Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-28
NOMINATION OF SWAIN
Submits Evidence Taken by the Ju-
dietary Committee.
CALLS FOR FURTHER INQUIRY
Declares Plain Course Of Duty Is to
Investigate Appalling Dis
closures Made.

ate judiciary committee into the appoint
ment of c. P. Swain az United States
marshal for Delaware was laid before the
Senate today by Senator Reed of Mis-
souri,, in urging the passage Of his reso-
luton providing for an investigation of
the election of Senator du Pont Of Della
ware. Senator Reed insisted If this evil
dence were given credence the Senate
not only should investigate the 1910 cleo
ton, but should demand of the Delaware
senator an explanation Of his action in
recommending for appointment to the
high office of United States marshal a
man whom he knew to be engaged in
corrupt practices
L deem this to be my solemn duty"
said the senator, land shall be glad If a
thorough investigation results in COM
pletely exculpating the senator from
Delaware
The disclosures made by the witnesses
are of such character as to demand fur
Their Investigation. That investigation
ought to be courted by any innocent
man, and any attempt to evade an in
vestigation may be justly regarded as
inspired by fear of the truth.
Nomination of Swain.
January %, 1912. the President APP
pointed Cornelius p. Swain United States
marshal for the district of Delaware, and
sent that appointment to the Senate for
confirmation. With an alacrity which
was astonishing the appointment was
reported to the Senate by the committee,
and on the day 1t reached the, Senate
confirmed. Such. at least, is the news
paper statement.
o;xS
learned of the fact and protested to some
member or members of the Senate, with
the result that the action of approval
was rescinded. Thereupon, the matter
was re-referred to the committee, and
an investigation demanded by citizens Of
Delaware, headed by Willard salisbury.
was held.
These citizens charged % that Swain
bore the common and general reputation
of a persistent vote-buyer and election
cOrruptionist in violation of the laws Of
the state of Delaware: (2) that November
4. 1910, a meeting was held in the office
of Henry A. du Pont and T. Coleman du
Point, at which between fifty and sixty
thousand dollars was distributed for the
purpose Of corrnptinE the electorate Of
the state and that an additional $4,000
was to be given out on the Monday pre-
cedfng the Tuesday on which the election
was held: (3} that Swain took $1,000 of
this money in twenty-do!lar gold pieces
Philadelphia and changed into bills in
convenient form; that on election day an
Office was actually opened and q secre-
tary appointed. who kept a set of books.
and the money was actually paid out in
brides to the corrupt vote Of that pre-
cinet.
1T will be observed that these charges
relate alone to the fitness of Swain to
hold the position of United States mar
shall The committee. by repeated rul-
inss. limited the evidence to those acts
of corruption with which Swain could be
directly connected. BY express ruling, it
refused to go into the general scheme of
corruption which appears to have en-
braced the state.
Only Single Thread Traced.
Therefore. this Investigation repre-
single thread through a web of iniquity.
The only light thrown upon the conduct
of others is where that particular in
dividual came in touch with Swain.
Swain was, according to the testi-
mony, appointed at the request of Sena-
tor du Pont. and If 1t be true that Sena-
tor du Pont recommended him for ap-
pointment to the important office of
United States marshal for the state of
Delaware, a man whom he knew to be
engaged in corrupt practices relating to
elections, then he gravely offended
against this body by being instrumental
in bringing such an appointee before
the Senate for its approval
Senator Reed detailed and reviewed the
testimony given before the judiciary COM
mittee, declaring that as the record stood
there was unimpeached evidence that
thousands of dollars were distributed
from the Offices Of Henry A. and T. Cole
man du Pont to be used for corrupting
voters.
dence, assuming it to be true" concluded
the senator IF an investigation is had
and this evidence is dissipated or mega
tived, no man will be more pleased than
myself. But the Senate of the United
States in view of these startling and
appalling disclosures cannot afford to
close it's eyes to the plain course of
duty"