The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-24

Hanna Controls Federal Patron
age.
The gravest scandal that ever be-
smirched a national administration has
recently been brought to light at Wash
ington. Immediately subsequent to the
adjournment of the national Repub-
lican convention last June it was boldly
charged. and not denied, that the sup
port of the southern negro delegates for
the gold plank was purchased and paid
for, like an article of merchandise.
Beyond question McKinley's election
was accomplished through the unscru-
pulous use oe an unlimited corruption
fund. And very recent disclosures now
seem to show conclusively that Nc
Kinley was nominated with the aid
of delegates whose votes had been pur-
chased and who had been bribed to
betray other candidates. This final
chapter makes complete story OF
shameful trickery and brazen fraud
without a parallel in the political his
tory of the country.
The present exposure occurs in con-
nection with the presidents determine
ton 20 appoint uhree certain men to
prominent offices. They are A. T. VIM
berley, Henry Demas, and Walter Co
hen. The offices which President Nc
Kinley intends TO be filled by them are
those of collector of customs, of naval
officer and of surveyor of the port of
New Orleans. The facts behind the
presidents determination to make
these appointments have been disclosed
in a series of articles published in the
New York World, newspaper that
eXerted all the influence at its command
to secure McKinley's election The
shocking charges are supported by OIL
cial documents on file at the DEPART
ments, by affidavits and statements of
prominent citizens of Louisiana, and at
this writing no administration organ
has Denied a single one of the accusa-
tions.
Here is the substance of the story,
with documentary proofs and corrob-
orative details omitted: In December,
1885, William Mckinley osborne, the
presidents cousin, was sent by Mark
Hanna to New Orleans TO capture the
state convention that selected delegates
10 the national convention. He arrived
incog. and conducted his operations in
secret. In order TO gain control of the
state convention il was necessary TO
first secure control of the state com
mittee, a majority of the members OF
which were negroes. The committee
men arrived at New Orleans several
days before the date fixed for the COM
mittee meeting, at which arrangements
were TO be made for holding the state
convention Upon their arrival they
held a caucus, which showed that
large majority were for the Reed Ali
son combine. When the committee met
it was for Mckinley by small ma
jority. During the interval between the
u, L.
Kinley Osborne, aided by A. I. VIM
berry and others. was able by some
means TO bring about this change.
OSBORNE PAID MONEY.
1t was openly asserted by the Reed
Allison Morton-Quay combine that Os-
borne personally paid money to col
ored members Of The state committee.
In several instances, it is said, the
members received 500 each, some more.
Some of them injudiciously. it is
charged, showed the money they were
given. Thomas z. Cage, Wimberly,
DemaS and others were openly charged
with getting money directly from Os-
borne and with having used it among
members. Concerning these charges,
the Republican. OF New Orleans, which
claimed to be the official organ OF the
Republican party, said:
we know in several instances where
money was used and TO whom il ~-5
paid. If Mr.. Wi,nberly, General Os-
borne, the gentleman above reproach.
or others, desire, the courts are open
to them for vindication of themselves
from the charges herein made"
This campaign of bribery was con-
tinued until the state convention and
all the district conventions had been
held. William Mckinley Osborne had
an abundant supply of money Chair
man Cage, of the state committee, has
stated that ii cost Cousin Osborne 5000
to fix that committee. and admits that
he received $1,000, his original choice
for president having been Reed.
THE BOGUS CONVENTION.
One district elected a Reed delegate.
This was a subject of regret to Cousin
Osborne. who had planned to have
Wimberly sent from that district, and
he sanctioned the plan of getting up a
bogus convention. Money was sent
carry out this noble scheme. Two car
loads of New Orleans roustabouts were
sent over from New Orleans as dele
gates" and these met in the basement
of the court house at st. Johns and
elected Wimberly as delegate to the ra
tional convention, by which he was
seated.
such success that Mckinley received
the votes of II of the 16 Louisiana
a. T. Wimberly and Henry
Demas were mis- principal lieutenants
in this nefarious work. Demas secured
election as a delegate by pledging him
self to support Reed. at q time when
he had been purchased by Cousin Os-
borne.
NOW COMES THE SEQUEL.
Cousin William Mckinley Osborne
has been appointed consul-general at
London, at q salary of $4,000 a year.
II has become known that ii is the /
presidents intention to appoint a. T. !
Wimberiy to the office of collector of |
customs at New Orleans, the most ]
lucrative federal office in the state; |
Henry Demas to the office of naval Of |
hcer, and W. A Cohen to the office |
Of surveyor of the port.
Wimberly is shown, by affidavits and /
official records. TO be a scoundrel of |
the blacklist character. According TO |
the statements presented his only occu- |
patton since he became a resident of 4
New Orleans, was that of a saloon 4
keeper in one of the most diSreputable /
parts of the city. and his patrons were /
Of the lowest class of black and white |
females. He has twice held office /
under Republican administrations. In /
1882 he was removed from the office of /
internal revenue collector by President |
Arthur for fighting and absenting him |
self from duty. In 1889 President Harri-
son appointed him collector of internal !
revenue and removed him for in /
and for completely with /
Demas and others in conspiracy to /
sell the Republican vote of the state /
legislature to the Louisiana lottery. /
,f 81, f,,ra fo- 70 ~