The times., 1898-11-04
DEMANDING THH MONEY
Government Clerks Bled by
Mark Hanna's Agents.
TO FOOT CAMPAIGN BILLS
Must Pay Be DischnrE,ed-The
sumo Old Republican Tricks-AI-
legged Sound Money Clubn-Saint
Judson-"Fishy" Bowers-Yielding
q Dead Letter.

furnished daily, almost hourly, with ample
grounds on which to base an investisa-
ton into the open violations of the civil
service laws relating to the levying of
contributions for campaign purposes,
which would embrace every Government
department In Washington.
For the past two months the financier-
ing genius of Marcus Alonzo Hanna, of
Ohio, Fides Achates to the President. has
been the energetic center of radiating sa-
teliites who have bent every effort to-
ward the accumulation of funds from
those who were not in a position to re-
fuse and as a result donations, really ex-
torted from Government clerks, many of
them unwilling and unable to give the
money, have been pouring into the cam
paign Golfers of the Republican party in
every Stale in the Union.
There have been open demands, but the
hints thrown out in circular form by
the various fake sound money and Re-
publican clubs. one from each State.
which have established temporary head
quarters in Washington, are palpabie-
There have been no threats of dismissal.
in so many words but the water-marks
of insidious suggestion have shown be-
tween the printed lines so plainly that
the densest mind could not fail to com
prehend And the fact that they have
comprehended and taken the hints TO
heart is shown by the number who have
deprived themselves of some little neces-
sary or comfort in order to give s. or $40
10 the Hanna Republican fund.
Sex Not Considered.
These circular letters, copies of which
have been forwarded to the Civil Service
Commission and duly considered. have
been sent TO nearly If not quite. every
Government officeholder in Washington,
regardless of sex. The men are. in effect,
ordered TO contribute TO the campaign
fund by joining some so-called State Re
puD.lcan cub or sound money club. and
TO go TO their voting place, II they have
one and vote. The women are told OF the
necessity for energetic efforts on behalf
OF the Republican party by everyone re-
gardiess of sex or occupation, and are
requested to join the clubs. paying, of
course, the membership fee.
One of the most giaring instances of
this fraud is the Indiana Republican
Club" which has established headquar-
ters in the Pacific Building in this city.
Ii has a fiduciary agent there. who re-
ceives applications for membership, ac-
companied by fees, which are sent TO him
in response to the threatening letters sent
TO the clerks.
Solicitors are also employed by this
club, who follow up the work commenced
by circular, If the latter is slow in pro-
ducing a result. In nearly every case the
recipient of the letter has contributed
either S for half-year membership or 80
for a full year and whether the unfortu-
nate Republican could afford II or not, he
has meekly gone home to cast his bal
lot
The Indiana Republican Club" at
least has not confined its circulars to
clerks in the employ Of the general Gov
ernment. The District government con-
stains number of voters from various
States, and these have been the object of
considerable attention by this club. One
instance which came to the attention of
Times man yesterday was that of a
clerk in local government employ, who
had received the circular from the In
diana Republican Club"
Ordered Home to Vote.
His name had been given as native of
that State. with right to vote there,
and in a diplomatic and carefully -worded
letter, signed by the financial agent Of
the club, he was requested to go home
and vote. The letter set forth pathetic
ally the bitterness of the campaign which
is now raging in the State and the coun-
try in general, and pointed out the ne
cessity for supporting the President in his
foreign policy by the election of a Repub-
lican Congress to back him up. Patriot
ism, pride, and party principle are ap-
pealed 10 for the vote and personal infiu-
ence of the individual
Then comes the suggestive part of the
letter. Ii states that the Indiana Re-
publican Club has been reorganized, sets
forth its purposes. and the price the clerk
viii have to pay for the privilege of earn
ing his living. For membership for half
a year s. Is asked; so pays for a full
year. Minute directions are given as to
the payment of the money. the club be-
ing willing to send a solicitor after 1t In
case the recipient of the circular cannot
give ii directly to the secretary.
No other alternative is suggested how
ever. and the Government empioye has
only to make up his mind whether to
call on the secretary. in the Pacific Build
ing. or wait until he is called upon BY an
agent of the club. And then, after these
directions have been given with the ut
most mInuteness, the circular says:
''Will you send in your contribution
now?''
In every case that has been found sc
far the recipient of these circulars, aftel
carefully and thoroughly considering
them. has decided that he would send hi.
contribution Immediately. The employt