The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-10-27
THE BOOMERANG
OF DEMOCRATS
iianna's Alleged Promise OF Delivery
Of Union Pacific False.
DEMOCRATS ORDERED SALE
Entire Hallabaloo Made for Effect Only
No fsyors we're ShOWn to the he
organization Committee.

Washington, D. c.. Oct. 2s.-The hnaI
effort Of the democrats 10 prejudice the
people against the Mckinley adm4nAstra-
don and Senator Hanna has reacted
against them and their own party with
great force and promptness.
This closing performance of the cam
palgn Of uncertainty in all things ex-
6ept abuse and malIgnity was the pub
Acatlon Of charge that in some mys-
/ terious way Senator Hanna had pledged
the sale Of the Union Pacific railroad
to syndicate of New York bankers
las; year. and obtained in exchange FOR
that pledge large campaign contribu-
/ tions.
/ That this statement is absolutely false
is 20 apparent that It's effect has al
ready been boomerang. 1t has re-
acted upon its authors and upon their
own party.
The reason Of this Is two-fold: First,
their statement has set people to look
ing UP the matter. and they find that
/ the sale OF the road was ordered by
democratic administrator, and that the
Z ,.-,.s.,,. .,a.,,fp{sera 49,, had r..hf. -
do but merely carry out the plans origi-
mated and practically completed by their
( democratic predecessors; second, that
these plans only provided for the sale OF
the road to the highest bidder. hence
( there could be no favoritism. The pre-
caution was taken to get an agreement
from certain parties that a certain sum
would be hd. In order to prevent its be-
ing knocked down at very low price.
but this ageement does not prevent 9TH
ers bidding, and 1t is now understood
that other bids will be made.
! ~ - mus apPaIeht tnat the entire
hullabaloo made by the democratic press
on this subje-; is merely for effect upon
voters in the coming election. knowing
Of course, that large share of the vot-
ers have not followed this question in
detail. and that they would not know
whether the statements were true or
false.
Attorney-General McKenna, whose IN
tegrity and high standing cannot be
called in question, said. in discussing
tho matter;
"The reorganization committee has ,,
no way been shown the slightest favor
or given the least advantage. The road
VIII be sold to the highest responsible
bidder. without any reference TO his per
sonality. If bid of $5l zoo. 900 is made
and the reorganization committee does
not increase its offer to s.2OOO,OOO. the
property viii go to the parties making
the new proposal. The guaranteed bid
was obtained to prevent the possibility
of disastrous loss. If this guarantee did
not exist, an opportunity would be af- |
forded for bidders to form a combina- !
tion and offer a comparatively low hgure
for the road
''rhe increase in the reorganization
committees bid is easily explained
Subsequent ITO the filing of the original
guarantee hid of A5,75lO5s a number of
overlooked contentious were discovered
These included the bridge across the
Missouri river at Omaha, and a number
of money Considerations. The brids.
mortgages amouted to about $1,000 600
the lien on the Omaha and Council Bluffs
division 10 more than s2.OOO,OOO and other
contentious brought the aggregate to
nearly A.OOO,OOO.
"In view of these contentious the de-
cree of the courts were unsatisfactory
and papers were prepared for an appeal
At that time the reorganization com.
mittee increased Its bid by $4,245,sf to
cover these additional sums. thus rails
ing the total bid to even $5OOOq.OOo In 4
all other respects the DEGREES were Just
and satisfactory"
Attorney-General McKenna expressly
stipulates that there was no formal
agreement made between the govern
ment and the reorganization committee.
The guarantee bid was arranged by let