumstances which create strong pre-
sumption that it came from Wash
burns pocket"
In the same case Ed. A. Stevens,
editor, testified:
"At that time my office was in the
same building with that of Mr.. John
son. In passing down the stairs on
the day following the election, or per-
hapS the next, | met gentleman
who said substantially: You ought to
hear Charley Johnson swear: There is
big crowd down below after their
pay, and Charley says-Major Hale
can pay his own hounds. u have all l
can do to pay those l hired myself"
Isn't this a nice fellow to act as
chief clerk of the Republican nation
al com mittee?