The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-11-09
A BIG STEAL
In Which The Presidents Brother
Had a Haul.
AGENT FOR CONTRACTORS.
His Houses Given Large Army
Contracts Over Lower Bid.
ders and the Government j
Was SWindIed.

The attack made by William Astor
Chanler, Democratic candidate for con-
gress in the Fourteenth New York dis
trict, on Abner Mckinley, the presi.
dents brother, in public speech
recently has been the subject Of much
comment among the politicians Of both
parties in Washington. Mr.. Chanler
IS man of wealth and position and is
responsible for his utterances.
While addressing meeting IN his
district he charged that Abner McKin-
ley had made pile Of money during
the war by acting as attorney for num-
Der OF clothing firms which had OBJ
tanned contracts from the secretary OF
war for supplying uniforms for the SOL
dlerS III Tie neld.
Mr.. Cnauler went on to say that ID
many cases, the clothing thus supplied
was made of cheap and worthless ma
terial which fell to pieces when exposed
to the rain. He insisted that it would
be the duty OF the next congress to IN
vestlgaue the methods by which these
contracts were awarded, and that the
investigation ought to be in the hands
OF Democratic committee.
1t has been a matter of common
knowledge in this city for more than
year that Apner Mckinley was doing
paying business by acting as attorney
for claimants and contractors IN the va
rious departments. He was formerly an
attorney at Canton, o., but soon after
the election OF his brother William to
the presidency he removed to NeY
York, where ne opened law Office IN
Wall street. About the time that
President Mckinley took hold Of the
helm Of state Abner Mckinley came
over to Washington and established
himself at the EbDitt house.
He remained IN Washington during
the extra session OF congress in the
spring of 1897 and returned here again
last tall. He was in Washington al
most continuously from the time con-
gress assembled last December until the
peace protocol with Spain was signed.
During the winter he had good deal
of business in the interior department.
In one mining case from Colorado he
received fee OF S2O,UU0 and he also
collected another princely fee for look
ing after the interests OF a wealthy
ranchman in New Mexico.
When the trouble with Spain began
Abner Mckinley transferred his atten-
tion to the war department. and 1t was
matter Of common talk that he ap-
peared as attorney Tor most of the sue
cessful contractors. Some time in May
last he was said to be interested in haV-
ing awarded to New York firm a con-
tract for supplying clothing to the
amount Of about S50,0OO. 1t turned
out after9ard that responsible Phlla-
delphia firm had submitted a bid Sl0,-
OUO less than that of the New YORK
manufacturers.
The Philadelphia concern threatened
to make trouble, but was finally 81
fenced with the promise that it should
have good contract for supplying
clothing as soon as another award was
made. The promise was kept and the
Philadelphia dealers secured an award
at even better figures than had been
obtained by their New York rivals.
This method OF paying hush money"
prevented the exposure Of gigantic scan
dal.
Mr.. Chanler seems to be on the right
track. Ii the bottom facts concerning
the awarding OF army and navy con-
tracts are ever brought to light they
will have to be dragged out by Dem
ocratic congress. An investigation BY
Republican house would simply mean
liberal application Of whitewash.