Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1880 — BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION. [ARTICLE]

BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION.

Attempt of the Maine Republican Leaders . te Bribe Members of tbe Legislature—lndisputable Evidence of the Damnable Scheme. The subjoined affidavits require no comment. They tell a story of attempted bribery and corruption by the leaders of tbe party of great moral ideas in Maine that no pen-coloring can exaggerate or magnify. The hand of James G. Blaine is plainly at the bottom of this dirty business. Indeed, it is openly asserted & the capital of Maine that the bribe-money can be traced, right into the house of that “honorable man” and representative Republican. Following is the affidavit of Thomas B. Swan: I, Thomas B. Swan, of Minot, hereby on oath make the following statement: On the evening of tho sth of January I was informed by a reliable person that he had been offered £I,OOO by one of the agents of the Republican party to resign his position as Representative to the Legislature of Maine, and not act with the Greenback or Democratic party. I therefore consulted with the leading members of the Greenback party, and informed them I would have it hinted to said agent that my resignation could be effected with money, and if I was offered the #l,OC<) I would take it and sign the papers that they Bhould request, and then expose their slan5 lan to defeat the will of the people by bribery. ‘he party whom they endeavored to bribe on the bveniDg of the sth was informed of said plan, and naif past 10 o’clock on the 6tn was appointed for me to be at tho Court House, sign the resignation, and other papers. I went there at the time appointed, and met the agent whose name I now snpprees. A trade was made, and said agent paid £I,OOO in cash. Said agent informed me they had got three of bur men to remain away from the House of Representatives, so we could not have a quorum E resent. I was required to copy in my own and papers which they had prepared before I came to said Court Honse for my signature.- I now have the £I,OOO iu my possession, and have shown it to several parties. Thomas B. Swan. Augusta. Jan. 6,1880. Kennebec, ss., Jan. 6,1880. Personally appeared Thomas B. Swan, and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true. Before ine, E. H. Gove, J. P. and Q, for the State. Augusta, Jan. 5,1880.

I, Thomas B. Swan, in the presence of Hon. Solon Cnase and Hon. E. H. Gove, make the following statement: I nave this day been approached, by an agent of the Republican party, to resign as a Representative, for money. I am going to take tho money to-morrow, and thus show to the people the fraud and corruption of the Republican party. I expect to have another party, also, take tbe money for the Bame purpose. Thos. B. Swan. This is a true copy of the paper I now hold, and which copy was made and signed near morning, Jan. sto 6, by Thomas B. SwaD, in the presence of Hon. Solon Chase and myself. Witness: E. H. Gove. AFFIDAVIT OF MOSER HABBIMAN. I. Mo3es Harriman, of Kennebuuk Port, on oath depose and say that, during the evening of Jan. 5, 183 i, I learned to my satisfaction that efforts were being made by Republicans to Dribe opposition members of the House to refuse to act, and thereby prevent a quorum on Wednesday. I therefore determined to test tho -question and get proof, if possible, to lay before the public and thwart the purpose of those who were resorting to such criminal means for the accomplishment of their ends. I managed to get id to communication with parties negotiating the purchase, and entered into an agi eement to meet a man, wfioso name I for the present suppress, at the Court Honse in Augusta at half-past 1 p. m., on Tuesday, and did meet him there at the time and place appointed, and there received from him £I,OOO in hand in consideration of my copying, in my own hand, and signing certain papers presented, declaring that I should not accept a seat in the House, disapproving of the action of the Governor and Council, approving the opinion of the Judges of the court, etc. I was also assured that after the Republicans succeeded in getting full control of the Honse I Bhould be seated and should be well provided for. He left the Court Honse to go after the money, said he wonld be gone half an hour, and would give a signal of three raps at tho door. He returned in just about that time and gave the signal. I unlocked the door, let him in, and he delivered tho money. I have shown the money to several persons, and now have it in my possession. I was told that the papers I signed would be published to-morrow morning. Moses Habbiman. Augusta, Jan. 6,1880. Btate of Maine, Kennebec, Jan 6, 1860. Personally appeared Moses Harriman, and made oath to the trnth of the above statement by him. Signed before me, E. H. Gove, Justice of tho Peace for the State.

We certify that Moses Harriman, of Kennebunk Port, exhibited to ns, thia Tueaday afternoon, a package of money and requeeted ua to count it Wo did ao, and made it 11 ,(,05, which he ,aid ho had received as set forth in hia affidavit. E H. Gove, .R. M. Spbixgeb. Auoupta, Jan. 6,1850. Positive Prool of the Attempt© I Bribery--Representative Swann’s Statement- A Disgraceful Exhibit ol Republican Methods— Blaine Implicated [Augusta (Me.)Telegram to Chicago Times.] The moat important matter befere the Maine House was the statement of four members that they had been offered bribes by agents of the Republican party if they would refuse to serve as members of the House and sign a document denouncing the action of the Governor and Council. Immediately after the reading of the journal Mr. Thomas B. Swann, member from Minot, in Androscoggin county, rose to a question of privilege, and addressed the House. Mr. Swann is a young lawyer, a member of the Androscoggin bar, and is highly respected by all who know him as an honorable and conscientious man, who would do nothing contrary to the dictates of right and justice. He clearly defined his position in regard to the case of bribery, in which he acted an important part Few spectators were present during bis speech, There were one or two Republican politicians present, who were astonished by the charges preferred by Mr. Swann. When he announced the name of the man who paid him the money the stillness of death reigned. Men looked at each other in blank amazement, and mentally asked the question: “Can such a state of things exist in the law-abiding State of Maine, or is this man simply telling a story for partisan effect?” But Mr. Swann’s open, honest face; his plain, convincing language, created an imSrossion etrongly in his favor. Following is le text of Mr. Swann’s speech: The press of the Republican party makes charges against me reflecting upon my honor and integrity in relation to matters connected with my position as a member of this House. I refer to the attempt to bribe me by an agent .of the Republican party. I -will briefly refer to the mam facts connected with this afTair: I came from my home to this city, Saturday, Jan. 3. 0n Monday following rumors were afloat that men had been offered money to absent themselves from the House of Representatives, so that no quorum would be present on the first Wednesday in January. Later in the evening of Jan. 5 a reliable person, who is now a member of this House, informed me that Waliaoe R White, of Wmthrop, had called upon him and offered him #I,OOO in cash to deliver up his certificate and resign as a member of the House, which he had refused to aocept, and that said White informed him that he wanted three more men to resign, and re- ? nested him to see me. Upon this information went at onoe to the Augusta House and found Hon. E. H. Gove, Secretary of State, and told him what I knew about the matter. Gove and myself then went out and found Solon Chase. In their presence I hastily drew and signed an affidavit embodying my statement of the bribery. I then went and requested the gentleman who bad been offered the #1,00(1 to see White in the morning, and inform him that I would resign for#l,ooo. He saw White next morning. White sent back a request for me to meet him at he Court House at 10:30; a. m. I wtnt there at about that time and met White, who took me np stairs into a corner room. He then showed ms a statement, as follows: Auoosxa, Jan. 0,1860. So the Chairman of the Democratic and Greenback Canons; __

After in attire deliberation I have concluded that it ia my duty as a citizen to obey the laws as they are conatraed and decided by the Supreme Judicial Court I cannot, therefore, lend my aid to keeping ont of their seats Republican Rep res- ntatives-elcct whom the Bupreme Court have declared entitled thereto. I therefore give public notice that I will not participate in the organization of the House, being fairly and fully determined te obe. tie mandate of the court. To resist that mandate is revo utlon, destructive both to my party and great Interests of the Stats. Thomas B. Swann. He informed me that I should have to write a statement like it, and sign the same; also sign the resignation, and deliver up my certificate to him. He Baid they ehoufa not want to use the resignation, but wanted it to show that I acted in good faith, and that after the House was organized I could take my seat, and that the Republicans would put me npon important cemmittees. I informed him that I would sign the paper, and he said that he had to go and get the money. Hs left the room, and returned in about twenty minutes, and said it was all right. He then read to mo and I signed in my own hand letters to the Chairmen of the Democratic and Greenback oommitteoe. He also read a resignation, which I copied. 1 then put said papers, without my signature, into my pocket. We tnon counted the money and fouud it correct I then tigned the pavers and took the money. He said he wanted some more men, and wanted to know if I knew of any he could get I told him I thought he could get Hamman, of Kennebunk. He told mo to see him, and come with him at 1:30. 1 then left and called at the Augusta Houso to see if I could find bnt did not find him. I then went to the State House and found E. H. Gove, and made the following statement: I, Thomas B. Swann, in the presence of Hon. Solon Chase and Hon. E. H. Gove, make the following statement: I have this day been approached by an agent of the Republican party, to resign as Representative, for money. lam going to take the money to-morrow, and thus show to the people the fraud and corruption of the Republican party. I expect to have another party also take money for the same purpose. Thomas B. Swann.

I went to the Augusts Houso and found Harriman, told him what had taken place, and he ■greed to ge with me at 1:30 and take the money and expose the fraud. I went to my dinner, and then returned to the Augusta House, where I again found Hairiman, and, not far from 2 o’clock, we went toward the Court House. Before we reached it I showed him White standing on the porch. White went into the buikliDg and. so did Harriman. As I passed by the Court House White stuck his head out of the window of the qame corner room and motioned to me, and I answered the motion with a nod of my head. I then went to the Granite National Bank, taking the money which White had paid me, and bought this draft on Boston. Ido not claim this money, and it is subject to the order of the person who furnished it. In the presence of the members of this House, I solemnly assert that, as true as there is A God that controls the destinies of men and of nations, Wallace R. White paid me at the Court House, in this city, the sum of SI,OOO, with the intention on his part to bribe me from taking my seat in the House. The work by which I exposed this plot was not of a kind that I craved to do, but when 1 knew that it was the intention of the leaders of the Republican party, by bribery more dark and damnable thai was ever recorded upon the pages of history, to defeat the organization of the legislative departments of our Government, I considered it to be my duty to do everything vrfiieh laid in my power to expose this great crime 6f crimes. Whether I did right or wrong ia for you to determine, and I ask that a committee may be appointed at once to investigate this matter.

After the conclusion of Swann’s remarks Moses Hairiman, of Kennebunk Port, York county, made his statement, corroborating explicitly the story of Swann, and exhibiting as proof the identical roll of bills, $1,500, which he received from Wallace R. White, the same man who paid Swann, the House appl&udiug. The Speaker called for order, declaring such a shameful story ought not to be so received. In an impressive manner Harriman called upon God to witness the truth of his statement as to the facts and his intentions when receiving the money. James R. Clark, member from Nobleboro, said that he was offered by an agent of the Republican party the sum of SI,OOO in money and a position under the United States Government, and the place for another also at his disposal, if he would return his certificate and publish a card denouncing the action of the Governor and Council. He refused the offer with contempt. Mr. Alfred Cushman, of Bherman, stated the fact that he had likewise been offered a bribe if he would leave Augusta and go to his home before the organization of the Legislature, it is understood that as many as four more caees are known and will be developed before the investigating committee, ishioh has been appointed and will proceed at once to an investigation. The proofs, it is alleged by the Fusionists, are convincing and complete, and it is asserted that two United States Senators will be implicated before the matter is ended. Republican politicians here say Swann has shown himself a knave beoause he took the money from White, and that he should have spumed the money with contempt; but in the minds of the opposite faction Swann and Harriman are justified by the fact that they received the money for the express purpose <ff exposing the guilty ones and bringing them to justice. The public announcement of the bribery matter before the popular branch has created the most intense excitement It is charged that, when White left Harriman in the Court Honße to go after money, he was followed down State street, and seen to enter Blaine’s house. Upon leaving it he went directly to the Court House.