[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie Daily News
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 12, no. 237, p. 1, col. 1-2
Halstead Testifies.
The Cincinnati Editor Tells
About the Ballot-Box
BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
How He Became in Possession of the
Forged Document and Why He Didn't
Publish All the Names — The Entire
Day Taken Up by His Testimony.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7. — Mr. Murat Halstead, editor of The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, was the principal witness before the ballot-box investigating committee yesterday. After Senator Sherman had testified that he had never signed any ballot-box contract, and pronounced his signature to the ballot-box paper a forgery, Bellamy Storer, who was an unsuccessful candidate in the last campaign, was called and gave unimportant testimony.
Mr. Halstead was then placed on the stand, he told the story of his connection with the forged paper in a dry, humorous manner, and brought out several laughs from his hearers.
After identifying the ballot-box paper, Mr. Halstead said he had first seen it on Sept 14, on the cars at Springfield, O. He met Governor Foraker on the train, and the governor showed him the paper, which he had obtained from Wood. The witness asked Governor Foraker how he obtained the paper and the latter implied that R. G. Wood had given it to him. They had some conversation previous to this about Wood and the latter's offer to get the paper. To Mr. Halstead's question as to where Wood had got the paper, Governor Foraker replied: "It came right out of John McLean's safe."
"How was this," asked the witness, and he was told that Wood was a party to the ballot-box transaction and had a right to the paper. The governor told the witness that the paper shocked him, and that it was much more, than he wanted. While Governor Foraker went forward in the train, the witness studied the paper. He thought that there were reasons why a person should attach some credit to the paper. In the first place, its execution, surmising that it was not genuine, was beyond the capacity of a man like Wood; and secondly, the signatures were either genuine or the work of an artist. It was the work of a lawyer and on artist.
The witness said he told Governor Foraker that in his judgment it certainly connected Campbell with a questionable transaction, and should not be concealed. He also said that he was exasperated at the idea that McKinley, Butterworth and others were connected with the matter; that he thought he would explode it under them, and that under whatever delusion others might have signed this paper, Mr. Campbell certainly knew all about it, for he had introduced the bill. Besides he was the only signer of the paper before the people for a public office, and his name, at least, should be published in connection with the transaction.
The only reason, Mr. Halstead said, why he thought at the time the paper should not be published in full was cause the name of S. S. Cox appeared on it, and on the day Governor Foraker gave him the paper Mr. Cox's funeral had taken place. Again, it would not do to use the names of McKinley and Butterworth during the campaign. Governor Foraker had finally given witness the paper, agreeing to let him have exclusive use of it, as the only person capable of handling it.
Mr. Halstead explained to the committee his theory of the forgery and Wood's motive in getting up the paper. The motive he believed was Wood's extreme anxiety to get hold of the smoke inspectorship. He was certain the paper was never intended to hurt anyone. It was utterly preposterous to think that Governor Foraker had any knowledge that there was any forgery.
He was certain that Wood had put Senator Sherman's name to the paper to keep Governor Foraker from using it during the campaign.
The witness explained how he came to make the paper public so soon in the campaign. He had intended to spring it about three weeks before the campaign closed, and afterward to settle with Messrs. Sherman, McKinley and Butterworth, if they could not explain their connection with the paper. A speech made by Governor Campbell at Pike’s opera house, in Cincinnati, in which he brought out the Topp letter was the direct cause of the early publication.
The Topp letter was a sore subject with the Republicans, and, besides, Mr. Campbell had indulged in some personalities concerning himself. The witness published an editorial card warning Mr. Campbell that he was concerned in a questionable transaction, and then, said Mr. Halstead, "I wasn't able to hold it back, and the paper got out earlier than I intended."
The witness said he was rather staggered at Senator Sherman's denial of any knowledge of the paper.
A recess was was then taken.
Mr. Halstead was recalled after recess, and his examination occupied the balance of the evening. Continuing his testimony, he said that Judge Harman had called upon him one evening and requested him to show him the forged paper he had received from the governor Foraker, as he thought he had testimony that proved it a forgery. He told them that he could not produce it that evening, as it was locked up in the Safe Deposit company's building for safe keeping. Later on, he said, that a young man named Davis came to his office and told him in an excited manner that all the names on the paper were forged, and that he traced them all with the exception of two, of which they had no copies, and these he filled in an best he could. This, he said, was done at the request of Wood. This convinced him that the paper was forged, and he immediately started out to get at the bottom, and on making inquiries was told that Mr. Hadden was probably the only man who could throw any light on the subject. Hadden was found, but he denied having any knowledge whether or not the paper was a forgery.
He then told the committee how he retracted statements made in former publications and pronounced the paper a forgery. He then read a letter from Senator Sherman, urging him to expose (through his paper) all those who were connected with the forgery. He also handed to the committee all the correspondence that had between Governor Foraker and himself in connection with the matter — a letter addressed to him by Gen. Grosvenor in connection with publishing the forged letter. It was passed to members of the committee and read, after which Gen. Grosvenor objected to it being put in the record. Gov. Foraker, who also read the letter, insisted upon it going in the record.
After more discussion it was decided to determine, in secret session, whether or not it should become a part of the record. When Governor Foraker gave him the paper, he stated that he told him that he had made all the use of it he could, and that he could have it. He also cautioned him to be careful of what use he made of it. He denied having any information, direct or indirect implicating McKinley, Butterworth, Sherman or others, in the matter.
The committee then adjourned for the day.
