The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1908-10-29
Alleged Letter of Candidate
Sherman Demanding S2o,-
900 Contribution Blamed.
RUMORS ARE STARTLING
Civil Service Man Makes Re-
port, but 1t Covers Only Part
of Charges Made.

The Evening World was to-day in
formed by a high official OF the United
States Government, a stalwart Repubh-
can, that President Roosevelt had re-
ceived two letters. ono with a fictitious
signature and the other anony-
nous. which, In substance, charged
that the Federal officials in the
New York Custom House had been
eoerced to contribute money TO the Re-
publican party, and that James S. Sher-
man. candidate for Vice-Pres!dent on
the Republican ticket, had sent letter
requesting a $4,000 campaign contrtbu-
ton from Deputy Surveyor william o.
Cloyes, the president of n secret organi-
cation OF Federal employees called the
United States Customs Inspectors Mu-
tusl Benefit Association.
TT was upon these letters that the
President ordered the recent investiga-
ton by National Civil Service Commits
noner H. f. Greene into the affairs Of
the New York Custom House." he
added. "One letter was written on
plain letter paper. and contained the
specific charge that the customs inspec-
tors of the port were compelled to see
a Mr.. Plummer in the Office of National
Treasurer Sheldon. No. Wall street,
and contribute IS each. This missive
was signed with fictitious name.
"The second letter was the most
Sensational, as II charged Mr..
Sherman, the Vioe-Presid enttal
candidate, with having requested
Deputy Surveyor Cloyes to send
him 100000. This money, IT was
alleged by the anonymous letter
writer, had been collected by the
United States Customs Inspectors'
Mutual Benefit Articulation from the
steamship lines entering this port,
BY . secret asssssment. The letter
was written on plain note paper,
and was in u different hnndw riting
from the one with the Fictitious
signature. feel confident both
misstves were written from the
Hoffman House."
Charge 10 Ignored.
In this connection an interesting state
msnt has been given out by the United
States Civil Service Commission. The
report exonerates National Treasurer
Sheldon from the charge Of attempting
TO collect assessments from the customs
inspectors. but It Ignores the charge
that Mr.. Sherman demanded So 100 from
Deputy Surveyor Cloyesi nor does the
report mention tho anonymous letter,
which was exhibited about the
New York Custom House by Ma
tioual Civil Service Commissioner
Greene during the course of his
four-day Investigation.
However. the anonymous letter was
not needed to call the attention OF
President Roosevelt and the Civil Ser
Woe Commission TO the charge that
Candidate Sherman tried to hold up the
customs inspectors OF this port for
10000. letter purporting TO bear Mr..
Sherman's signature and carrying this
demand for $4,000 is said TO have been
shown to Collector OF the Port Edward
s. Fowler. and Mr.. Fowlers counsel
Harrison Osborne. as long ago as the
twenty-fourth OF August.
Halted Secret inquiry.
II was on or about this date that a
secret investigation which Collector
Fowler and Mr.. Osborne had been con-
Quoting since June was suddenly sus-
pended. The Investigation was into a
charge that the customs inspectors,
through their benevolent organization
had been systematically receiving favors
from seyenty-two steamship lines on the
basis of q small levy on every piece OF
baggage brought into New York
The United States Customs inspectors
Mutual Benefit Association IL an organ
ixation of revenue service employees.
Il IL said to have been in existence for
many years. Deputy Surveyor Cloyes,
q veteran of the Civil War. who lives
President
When Collector Fowler was appointed,
November. 1907. he instituted many re-
forms In his department. In the course