Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-11-01
BUNCO GAME.
John r. McLean's Scheme to
Fool the Silver Senators.
HE WANTED THEIR VOTES
And Contributed" to Their Cause
to Beat the Gas Bill.
Cheapest Sort of Lobbying Done Among
Men Who Couldn't BE Pur-
chased Direct.
HE WANTED THEIR VOTES

Washington, D. c.. Oct. 25.-The re-
cent publications indicating that John
r. McLeans reason for wanting to go
to the senate is to have an opportunity
to control legislation in the interest
of his five million dollar gas company
and twelve million dollar street rail-
way, suggests some interesting politi-
cal-business-history in Mr.. Mclean 8
management of the senate of the Unit
ed States, even before his name was
mentioned in connection with the pres
ent senatorial fight, or in connection
with national candidates.; also his al
legged friendship for silver.
Mr.. McLean's alleged friendship for
the white metal has been the subject
of much curiosity among his business
and political friends. He is a shrewd,
able, successful business man, who has
| been and is successful, as shown by the
enormous wealth which he has accu-
mulated in short life. He is not only
millionaire, but a multi-millionaire;
monopolist and "plutocrat," if you
| please, and he has made his money
through shrewd business transactions.
The Milk In His Silver Cocoanut.
The true reason, however, of his al
legged friendship for silver, comes to
the surface just now and Is very close
ly connected with his enormous Wash
ington interests, which were referred
to in the Ohio papers at length but a
few days ago. The story is an inter-
esting one and one which will interest
the voters Of Ohio of whatever party,
especially at the present time.
He Wanted to Control the Senate.
The senate is comparatively a small
body and is always the objective
point" with those who want to control
congress in negative way by merely
preventing the enactment of legisla-
tion-that is all that Mr.. Mclean wants
| Of congress. Like another distinguish
| ed person well known in politico-
| financial history-all he wants is to be
"let alone" His gas and street railroad
companies are doing we'll enough, thank
you, if they can only be let alone by
congress and not disturbed in their
business methods or the prices they
charge. So all that Mr.. Mclean need
ed was to control the senate in a way
to bring it to negative whatever the
house might do in the way of reducing
the price of gas.
How He "worked" the Silver Men.
There were silver men in congress
and their votes could control the action
of the senate OF the United States upon
any given question. The senate was
about to be called upon (as it is in
almost every congress) to vote upon
measure reducing the price of gas in
the District of Columbia. These sill
yer senators were men above reproach.
Had Mr.. Mclean, or any members of
his lobby approached them with bribe
or an offer of any individual gain as
result of their votes upon the gas
bill, he would have been promptly
knocked down and kicked out of the
lobby of the senate.
But there are various ways of doing
| things.
He Develops a Love For the White Metal.
There existed in Washington, two
or three years ago, an organization
called the Bimetallic league, Of which,
by the way, General Warner, whose
name has once or twice been muir
INJURED in connection with the senate
rial candidacy in Ohio. was president
The league" consisted of silver sena-
tors in question, few silver mine
owners and few paid orators and
advocates. It's business was to dis
seminate literature in favor of the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver.
There was no more earnest and en-
thusiastic member Of this organization
than the late Senator Harris of Ten
nessee, as sturdy and honest man as
ever set foot on the floor of the Unit
ed States senate. The man who would
have approached him with a bribe, or
hint of bribe, would have been in
danger Of his life. One day Mr.. Nc
Lean met Senator Harris on the street
and asked him, feelingly, about the op-
erations of the Bi-Metallic league. The
senator replied, with his usual earn
estness, that 1t was doing all 1t could
in behalf of the cause of free silver
bu! was sadly hampered by the lack
OF funds. Indeed" said Mr.. Mclean
$50 important a case ought not tc
lack for financial support. 1t is 6
subject which interests me greatly ant
one in which l have felt an intense
interest for long time. / should fee
gratified If could be allowed to con
tribute to the work Of your league II
the distribution of literature upon thi
subject"
Substantial Contributions to the silve
| Cause.
A convenient drug store was at hand
convenient check book in Mr.. Nc
Leans pocket, and in two minutes {
convenient check for $1,000 was place.
in the hands Of Senator Harris 70
the benefit of the Bl-Metallic league
Before the day was over there wa