The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-11

| pose. | knew that a meeting with him
would be construed false in those
exciting times. His agents kept the
trai! hot In hunting me up. They
attempted to bribe me In a diplomatic
manner. don't say that was offered
direct bribe. They knew me better
than to do that, but | do not hesitate
to say that | believe 800, 900 would have
been given me had changed my mind
in Hanna's favor.
You did not always have to bribe a
man with actual money. A man from
Canton, a friend of mine for many
years, came to see me. He was no
doubt authorized to act He approach
ed the subject warily, saying he cared
nothing for Hanna, but did care much
for me and my future. He was over
anxious about me for fear of my making
a great personal and political mistake
So he slid along easily in his CONVEX
sation, saying that could be United
States Marshal or revenue collector IL
| would only vote for Hanna. He ex-
planned that the Office paid $4,000 year
for four years.
"Then stopped him by asking If he
was trying TO buy me. He exclaimed
No. and l retorted that there was no
difference between an Office that paid
$40, 600 in four years and, $4,000 cash
paid down as direct bribe.
Another Canton man, Judge George
E. Baldwin, q longtime friend, also
called. 1t was wonderful how worried
all OF them were about myself. Bald
win is foxy, and he went at it in a reas-
suring, mild way, urging that McKin-
ley wanted Hanna, and that it was for
the party's good that Hanna should be
chosen. | often wondered why Bald
win did not deliver to me the letter
which President Mckinley had writ
ten. No doubt Baldwin had the presi-
dents letter in his pocket.
ut was directed to me, and I under
stand it was request from Mckinley
that vote for Hanna. l never got the
letter. After our talk Baldwin evident
ly thought it not worth while to hand
it over. learned that there was such
a letter from my friend, Prof. Beall, of
Scio college, who also came to convert
his representative.
"All this made me the firmer in my
resolution not to vote for Hanna.
$50 it went on and Hanna slipped in
with the votes OF Lane and Droste Our
side made the mistake OF not electing
the short term Senator the day we or
ganized the House. We could have
done that legally and had the voUes.
The delay gave the other side chance
to capture Manuel and Griffith. How
they were captured l can only guess,
only Griffith's wife remarked during
the events that if she had made the
bargain she would have gotten more
out of it,"
Then Mr.. Rutan went on to say what
is quoted at the beginning OF
this letter. He is undoubtedly
sincere in his opposition to Hanna.
He believes that his opinion re-
fleets the down deep opinion of Presi-
dent McKinleY's warmest friends.
There is no feeling of bitterness in the
Rutan heart toward Mckinley. There
is only regret that Mckinley allows
Hanna to dominate the White House
and ali the patronage. 1t is worth add
ing right here that Carroll county has
got nothing from Mckinley. 1t was
once in his congressional district, and
it got nothing then. Now, as then,
every Federal gift goes to McKinley's
home county of Stark. This state of
things may be resented when McKin-
ley's personal friend, Gill, wants votes
from Carroll county in the Martins
Ferry congressional convention.