Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-12
GAGE MIST co.

III auultlOn 10 the Qlr6cl ana over
whelming evidence against Gage of
favoritism for the Standard Oil Bank
and of his very shady transactions with
regard to the sale of the custom hQlse
property to that concern-not a cent of
the purchase money involved ever hav-
ing left the banks vaults to be covered
into the treasury as directed by law
there now comes upon the scene an al
legged letter from Vice President Hep
burn, of the institution, which, if au-
thentic, still more deeply involves the
administration and makes it clear that
the administrations remarkable favor
itism for this bank was for political SER
vices rendered by the owners of said
bank to Mr.. Mckinley in the campaign
Of 1896, and that Mr.. Gage was ap-
! preached for special favor for this bank
on that ground a year. and a half ago,
when these favors began.
The important letter in question
bears date of June 5, 1897, and has all
the ear-marks of authenticity. 1t was
sent to Congress Wednesday with other
correspondence from officials of the
Standard Oil Bank, and reads as fol-
lows:
1.-The National City, of which l recently
became vice president through the consol-
idation of the business of the Third Ma
tional Bank with it, is one of the banks
designated as a depository, and write to
request that in any changes which may
be made under the administration we may
not be disturbed in this respect. We
should like to remain a United States de-
posrtory. as at present. '
COT course, the bank is very strong, and
if you take the pains to look at our list
of directors you will see that WE HAVE
VERY GREAT POLITICAL CLAIMS IN
VIEW OF WHAT WAS DONE DURING
THE CANVASS LAST YEAR. Yours
very truly, A. P. HEPBURN"
Mr.. Hepburn does not directly deny
the authenticity of this letter, although
he says he doesn't recollect it, which is
quite likely in the case of a busy man
in. Wall street, who writes innumerable
communications in a year and a half.
He admits, however, that eff Mr.. Gage
has such a letter with my signature at
tached to it, it is but natural to pre-
sumo that / wrote it"
AT any rate such a.document is now
| jim the possession OF Congress, and
while it is not needed to strengthen the
case against the administration, it is
most damning evidep4e that the re-
markable favoItendered to this Stand
ard Oil Bankf ve,e rendered in. view
Of the fnGcy aid rendered edo Mr..
the Standard Oil crowd.
Even I've strongest administration
Origins throughout the country are now
deserving Gage and demanding his res
ignation.
But why shoulder all the blame on
Gage? What he did was not done for
himself, but for Mr. McKinley-the
President Of the United States-and
with his knowledge and consent and
doubtless at his instigation. The prin-
| cipal should not be allowed to escape
and the tool alone a mere scapegoat
punished. If Gage must resign Nc
Kinley should be impeached.
If the Senate is permitted to decide
the Scott case on its merits, which it is
not unlikely to do-for the Senate has
a habit occasionally of acting with re-
markable fairness and freedom from
partisan infiuences-there can be no
question that Mr.. Scott will be ousted.
The case against him is as strong as
any that ever came before the Senate.
The committee examining the evidence
Fels-Naptha soap is a won
der: it does what no one be-
lieves beforehand it washes
clothes by soaking a half
hour, then a little rubbing in