Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1877 — HAYES AND CHANDLER. [ARTICLE]

HAYES AND CHANDLER.

How tho Poverty-Stricken Presidential. Candidate Raised Money for the Campaign in Ohjo-A Little Inside History. [Columbus (O.) Cor. New York Sun.] The Sun did a good thing when it gave to the country the history of the two $5,000 checks paid Chandler to R. B. Hayes last fall, to help carry Ohio. But behind that is a little private transaction which will further illustrate the magnanimity and consistency of the fraudulent President. During the campaign of 1875 the Ohio Executive Committee incurred a debt of SI,OOO. It was the campaign which elected Hayes Governor, a campaign toward which he subscribed nothing, although repeatedly appealed to by members of the », who had in several instances become personally responsible for money paid out in his behalf. Of this Executive Committee ex-Secretary of State A. T. Wikoff was Chairman anil George K. Nash, the late Republican candidate for Attorney General of Ohio, a prominent member, both shrewd and able men. When the canvass for Presidential nominees waxed warm, and it became apparent that the strong men of the Republican party were killing off one another in the free fight inaugurated, and that some negative man, an expert in “ the chuckling grin of noodles,” would be tlie compromise candidate, these two worthies agreed upon a plan whereby their little debt might be wiped out and themselves cared for at the same time. They would secure the nomination of Hayes, whose qualifications, of the order requisite, none could gainsay. At a formal meeting of the Executive Committee the plan was proposed, but was coldly received, few present having any confidence in Hayes’ willingness to do" anything for anybody which might in any way draw upon his pocket. Hayes’ penuriousness is something appalling, reaching even to the smallest every-day transactions. The questions fairly presented were ; Will Hayes, if nominated, pay all expenses attendant thereupon ? And, if nominated, will he pay off our present indebtedness and subscribe Überally to the campaign besides ? Upon these questions there was but one affirmative vote. Even Wikoff would not vouch for Hayes’ likelihood to pay this small price, in greenbacks, for gratified ambition. Filially, George Nash, who had had some conversation with Hayes, and knew how anxious he was to secure the nomination, arose and guaranteed in the name of Hayes all that the committee asked. At the proper time Capt. Wikoff and his committee went up to Cincinnati and hired imposing headquarters and a big brass band. Nick Longworth’s cellars were also levied upon, as well as the various supply depots of Kentucky Bourbon. The outlay was considerable, but the result stupendous. Returning from Cincinnati the ruddy Wikoff and the bland George Nash waited upon Mr. Hayes at the Governor’s apartments. R. B. shook them all around, when, congratulations over, Mr. Nash conveyed to him, in his modest way, the object of their visit. “ The committee has had the matter under advisement,” said Mr. Nash, “and think you should be assessed to the amount of SIO,OOO. This will cover debts already contracted in your behalf, and form the nucleus of a fair campaign fund.”

Hayes hummed and hawed, talked of civil-service reform and the possibility of carrying elections without money, and finally positively refused to be assessed for any purpose whatever. Arguments and appeal were plied in vain. The only result of the interview was the extortion of a promise from Hayes that he would pay the SI,OOO debt incurred by the Governor’s election. Wikoff, as Chairman of the committee, was thus left responsible for the entire expenses of the campaign which nominated Hayes for the Presidency. It will be seen further that Hayes did not wholly ignore this debt, but, in the interests of reform, paid it, not from his own pocket, but giving Wikoff the •ffice of Commisftfoner of Pensions, which he now holds at this place, worth about SIO,OOO per annum. About the time of the visit referred to, Hayes, in order to give the country an example of civil-service reform, as advocated in his letter of acceptance, asked Capt. Wikoff, then holding the office of Adjutant General of Ohio, to resign that office until after the Presidential election, that he might consistently give his full attention to the interests of the campaign. “ You will be reinstated after the tion,” remarked Hayes, “and your resignation will afford me a strong card in the coming canvass, as it will go to the country that I caamot consent to your holding a Government office while the acting head of a political organization. ” It was thus agreed that Wikoff should resign, and that Karr, First Assistant Adjutant General, should be temporarily appointed in WikofTs place, which programme was Ijjerally carried but. Wikoff’s resignation, at Hayes’ request, was heralded abroad as a noble example of Hayes’ honorable intentions and exalted probity of life and character. It was a bedizened show, but it had its effect. Wikbff ran both offices as usual, employed the sendees of the clerks of the Adjutant Geiferal’s office for political work as usual, and when the campaign was over was reinstated, as per contract, Karr going back to his former position as first assistant. Hayes’ refusal to subscribe to the campaign fund made itself felt everywhere. Many of the old reliables, following his example, withheld their subscriptions, and it was difficult to raise money enough to run the ordinary machinery of the campaign.

Hayes, whenever appealed to, advised a reliance upon the great moral engines of reform and the bloody shirt; but, finally, he became convinced that Cincinnati and Cleveland were not to be carried without a mild application in the way of greenbacks and national-bank notes. The committee then, at Hayes’ suggestion, applied to the National Republican Executive Committee for an increase of funds. The answer was laconic: “ Let the Ohio candidate take care of Ohio.” Then it was that Hayes, in the name of the oppressed Republicans of the South, in file name of the poor colored men, in the name of party loyalty and devotion, wrote to the Hon. Zachariah Chandler for assistance and aid. “ I am a poor man,” added R. 8., forgetting the comfortable thousands of Uncle Birchard’s will, “and I have mortgaged all for the redemption of the Republicans of the South.” It was enough for the saintly. Zachariah, He made out the checks and

passed them over to Hayes, by whom they were passed along to the Ohio committee, and usM to colonise Kentucky negroes in Cincinnati, to carry that town for Hayes and reform.