Gilpin observer., 1911-02-23


had an axe to grind. 1t was busy
day for adventures and sharpers
Every device that human ingenuity
could invent was in vogue for money
making purposes. Men of respectable
ity when at home often turned crooks
after sojourning at the nations capi-
tol for time. The war had left it's
demoralizing influence upon many
and the opportunities for acquiring
wealth were numerous and varied.
For long time before General Grant
took his seat in the presidents chair.
there had been a looseness in the ad-
ministration of government affairs
resulting in organized frauds that
would not be tolerated in this day.
The Credit Mobiler conspiracy, the
whisky ring and many other monu-
mental steals were being carried on
in high-up Off cial and private circles.
The big fellows set the pace and the
smaller crooks lettering about the city
felt quite safe in taking hand in
what was going on. Some of the de-
vices resorted to by the lesser fellows
we're quite ridiculous. / will disinter
one of these schemes for the purpose
,f exhibiting the folly of some of the
Jlotters of that day.
Shortly after President Grants in
.luguration in the spring of 1873 he
sent messenger with a note re-
questing me to call at once at the
White House. On entering his office
/ found him at his desk. He pointed
to nearby chair and bade me be
seated. Reaching into drawer of his
desk he took out two long black
cigars. and handing me one of them
he bit off the end of the other and
put it between his teeth. Straighten,
ing back in his chair. the big black
cigar was pointed upward at an angle
of about forty-flve degrees. AS the
smoke curled lazily above his head |
saw that there was something in his
manner indicating that his usually
placid temper was riled. Picking up
a package of letters from his desk he
turned towards me and said: Here,
Colonel, is matter that needs your
careful attention. During the last
few, days have been receiving these
letters. l want you to make an in
vestigation at once. The persons en-
gagged in this work must be punished.
1t is an outrage. 1t is probable that
there is more than one person in the
scheme"
President Grant spoke with great
earnestness, and saw that he was
not little disturbed and that his idea
was to let no guilty man escape. The
circulars he handed me were printed
in letter form and had been sent
through the mails to many postmasters
throughout the south and west. The
circulars read as follows. ! give them
verbatim
Executive Mansion, Washington,
Oct. 18th. 1872.
Memorandum of conversation between
the president and his secretary
Secretary wish to refer this tele-
gram of Senator. Morton's to the
president.
70 the President:
conspiracy has been formed to
overrun southern Illinois, Indiana and
Ohio and to keep the colored vote
from the polls in the southern states.
Several thousand nonresidents will
vote in Indiana. Men and money are
needed. l send a man to you who has
been in their council
o. p. Morton.
President-Yes. have thought that
matter all over. and had a long talk
with the man the senator sent What
does Mr.. Cook say about money? You
know that we have none, and that the
committees means are all necessary
for the regular business
Secretary-Mr. Cook will furnish
you any amount you require.
President-Very well. will take
the responsibility. Have Captain
c. select a dozen men to go west
and south with funds and organize.
The mere fact of good organization
will deter lawless bodies from at.
tempting to defraud the people at the
polls.
Additional conversation, March cath.
1873.
Secretary-Mr. President have you
determined how you will reimburse
Mr.. Cook for the money furnished last
October?
President-Yes. have. The bishop
has suggested Rev. ]. Hale Barney 10
act as secretary In the matter An.
point him Immediately, and as our
mails are so large and go to clerks IN
be arranged and briefed before we
see them. you will have all letters on
the subject addressed to him. Call
upon our friends. and allow no one to
contribute over ten dollars, and. TO
prevent publicity and trouble, direct
the remittance to be made by q single
ten. dollar note. Registered letters.
drafts. or express would necessarily
tend to publicity. Mr.. Secretary, you
will make an alphabetical list of
every contributor. to which we can