Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1884 — CALKINS ON “SOAP.” [ARTICLE]

CALKINS ON “SOAP.”

r From the LaPorte Argus.]

How the Republican Candidate for Governor Assessed Postmasters. GOOD READING FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORMERS. A WIDOW’S MITE. The practice of assessing Federal office-holders for the purpose of raising a campaign fund to corrupt the voters of the country has gone so far that the patriotic sentiment of citizens who are not hopelessly given over to party idolatry revolts at the process of paying men big salaries, drawn from the taxpayers at large, for the purpose of enabling party managers to assess them liberally for “soap,” to he used for keeping one oarty in power by enabling it ;o corrupt the ballot and thwart the real wishes of the people. The extreme to which this practice has been carried is illustrated by the exposures of Dorsey and his star route methods in the campaign of 1880. As a further illustration of these methods, and one which is especially worthy of consideration at this time, is the assessment made by Major Calkins on the federal officials of the 13th congress! on •»! district when he was a candidate for congress two years ago. The Argus gave the substances of one of these assessment letters at that time and stated that they weie being sent to all the office-holders of the district. We now have one of the original letters. It was writlen to Mrs. M. M. Duncan, who was then the postmistress at Westville, and who is a christain lady of spotless character. Her word

will not be questioned by anybody who knows her, and it will be vouched for freely by hundreds of people in LaPorte county. The letter is written on House of Representatives printed letterheads. Washington, D. C., is scratched and LaPorte written over it. The subjoined is Mrs. Duncan’s statement, as furnished to us direct and over her full signature. No further explanation is necessary, unless it be to say the “Esq.” and the “Dear Sir” of the letter were evidently the work of a clerk in his routine duty of sending out the assessment letters after a general copy furnished by Calkins, but the signature is plainly genuine and will not be denied. mrs duncan’s statement. To the Voters of Indiana, and all others interested: I wish to make this statement, to the honest chiistain men and women of Indiana for their consideration before the election that is now pending: I am a widow, now 63 years old. In 1882 I was postmistress at Westville, LaPorte county, Indiana. I received the appointment through Gen. Packard, who was then our congressman, and in the effort to get it was actively assisted by my many Christian friends. During the campaign of 1882 I received the following letter from Major Wm. Calkins: THE ASSESSMENT LETTER. LaPorte, Ind., Sept. 26,1882. M. M. Duncan, Esq., P. M., Westville, Ind.: SiR:-Inasmuch as the expenses of the. congressional campaign will be very great, and my opponent will exp md a great deal of money, I shall be glad if you will contribute to Mr. Aaron Jones, Chairman of the (’ongressional Committee, at South Bend, the sum of $12.00 to be used for legitimate campaign expenses only. In order to be of any use, the money should be sent immediately. Yours Respectfully.

W. H. CALKINS

When this letter came to me I was very much surprised, for I had never been assessed by a congressman before. I was especially surprised because Major Calkins knew my circumstances. He knew that I had no male relative living, and that I had an aged mother then past eignty years old to support and also had to siippoit a grown daughter, who was an invalid, and two small grand children. This was no easy task for a woman of my age, with no property in the world but a little home, and that under a mortgage. Under these well-known circumstances I think I had cause to be very much astonished when I received such a letter from a man that was getting five thousand dollars a year from a generous government. To ask me to divide my little salary of three hundred dollars a year with him for use in politics was more than I could understand to be right. It was impossible for me to pay the amount asked at that time, and he said “it must he paid immediately” to do any good, I did not send the $12.00 In March, 1883, I heard that I was likely to lose my postoffice because I had not paid my assessment. This news came through two or three of Major Calk in s’ (especial friends, and I feared it might beitrae. As soon as this was known my friends circulated a paper remonstrating against any change in the post office. The paper was signed by 206 patrons of the office, although only one day was given to the work of circulating it. It was sent to W ashington by the first mail, but it seemed to avail nothing, and a new postmaster was appointed without the knowledge of the general pub-

lie. Myself and unfortunate family were turned out almost on the charity of the world. I then had no way to save our little home, and to save further cost and trouble I deeded the property back to the man who held the mortgage. I paid in principal and interest about $1,400 on our home, and lost every cent of it. lam now livina in Chicago, working very Hard, and keeping boarders to support my family, my aged mother and invalid daughter still being with me. I write this letter to let the people of Indiana know the kind of a man the Republicans have nominated for Governor. 1 have always been a Rebubliean and am still in sympathy with that party, hut I do not feel that the people of Indiana would vote for Major Calkins if they understood how he has acted. 1 have always been aided in various ways by my Methodist friends, and I especially ask all cliristain people to read and believe my statement in regard to this whole matter. If anybody doubts the truthfulness of what l have said I refer them to Dr. T. Fravel, David Herald and James Sanders all residents of Westville, LaPorte county, Indiana. I have sent the original letter that I received from Major Calkins to H. E. Wadsworth, editor of The Argus, at LaPorte, Indiana, and requested him to keep it where anybody who wants to can see it. I hope if there is anybody who doubts that Major ■ alkins assesses office-holders, even if they are poor widows with large families to support, they will go and see the letter over his plain signature and written on government paper.

M RS. M. M. DUNCAN.

Chicago, August 1, 1884.