The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-27
A GROSSLY IMPROPER TRANS
ACTION


Considerable surprise, mingled with re-
gret. is felt among Illinois Republicans be-
cause of the recent disclosure of facts
which places Senator Cullom. of that State.
in a position that no public man should oc-
cupy. 1t appears that when Hon. John r.
office of Governor, became state treasurer
in 1887, he found among the assets promis-
sorry notes signed by Mr.. Cullom calling
for the payment of ST. 500. At hat time
Mr.. Cullom was senator. having been elect
ed in 1889. The notes referred to were dated
in 1877, when Mr.. Cullom was Governor C
Illinois. and had been carried along by diff
ferent state treasurers as assets. Mr.. Tan
ner declined to receipt for them as assets,
and after considerable negotiation two Of
friends of Senator Cullom. and before he
went out of Office Mr.. Tanner himself paid
the remaining notes, amounting to $1,000,
thus enabling him to present a clean bal
ance sheet, and subsequently presented
them to Senator Cullom. When this state
ment was brought to the attention of Sen
ator Cullom on Monday he said:
1t is a matter which does not call for dis
cussion. but since the story has been pup
lished the most l care to say is that back in
those days L became involved financially,
sold everything 1 had on earth to pay my
debts and borrowed more. | couldn't pay ii
all. and some of my friends were kind
enough to come to my assistance and lift a
Fart of the debt. / never considered L was
a borrower of state treasury funds, but
considered ii a matter in the hands of my
personal friends.
So far as | am concerned, anybody that
can show anything whatever in my public
or private career OF a dishonest or crooked
nature will surprise me. l have always
been thoroughly honest in public and pri-
waite life, and my record is as clear as q
whistle to-day. and it always has been so.
In my early lays as a lawyer / was
thrifty and saved money. When l ran for
Congress the first time l was ambitious to
carry the district, Lincoln's old home, and L
spent money freely. When / got into poll
tics / found / could not be a lawyer and a
politician too. and my income from law
business pretty nearly stopped. / could not
live on my income as a public Official.
While 1 was a congressman. though. | had
what L thought was plenty of money for
life. and | purchased d half-biock of ground
and built a fine house in Springfield. / in
vested money and it did not
come out to my advantage.
Again. when / ran for Governor. / spent
a lot of money, and the first thing 1 knew
| was i'm over my head. Then il was that
all this occurred. but am sure even my
enemies can find nothing in the entire rec
ord / have made that shows a single dis
honest action, and L am willing to stand on
the facts to-day. / am poor as a church
mouse to-day. and everybody knows Il. |
haven't a home in Springfield, or anywhere
else.
This amounts to al admission of the main
facts as stated. There is no denial of the
transaction with the state treasury and no
defense of it. except that when the loan
was made Mr.. Cullom had become involved
financially, could not live on his income as
"A public official and had to borrow money
There is not the slightest intimation tina
he ever intended to defraud the State. nor
did the State lose anything In the end by
the transaction. unless it might have beer
interest, all Of Mr.. Cullom's notes havins
been taken up by his friends after being
carried as assets by different state treas
urers for about ten years. Yet. although
there was no dishonest intent and tho State
lost nothing. the transaction admits of nc
| defense. The gross improperly OF any
State, making loans from the state treas.
ury. Is too plain for argument. Such ar
act by a federal official would be a felony
| and IL should be by a state official. Gov
| ernor Cullom's needs must have been press.
| ing indeed to lead him to place himself II
| that position. His assertion OF persona
honesty is probably correct, and his dec