The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 19, 1899, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1Y, 1899 B took an interest in his has he not? to ning of the time when “ram the b t bega -"Senatorial aspira- n't believe the paper men- | rant- you know. €ald a kindly word of him until don’t think it did, until after the IS rial State conven- tion. 1 don't believe it s a kind word of him—I don’t believe w Mr. Brown, not advocate of Sena long which the minated were ant you for Governor A. Yes. You took was rt in the fight with ref- g a United States Sena did you not? ith © that purp which w : = of defea Ing a ern e for Governor, did you r A."Well, of naturally the Gov: nor—ghe sou 1 candidate for Gove ould be- e object d im of your paper ation of a south- order in that it t stand W { the se ator. Is the ger expres- f the sou we took er what you wrote 1 what you did S Grant Jr. as yous iator from the south? harmony in the Re- f Grant? t of a Senator > might be. r. Grant time Mr. Grant r have seen him win derstood between you it you would advocate from the be- r Senator, was under- own the d any I don’t u are editorial writer for the k-—Who owns the Wave? portion am part owner. sou any consultation with your Co-owner as ta the with reference to Mr. Mr. Chair- h. outh t paid matter Mr. did he not not. I ney f r, he has Mr. Green. tion did you become T of Mr. ( nt with ref- atorial ations? wer to this tend to eon- to secura Senator? scarcely, Mr. to permit the s of that ques- s campaign. ubmit to Green cond I is and purposes Vas anything said between yr :d legitimate pur- an idea. ave you kept clo of Mr. Grant hances he wouid 1 throughout the State Legislature. 1 figured men who osition to us. would not read to you wiil see t ced it I your answer is me asonabiy 10 We ominated in the ts of the State for the Leg- good general knowledge, close. several distri pi . you know I was a ; days during the I know them person- ent from ampalzn. such people as - THE EVENING SESSION. The committee met at 7:30 p. m. in room 14 of the Capitol. The following proceeding: had: Alden And £on, being d worn, testified as fol- lows: Mr, ceive ance from any one in nner to aid you in your ¢ ss or election to the Assembly? m? irom Milton J. Green." e the circumstances.” ou want the detail about five weeks before acquaintance I understand is an acquaintance of reen, came to me in my private of- isun, and after talking over mat- hat he was instructed by Mil Green to tell me that if I needed assistance in my campaign he was pared to furnish it, and said that M Green was working. in the interests . Grant s who was a candidate for | enator, and mentioned the o five hundred dollars that aflable if I wished it. I im- y told the man that he ought to have known me well enough to have told Green that T did not wish, nor would I receive, any such assistance from him or {rom anybody else. This man said that was what he had informed Mr. I thought mothing more of the but my business required me to "rancisco about once a week fall months. It seems to me about a week later when I was in ancisco [ stopped at the Grand Ho- On my return to the hotel, as near as 1 remember it. I found a card from Mr. 3 tying that he would ifke very see me on a matter of import- e, and, having a little time at my dis- posai, I went up to Mr. Green’s office, which is In tho Crocker building, directly has had the hearty sup- | the | vefore | T told him my people up there felt PYeS" | very kindly toward Mr. Perkins. And or | had kept close | of mine, | | | uta cépt the mone | went i self? | fore the electio: T opposite the Grand Hotel. I went into the office and Mr. Grant was in there. Q. Mr. Grant? A. Ang Mr. Green—and I forget; there were some other gentlemen there, but after a little casual talk | Mr. Green called me into his other | office, and, after a little talk, he | wanted to know how I stood on the | Senatorial question. I told him that id anvthing | My constituents, as yet, had no de- | cided preference. He said, “You are | very friendly toward Mr. Perkins.” he tried to persuade me that it was Mr. Perkins’ wish that Mr. Grant be | elected United States Senator from . numer- | Southern California, and he attempt- in the| ed to show me some letters, but I paid no attention to him, and he went - on and said he was lending some as- sistance to candidates and would like to assist me in my canvass. I told Mr. Green. as near as I can remem- | ber, or words to this effect, that he probably did not know me very well, | but it was no use to make that kind of a proposition to me; that when I could not go to Sacramento as a free { moral agent to act as I thought right and just for the best interests of the people that I went there to represent, I would not go at all; I was willing to be defeated. And with that I started to leave the room, but in the meantime Mr. Green had been fum- | bling at a drawer or something, and he stepped around in front of me and said, “You had better take this any- how.” He had a handful of $20 gold pieces, but I walked past him and went out, and from that day to this I have had no further conversation with him. But I immediately, when I got on the street, expressed myself to a friend of mine that never in any shape or manner would I vote, if my ivote was to be the deciding vote, for Mr. Grant or for any other candidate who used those methods to become elected United States Senator. Q. What is this man’s name that came to see you down in sun about five weeks before election? _A. Raymond Benjamin of Vallejo. I be- lieve he is in Sacramento at present. I have not seen him. Q. Since you came to Sacramento have you been approached in the interest of any candidate with improper influences? A. T e not in any way, shape or manner. Q. Is there anything else you want to E Mr. Anderson? A. If there is any question you can sug- gest. 1 do not know of anything by which 1 could make myself clearer. If Mr. Benjamin in town I would be 1 to have you subpena him and > him tell or make his statement. see. was not there some story fer of patronage? Have you offer? A. Never, in any way, shape or manner. Q. Did that agent in Suisun intimate that if you received that money it would a part of the expectation that you should vote for Mr. Grant? A. Well, I cannot rem consideration was expr but that was my underst. . And how about ber that that sly stipulated, nding of it. when Mr. Green t is as I say—I cannot say that it was expressly stipulated, but that is my understanding. 1 know that I felt ather indignant. I thought that my ion was such as to preclude aj offer being made to me. It made me reel at I did not care to remember anything bout it. Burnett—There was no one else in vith you when Mr. Green made A. No, sir. Mr. Lardner—Mr. Anderson, if you could any means have been tempted to ac- would you have felt that you would have been in duty bound to support Grant? A. Morally, I to have would have supported Grant; been bound ar enough if you could b ed to accept the money you would have been bound to have supported Mr. Grant? A. That was my understanding, yes. anford—When u visited Mr. office did you s that Mr. Grant ve been tempt- G ee was there also? “Well, he s in the first office when I in, but Mr. Grant never spoke to me about supporting him or any one else.” “‘He did not mention the matter him- ‘Not at all.” The chairman—Mr. Anderson, the time that Mr. Benjamin was at your of- i n, did you say? That incident occurred before your meeting with Mr. Green in Mr. Green's offic Yes. I would say probably a week be- fore. And what time was that with relation to the nomination In your Assembly dis- trict? As near as T can remember it was after the nominations. I know as near as I an remember it was about a month be- The candidacy, then, for the Assembiy | on your part was in progress? sir. the question of Mr. Grant's candi- dacy discussed by Mr. Benjamin to you and with you prior to any offer of ‘as- | sistance to you? Well, 1t all came in the conversation. But I would say here that Mr. Benjamin | was not acting as an .agen: He merely, T might v, as a mutuval quaintance, Of yours? Of Mr. Green. I am not much acquaint- °d with Mr. Green. Only met him gasuuv _ I did not know the gentleman much. You do not now remember whether any statement was made that Mr. Grant would be a candidate for United States Senator prior to the offer of as: in_your campaign? ‘Who by, do you mean? Afr. Benjamin. * A. Well, this all took place at one con- versation. Q. I know at the one conversation, but now, then, it seems to me to be important to know whether the question of Mr. Grant's candidacy had been discussed at all between you before any suggestion 2s made that you might receive finan- cial assistance. . . it was all covered. This financial assistance was a part of his candidacy as I understood it. order of events in that particular? A. Order of events—how do you mean? Q. Simply this: As to whether the ques- tion of Mr. Grant being a candidate was | discussed by you with Mr. Benjamin be- he suggested that you might get assistance? i A. Well, it was- all in the same—you | might say in the same breath. It was art of the conversation. He said that Mr. Green was his manager — Grant's manager—and he was the one that was willing to do the asslsllni, Mr. Mellick—How much gold do you think zou sakw'.' % A. I don’'t know. robably about §500. The chairman—Now, did Mr. Benjamin say anything at that interview as to what authority he had to speak for Mr. Grant? A. Well, he represented that he was— he spoke by Mr. Green's authority, but that he did so more at the request of Mr. Green than from any feeling or in- icrest he had in the mafter. As he ex- pressed it to. me, he told Mr. Green it wasn't any use of seeing me, as 1 re- erl’)?i‘;i“i: thi ; e say anythin thit Mr. Green had sent u to the effect m to you? | Sir. Yes; that is what T wanted. A. Yes! Q. Then he spoke directly as one who had come from Green to you at Green's suggestion? And at this interview later in Mr. Green's office was anything said by Mr. Green or yourself as to the fact that Mr. Benjamin had seen you and conferred with you on that proposition? A. T really do not remember. 1 do not | remember. Q. You do not remember that the inci~ dent occurring in the Suisun office was mentioned in the conversation fn Mr. Green’s office? A. No. Q. You felt that the condescension went | a You don’t remember now as to the | Q. Now, when_you saw Mr. Green and Mr. Grant together at Mr. Green's office, was Mr. Grant in the office at the time Mr. Green requested you to step into the other room? A. He was in the front office, Q. And after you got into this other room you and Mr. Green were alone? A. Yes. Q. What was the first suggestion made to you at that time? That Mr. Grant would be a candidate or that Mr. Green was in a position to assist you if you wanted assistance in your race? A. Oh, I think he tried to convince me first that it was Senator Perkins’ wish that Mr. Grant be a candidate and be elected. Q. That was before any offer of assist- ance? A. Yes, sir. Q. At that time in Mr. Green's office was any sum named that he would assist you with? A. Wi - , no, not exactly. Q. Was the difficulty of your candidacy expressed? A. By me? Q. Or by him. A. Oh, T never considered that I had a very hard fight. I do not remember; might have been something said casually. Q. What has been the condition of the votes of your Assembly district? A. Oh, under normal conditions I think it is Republican. Q. You had not at that time any fears otAdefeat? ® No, sir. . Did you so express yourself to Mr. Green? A. Yes. Q. At that time? A. 1 expressed it to everybody. And before the offer of assistance do you know? Yes, And he still insisted on assisting you, aid he? Offered me the money; I do not know what you would call it. Now, then, how much did he offer you as nearly as you can determine it. Oh, I should say from three to five hun- dred dollars was in his hand. In gold twenties? es. Mr. Anderson, in the conversation with Mr. Benjamin, or in the conversation with Mr. Green, was any statement made to you to the effect that Mr. Green was do- ing this as a common matter or doing it for any candidate? I remember of him saying that it was his intense desire to elect a Republican; that it was Mr. Grant’'s intense desire to elect a Republican Legislature that prompted him to do this for me. Did he say to you that he was assist- ing any other candidates to the Assem- bly or the Senate? Not to the best of my recollection at present. Do you know of any other persons who have been approached in like manner as you were approached? No, sir. Have you been approached in any mere- tricious’ manner by any other candidate or his agent—I am now Speaking of a can- didate for United States Senator, since your nomination? No, sir. Or prior thereto? No, sir. Can you point this committee to any evidence on any line through which they can obtain any evidence of any meretri- clous_action on the part of any canaidate for United States Senator? No, sir, Other than that you have named? No, sir. At 'the time of this conversation in Mr. Green's office did Mr. Green say to you that this was with the knowledge and consent of Mr. Grant, or anything to that effect? That he approached me individually? Q. Yes. . Yes. A. No; I rather got a sense of feeling that he was doing it all around in order— the impression that he wanted to give to me by his words, not by his actions, was that it was his intense desire to elect the whole Re%uhlk‘an Legislature and he was afraid if he did not help them why they would not be elected. Q. Did he tell you whose money he was offering you? A. Well, 1 did not give him time after he offered me the money. Q. Did you know whose money he was offering you? A. My understanding was that it was Mr. Grant's money. You might state to the committee how you obtained that understanding. A. Oh, T have been telling you the ar- gument that he went Into to prove that he was interested in Mr. Grant's candi- dacy, and that Mr. Grant was a cana.date and that he would do all in his power to elect a Republican Legislature. Q. Has any candidate now before the Legislature of this State for the United States Senate offered you any inducement directly or indirectly other than that you have named, personally or through his agent, to vote for him? A. No, sir. Q. That includes, also, the matter of any patronage that might be offered you— you understand it that way? A. Yes, sir. No way, shape or manner. u point this committee to any ,"direct or_indirect, where any candidate for the United States Senate now seeking the votes of this Legislature has used the matter of patronage as an inducement? A. No, sir. The chairman—Has any of the commit- tee any desire to ask any further ques- tions? That is all, Mr. Anderson. HOWARD E. WRIGHT ON THE STAND Howard E. Wright was sworn. The chairman—You may state your name to the committee. A. Howard E. Wright. Q. What relation do you bear to the sembly of this State? A. I am Speaker of the Assembly. Q. From what district were you elected to the Assembly? A. Fifty-first District. Q. Where Is your residence? A. Berkeley, California. Q. Are you acquainted with one W. 8. Leake? A. Yes, sir. Q. How long have you been acquainted with_him? A. For three years. Q. Is he the W. S. Leake who manager of the San Franciaco Call? A I wish to correct that. is the For ars 1 have known him. o you know Milton J. Green? . Intimately. . How long have you known him? . For several years. . Do you know Ulysses 8. Grant Jr.? . Slightly. . Do you know that he is a candidate for election to the office of United States Senator before this Legislature? A. I do Q. How long have you known that he would be such a candidate? A. About_four or five months. Q. How did you first learn that fact? A. By seeing hid§ name mentioned in the newspapers. Q. Have you had any conversation with Milton Green concerning Mr. Grant's can- didacy? A. Not much. Q. That would involve the idea that you have had some? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you remember the time, place and occaslon at which you first had a conversation with him regarding that matter? A. Yes, sir. One dsg in the Palace Ho- | tel. T have been in the habit for several years of meeting Mr. Green on the boat, oing to the elty with -him, and I met im one day in the Palace Hotel, when he asked me to step around the corner and shake hands with Mr. Grant and, intro- duced me to him at that time, and told me shortly afterward that he was a can- didate for United' States Senator, and that Senator Perkins had requested -him (Mr. Green) to assist Mr. Grant in his campaign. Q. Did Mr. Green at any time offer to assist you in your candidacy for the As- sembly ? 5 A. Yes, sir. Q. Financially? A. Yes. Q. You may state to the committee the time and occasion and the persons pres- ent. A. In September, some time precedin, the primaries in Alameda County, 1 vmg engaged in advancing my candidacy. On account of the intense bitterness accom- anying the candidacy of several of the ocal county officers the district, which ordinarily would be in my favor, was in danger, and I saw that in order to elect delegates that would be favorable to me I should have to make a_strong fight in the district. Frank C. Jordan was the candidate for County Clerk. He came from the Seventh ard, and it was against him that the intense bitter feel- ln%wnl directed, and in order to succeed I had to combine with him to win out the delegation in the Seventh Ward. The talk In regard to his candidacy and the danger In regard to mine was well known GIVEN. and was very well known to my friend, Mr. Green, who lives in Oakland, an was watching the campaign with a good deal of interest. The question as to what procedure to take was often discussed by all of us who were interested in the out- come, and it was determined that in or- der to win the delegation at all a great deal of hard work and the expenditure of money would have to be had. One fi:m{l}ng in crossing on the boat I met . Green. 2: This was in September, I understand? Yes, sir; before the primaries. And, as was usual at our meetings, we dis- cussed politics, and he sald: ‘“‘Howard, I see that you are going to have a'_des- erate fight over there.” I sald: ‘Yes, ilt; it s In a pretty hard position. 1 don’t know whetf?er we are Olnf to win out or not,” because the Leckey ticket in the Seventh Ward was opposed to ours and they were very strong. ‘‘Well,” he sald, “in case you need any assistance at all to cai your Seventh Ward delega- et me know and I will helP you.” “Well,” I said, “Milt, we are intl- mate friends, but what does that involve? Does it involve the Senatorial question in case of my election?’ *“Why,” he said, ‘“not a particle.” He said: “‘I am interest- ed very largely in the success of the Re- publican ticket—the Republican Legisla- tive ticket—and you and I are strong per- sonal friends. Iyam interested doubly in you, in that I want to see you in the first lace elected; in the second place I want 0 see a Republican Legislature elected. “Well,” I said, “I don’t Xnow whether I could accept that assistance without com- fmmislng myself.” ‘“Well,” he said, ut t on the extreme personal grounds be- tween you and me. Rob it of ll‘le Senal.; eave torial situation altogether and there.” “Well,” I said, *'I will think about it.” Three or four days later 1 saw him and told him that I had thought it over and that with the express agreqment and condition between us that it would not af- fect my vote in the Senatorial matter, if he as my friend wished to help me out in that campaign over there 1 would accept his assistance, and I did and expended the money throughout the district and ac- compiished the success of our delegation by winning the Seventh Ward by thé nar- row margin of six votes. Q. Now, to what amount were you so assisted? . Nine hundred dollars. And how was that obtained? That was obtained from Mr. Green. . In cash or by check? In cash. . And all at once? . No, sir; 00 at another time. Was that money expended in your race subsequent or prior to the primaries? A. Prior. Q. In what manner was it expended? A. It was expended in hiring workers. We had an army of them over in the Seventh Ward and carriages and adver- llsln%and the rest of it. Q. Bands? >OPOPOP one time and $400 %t © A. Bands and bonfires and everything of that sort. And also in Berkeley there was a split delegation in Temescal, where we had to do a great deal of hard work. The situation was pretty well split up. Q. Was any of that money expended— any of the $300—after the primary? A. Not a dollar. Q. Did you at any time thereafter re- ceive any assistance from Mr. Grant through Mr. Green or otherwise in your political aspirations? A. No, sir; in no way whatever. Q. Did you know at the time that you received this money from Mr. Green to whom it belonged? A. No, sir; I did not. Q. Did you know at that time that Mr. Green was the financial agent and mana- ger of Mr. Grant's candidacy? A. 1 did not know that the relationship existed in that particular until long after- ward, when he himself told me of his re- lxl!innshl% Q. In these talks preliminary to the offering of assistance and at the time the istance was offered you, did Mr. Green v anything to you to the effect that he would probably or would be the manager of Mr. Grant in his Senatorial race? A. No, sir, not at any time—well, at my first conversation he saild he was in- terested, through Mr. Perkins, in Mr. Grant's campaign, but in what capacity he did not state, and was going to help him. Q. Did he say in what manner he would heAD le!_ . No, sir. Q. You knew at that time that Mr. Green had been something of a manager of Mr. Perkins' fight prior to this? A. Yes, sir. 1 had been through one campaign with him in Mr. Perkins’ fight and 1 had known that Mr. Perkins four years ago had all over the State of Cali- fornia assisted in this same manner legis- lative candidates; that not only had he done so, but I knew that six years ago he and Mr. Felton in my district and the other Senatorial and Assembly districts had expended $1500 apiece for the purpose of electing a Legislature that would be Republican. Q;.) At the time that you asked Mr. Green what the matter involved if you were to accept assistance, was not that question prompted by your knowledge that such had been the manner of dis- tributing money in the Perkins fight? A. Yes, sir. Q. And with the suspicion that Mr. Green was offering you Grant money? A. Y sir. Mr. Bacon—Mr. Chairman, on behalf of Mr. Green I desire to object to so pal- pably a leading and suggestive question as that, and I desire to leave it to the sense of fairness that must be present in the breast of every American citizen <o bear me out in asserting that it is wrong to put words in the witness' mouth in that manner. I am sorry to have to rise and make that objection, but my sense of duty to Mr. Grant, my sense of duty to these gentlemen who are sitting here will not allow me to sit still and see the chair- man of this investigating committee put the words in the mouth of the Speaker of the Assembly of the State of California. The witness—I would say, Mr, Chair- man, and Mr. Bacon, that the question to me did not appear to be leading or re- flecting in the slightest degree on Mr. Grant, because I will explain to this com- mittee my conviction that Mr. Grant has not been engaged in the corrupt use of money to influence legislators. That is my feeling and I shall glve expression to it _before my testimony is over. . Bacon—Mr. Chairman, I desire to apologize if I have said anything that was unseemly, but it seemed to me that that was wrong for the chairman to put that question as he did. If I did wrong in mak- ing that suggestion I desire to apologize. The chairman—I think it is very proba- ble, Mr. Bacon, that you and myself would very materially disagree as to my prerogative in the matter of putting these questions. I do not understand that tnis committee sits as a court. I do not un- derstand that we sit here in presenting the case In chief, as a court, and must therefore be bound b{ the ordinary rules of evidence; mor do I understand that a question that Is distinctively a leading question in court can be objected to be- cause it 1s leading in this kind of an in- vestigation. I may be wrong, gentlemen, but T think I am right in the proposition that a question that will get at the facts the closest, quickest and most pungently is 2 proper question. You will take cogni- zance, Mr. Bacon, of the fact that iur. Wright stands in a somewhat different re- lation to this committee than almost any other witness would, for fhe reason that this committee is here at his sufi§esuon because of charges made against him, and his conclusions upon the matter would be more pertinent, perhaps, than that of an- other witness. Mr. Bacon—That is just the reason why his conclusions should not be asked for by suggestive questions. He is on trial here just the same as anybody else, and if this gentleman can come in here and have his words put in his mouth and give conclusions it is a farce to try him. If there ever was a reason why a leading or suggestive question or a question call- ing for a conclusion of the witness should not be put to that witness that case ex- ists to-day and right now. I move, Mr. Chairman, that the guestion and answer be stricken out on the ground that it is leading and suggestive and calls for the conclusion of the witness, and I desire to say that I want my right to have that stricken out reserved, because I did not conceive that the question would be an- swered. It tbok me some time to make up my mind that the question had been asked, and before I could make my ob- Jjectlon the question had been answered. The witness—Mr. Bacon. perhaps it m!gdht be in order to have the question read. Mr. Bacon—I don’t care to hear it read, | Mr. Wright. I move to strike it out and the committee can take it under advise- ment or act upon it now and we can proceed with the investigation. I do not desire to take up any time. The chairman—You do this on behalf of Mr. Green? Mr. Bacon—I do, most certainly. The chairman—Gentlemen of the com- mittee, Mr. Bacon has moved that the last question and answer be stricken our. wn’i"' Is ygur p\lmm? e e o r. Lardner—I move e o Jection Teceived, -J"i’m the strik- ing of it out be left for further considera- tion of the committee. Seconded and carried. The chairman—At the time you expend- ed this $%00 in your fight you knew that the money was Grant’s money, did you? A. No, sir. fl. You did not? . No, sir. Q. Do you now know that it was Mr. Grant's money? A. I have learned so since this Investi- gation. Q. By what means did you learn it? A. By the testimony of Mr. Green. Q. That was your first knowledge? A. Yes, sir. Mr. Bacon—Now, Mr. Chairman, do you desire me to make an objection to every leading question that you ask? The chairman—I do not desire to direct your fight, Mr. Bacon. * Mr. Bacon—I want you gentlemen to understand me, that I do not want to sit here and make needless or trivial nor time-wasting objections; but I have sat here all day to-day and all yesterday and last night to hear the trial of a case in which Mr. Wright has been charged in the public prints with taking money un- lawfully to influence his vote on the que: tion of United States Senator for Cali- fornia, and to-night the same tactics are being pursued. r. Wright is not being examined here at all. is examination is proceeding on the theory or with the evident purpose of somebody not to try Mr. Wright, but, over his shoulder, in- Jure the candidacy of some gentleman for the United States Senate. Why don't ou get down to the facts and ask Mr. right these questions? The chairman—Mr. Bacon, if you have any suspicions of that sort you will kind- ly keeg them to yourself until you make your final argument nere, because the committee cannot be intimidated by such insinuations. We are here to try this case and we propose to do it as we think proper, I hope you understand that. Mr. Bacon—Mr. Chairman, there is no- body on earth has any higher regard for the untrammeled_action of a committee or a court than I have. 1 have not at- tempted to intimidate anybody. I have sat here and listened to this thing and have hardly ralsed my volce during the entire proceedings; but I objected to a leading question @ minute ago and an- other one follows it almost immediately— three follow it and I didn’t object. The chairman—And there are likely more to follow it. ce.Mdl". Bacon—Then I shall have to pro- ed. The chairman—If you wish to enter into the record, Mr. Bacon, your objections to all leading questions you may make that entry now and they will be overruled, and they are now overruled unless this com- mittee shall overrule me upon my ruling and you do not need to make any further objections. You can have it entered in record that such questions are objected to and the objections are overruled. If Yyou want such a record you may make it. Mr. Bacon—I do not want any such record. I desfre to reserve the right to object to leading questions. Mr. Mellick—I look at it this way: that there is some reason for Mr. Bacon’s ob- Jectlon, yet at the same time I can ap- preciate the delicate position in which our Speaker is in in regard to these ques- tions. Now, he don’t want to bring out any conclusion or any testimony against any man, and perhaps would rather have them brought out by questions, I sup- pose. Now, so far as these leadihg ques- tions are concerned, I would like to under- stand which way Mr. right would rather be examined. The witness—Mr. Mellick, I have no de- sire, gentlemen of the committee, to be examined except to get at the truth. The questions that may be leading or be re- garded as leading, if they lead to the truth, are the questions to put to me. I have been charged by a newspaper with accepting money from a candidate in re- turn for my vote for that candidate for Senator. They have attempted to prove it and I declare it untrue. Now, the way to proceed is within the hands of this committee; and if the proof can be got here and from me now by questions that this committee propound, and they are proper, I have no objections to answering them at all. The chairman—At the time that Mr. Green gave you this $%00 was there any agreement, express or implied, that in consideration thereof you should vote, if elected, for U. 8. Grant Jr. for United States Senator. A. No. On the other hand there was an agreement, absolute and complete, that the Senatorial question should not enter into it in any degree whatever between Mr. Grant and myself. The relationship exist- ed simply upon the friendship that was known to exist in the community and throughout the State between him and me for years. Q. Prior to receivlnfiwlhls $900 had you expressed yourself to Mr. Green as being favorable, if elected, to his candidate for United States Senator? A. No, sir, except in this way: I said in talking to him one morning just leaving him—I remember the morning and the in- cident well—just parting from him at tue ferry—I said, “Well, Mr. Green, if the is- sue should gét to be Grant and De Young, I am for Grant.” Q. At_that time was the ca.ndldncg of D. M. Burns for the United States Sen- atorship under discussion by the politi- clans at all? A. It was undreamed of so far as I knew anything of it. (E,. Nothing had been said of it in the public print so far as you knew? A. I never had seen a word. Q. No lnllm\tlon had been brought to you? A. None whatever. Q. That he would be a candidate? A. None whatever. ' Q. Did you have at that time an under- standing as to who would probably be an ifmportant competitor of Mr. Grant for that position?. A. Well, T had understood that Mr. de Young would be a candldate and, in fact, knew that he was an active candidate, de- spite his letter announcing that he was not, printed in the Examiner and the Chronicle. I knew it from politiclans who are active in Republican councils. Q. Who are promoting his interests? A. Promoting his interests? . Did you at any time after having recelved this $800 from Mr. Green receive any other money from Mr. Green or from Mr. Grant through any other sources that was used in promoting your candi- dacy?. A. Not one cent. Q. Did you receive any other money from Mr. Green subsequent to the receiv- |n§ of this $9007 . Yes, sir. Q. What money did you receive? State the time, occasion, manner and the use you put it to. A. I was in Sacramento on some busi- ness; stopped over here on my way north, where I was going to close up some land matters. While here I received a letter from an intimate friend of my fam- ily and whose name, it has been of keen regret to me, has had to be brought into this matter at all. who knows no more of politics than a child. He and I had had Some business relations and he held my note for $750, which, at tne time I was in Sacramento, was not yet due. He wrote me a letter telling me that his father in the State of Washington had written to him, asking him if he would send him $1000 to take up a mortgage which existed and which was just due and which he wished to pay off. My friend wrote to me asking whether T could accommodate him in advance of the expiration of the note, and said that it meant a great deal to him. was indeed anxious to do so. 1 rad but an hour or two while here and wrote, inclosing this letter, and sent It to Mr. Green, my friend, and asked him if he could conveniently, without injury to himself to do_so, I would be glad to have him send this money over to Mr. Yeazell in Berkeley, my friend, and that upon the closing of my land transaction 1 would return the money to him. In view of this he did so. That is all. Q. DId you give any note or other form of contract or promise to pay that sum back again? A. Except the promise contained in the letter, no. Q. I understood you that no part of that mnnefi ‘went into your candidacy? A. Not a cent of it. Q. Or into the political pot at all? A. Not one cent of it. Q. At the time you received this $750 in this indirect manner from Mr. Green was anything said between you and Mr. Green concerning the candidacy of U. Grant for United States Senator? very Q. Yes. A. Not a word. Q. Was there zusy x;'mmlae. direct, ex- pressed or implied, at you shonld do anything to advance the interests of U, 8. Grant in ing received that financial assistance ex- pressed In vour letter? A. Emphatically not. Q. Was there any moral obligation laid \hxron You by reason of your relations to r. Green to vote for Mr. Grant by rea- son of having received that $7307 A. Between him and me; no. Q. Between you and Mr. Grant? S Beboby” they ‘may mif o any means whereby they y len!r!:aort anyyh-n roper influences brought to bear by Mr. Grant, Mr. Burns or any other candidate for United States Sena- tor in the matter of securing the votes of any of the members of this Leglsla- | ture for United States Senator? No, sir; I cannot. any money, A. No. Q. Mr. Wright, can . Do you know of having bgnbu“)d uby any other candldate for United States Senator than that you have named to advance his interests as candl- dnAe Ilo‘; l'nl(ted States Senator? . I do not. Mr. Bacon—Strike out that answer if you please. I desire to object to that ques- tion. lgnw. lhob ject to that as suggesting something that s not proven. The ('hl‘lrllm.n-—l think your objection is well taken, Mr. Bacon, and I will ask the committee to withdraw my question. Mr. Mellick—Just order It stricken out. The chairman—Very well; with the com- mon_consent of the committee that may be_stricken out. Do you know of any money havin been used by any candidate for the Unite States Senate to Influence the votes of any member or members of this Legisla- m:{e?l a t. . T do not. Mr. Devlin—If you have finished that line of examination I would like to have you ask Mr. Wright about the conversa- tions with Mr. Leake. The chalrman—Have any of the mem- bers of the committee questions to ask on that line? Mr. Lardner—Has any note or re- ceipt ever been given by you, Mr. Wright, for that $800? A. No, sir. Q. Do you know that this is an absolute gift by Mr. Green to you? A. I should say yes. Q. You considered it a gift by Mr. Green to you? A. In the light of his explana- tion that, as a friend, he wished to see my candidacy—that he wished to see me succeed in the face of a hard fight over there. Q. That $900 I understand was expended in securing the delegates for the con- vention? A. Yes, sir. Q. The $75 turned? A. Not yet. Q. That is only evidenced by your let- ter, as I understand you. A. Yes, sir. Q.—Have you had any conversa- tion with Mr. Green relative to whether the $800 is a gift or not? A.—No, sir. Q.—As I understand you do not propose to return the $800° A.—There is no such understand- ing. There is no expression here. I have made no such expression. Q. — Well, I was asking you whether you did intend to return the $900? A.—T shall have to consider the matter before deciding. Q. Do you know whether Mr. Green is a wealthy man? A. 1 had always thought he was pretty well off. He has talked of many busi- ness transactions to me which involved many sums of money and made me feel that he was very well off, indeed. Q. Do you know whether he aided and assisted fTrom his own means or those of any other candidate? A. T do not, Mr. Lardner. Q. In this campaign? A. No, I do not. Q. Does Mr. Green live in your partic- ular district? A. No; he lives just outside the dis- loan—has that been re- trict. Q. Just outside of your district? A. But it is—he lives in Oakland. Q. You knew, as I understand, that he was a friend of Mr. Grant’s. Am I cor- rect in that? A. Yes, sir. Q. And I understand you, you did not know until arriving here in Sacramento that the money was Mr. Grant’s money? A. I did not know it until the testimony was offered here by Mr. Green himself. Q. You never saw the $750 check, I be- leve? A. No; never did. Mr. Mellick—You got the recelpt—you got your note back from your friend, I suppose? A. Oh, yes. Q. There is an evidence of that money having been returned to him? A. Yes, the payment. Q.—This $800—there seemed to be a controversy last night as to whether you got it yourself or some- body else? A.—No, I got it myself. Q.—You got the $900P A.—Yes, sir. Q.—In cash yourself? A.—Yes, sir. Q.—Directly from Mr. Green? A.—Yes. Q. Now, then, the papers have charged that you had spent more than what your sworn affidavit of cnmg ign expenses showed. Can you tell a little about that? It shows they claim $§74 as the amount of campaign expenses, I believe. A. Yes. This money, Mr. Mellick, was all e:‘{Ipended before the nomination. Q. Yes; but this means was there any other, mone¥’.’ A. No; no Q. Than the $74? A. No, sir; nothing. Q. After you had the nomination, why, you had to conduct the fight? A. Oh, it is equivalent to an election. There is where the fight has to be made in that district always. It has never been anything but strongly Republican, except in the case of two independent Repubii- cans splitting up the district at one time. . And let us see—what was your ma- jority two years ago? A. Fifteen hundred. Q. And what was it this time? A. Eleven hundred. Q. Eleven hundred majority? A. Yes. Mr. Devlin—Do you want to take up those conversations with Mr. Leake, so the witness may set himself right? Mr. ! Leake made several charges against him. 1 want to suggest to the committee that the ground may be covered. The_ chairman—Do you remember the day that The Call came out in advocacy of your aspirations to be Speaker of the Assembly ? A. I do not remember the day. I think it was about the 14th or 15th of Decem- ber. 2. Do you remember . Yes, sir; very wel Q. Do you remember of meeting with Mr. Leake and Mr. Spreckels in the of- fice of The Call in San Francisco? | A. Very well. Q. Do you remember the conversations that there took place? A. I think I do. . Did you then state to Mr. Leake and Mr, Spreckels that you were not in any manner obligated to any Individual | or any corporation so that you could not give every one proper representation? A. Yes, sir. Mr. Devlin—Perhaps it might be better, Mr. Chairman, to let the witness state the conversation. The_witness—Mr, Cosper, it says I was not obligated to any individual? Q. Yes. A. T owed Mr. Green $750; and I do not suppose he used it in that sense. 05’. No, I don't suppose so. A. But what I sugpnse he meant was whether if elected Speaker my appoint- ments of committees, etc., would be free } from corporate or individual or Senato- rial influences, - That is what I assumed. That is the sense in which you as- | sumed the question? ! A. Yes, sir. And I declared emphati- cally, yes. Mr. Devlin—Perhaps he had better de- tail the conversation. The chairman—I wanted him to be able l!hQ event? Germany and Asia Minor. It is inevitable that Asia Minor shall eventu- ally pass from the possesslon of Mohammedan- 1 and whether Germany accomplishes tie or not, the Sultan must yleld to a Chris- nation. It is just as Inevitable that dis- eases of the digestive organs must yield to Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. The disorders of this kind are usually called dyspepsia, con- stination biliousness. The Bltters ace equality for tc attend to my domestic affairs, all such complaints, regapd. less of the name. v had to state directly as to whether he ! stated these things to Mr. Leake, and then he can give the entire conversation It might be just as well If you can f‘"‘l 0. A. I can. 1 was called up at 12 é’~‘ ock at night by the Oakland correspon lXIt‘u( The Call ard requested to go the next day at 3 o'clock to see Mr, Leake and Mr, Spreckels at Mr. Leake's office. Wi (Xllrv came Mr. Leake recelved me \”i\a pan dially. Two vears ago 1 had met him in the iaeglsl' e ure, liked him, helped his brother to become the Commissioner of Public Works--is it, Mr. Devlin? Mr. Devlin—Yes. A. Stood by Mr. Leake's side and tr)uf})‘i: through the entire session tu\;\ ] benefit of his brother and elpec him—a _Democrat, which he [t ”nn was, and unconnected i :\'Illhr‘l{;:l;_‘ wi:(c; s brothe ch for Ko Pachieve and he seemed anxious to d in which he enlisted my sympathy, He recelved me very cordially. He ha been very friendly to me, and when d me to Mr. Spreckels. came in_introduced I never had met Mr. Spreckels personally before. He said, “Howard, we want to talk to you about your candidacy for Speaker.” He said. “I am thinking serf; ously of having The Call advocate you.”” 1 said, “I “hout appreciate the support very much, Mr. Leake, but before enter- ing into the subject I want to know v volves any promises on m whether it involve: y Slge e 4 art in regard to_the of H - s None whatever. But,” he says, “are you obligated to any corporation or xn& dividual in sucl a way as Wou,;,, revent your being free and footloose said: “I am am not—rather, am not obligated.” And I sal smulllrle- fuse to become obligated to The Call in any way or to Mr. Spreckels or to you individually In return for your Support. 1 should like to have it, but If it involves vote for Senator, for instance, or if my it involves your control of m commltteg appointments, or anything of the sort, Mr. Spreckels, who wa don’t want it.” W o, e g ga( up and ‘sald: lying on the lounge, Aym s\'ery glad, indeed, to hear you talk in that way, and will come out for you for Speaker to-morrow.” They did not come out the next day, but the day after, and consistently and persist- ently and 'with showers of adulations and the rest of it kept up the fight until my election. I often met Mr. Leake. Those who know him and know him well, know that his conversation is carried on in ex- pletives; so if I repeat any of his con- versation in its manner I hope this com- mittee will overlook the fact. do not use light language much myself. But many times I went to the San Francisco Club at his request, many times being called up by his Oakland correspondent to come and there meet visiting Assem- blymen, a few of them at a time. The first effort toward control of my course ever exhibited by Mr. Leake was about a week before I came up here, when he said, *I have a telegram from San Diego and I don’t want you to put that — of a — Works on any committee that is prominent in any way.” I said, “Well, what is the matter with Works?” “Well,” he safd, “He is going to introduce a bill down there that is go- ing to affect Mr. Spreckels’ interests largely.” I sald, “What are Mr. Spreck- els’ interests that can be affected by a bill?” ““Well,”” he said, “He has wharves and arprnach to the tide water, and there is some question about the title.” ““Well,” I said, “is he holding them con- trary to law Well,” he said, ‘'some people say so, but,” he said, “that is not 80. The land belongs to him, and Works, I understand,” says Leake, ‘is going to make us some trouble.” *Well,”” I said, *‘do you remember our first conversation Sam? I told you I would not make romises in regard to these committae have talked to Mr. W¢ his application, as I inte plication of every Assemblyman, am going to form my committees withe regard to corporate influence, ne influence, or individual influence challengé the investigation of any along that line to establish the trary. Later he asked me not to ap- point Mr. Crowder on the Public Building and Grounds Committee as I had cated that he wished and to put ins gome other man whom I do not now member, but he seemed particularly dictive in regard to these two A men. We came to Sacramento and the good relationship was in exis‘ence. 1 did not see much of Mr. Leake after T came to Sacramento because the approach he had made to me there made me feel that he might attempt to contro: my com- mittees, and if he did, 1 did not care to come in conflict with him on that line: T kept away and did not see much of him. But a_ little bit later I did see him. I formed my committees—formed them with Speaker pro tem. Anderson present, pick- ing out this man and that man from lists I had; formed a Corporation Committee re- which Is absolutely without cor- porate influence, composed of the best men in the House, men who could not be put in a position of con- trol by any corporation, and I went through my committees in the same way —the Ways and Means Committee and other committees—so that whatever Mr. Leake may have contemplated in regard to_ the formation of the committees he did not have a chance to do. I was fur- ther desirous of keeping away from him because of the advice I had secured from many prominent people here in town. It seems ‘that Mr. Leake had lived here for e When you want help you' go ‘to the proper S s place to get it. We are talking of labor now. When you are il what do you do? You let things “dritt along.” Ts that the truth, or is it a misrep- resentation? Come, man, you know in your innermost heart which it is.. This is written for YOU. For once read and learn. For Hel Do you love any one on earth? If you do, do you think you are fit to talk love to a g00d woman? If you do not know that each woman reveres manli- ness, you know little or nothing. It s yours for the asking almost. But you must put out some small ef- ————— fort to help yourself. Suppose dthat o-day you spend tw in'a stamp, C Conts The two cents will bring you testimonials as o "the efficacy of the “HUDYAN" Temedio - treatment. It will show you how ten thousand people who have been vie- tims of misfortune have been cured; it will give you medical advice free; it will— in a word—save your —life. Do you want manhood? If you do why in the name of decency don't you TRY to get it? The Hudson Medical Institute was founded with the idea of helping all those who were weak. Its aims are the highest, and if blood taint or anything serious bothers you the ‘doc- tors will send you free advice. What more can you ask? Are your teeth loose? Is your breath foul? Do you find your head dull in the morning? Wake up! You have but one life to live—why not live it decently? HUDSON MEDICAL INSTITUTE, Stockton. Market and Filis Sts., SAN FI Dr. Wong Him, Ni 115 and 117 Mason' street, San Franclsco, Cal.—This 18 to certify that I have been for several years & great eufferer from Bright's Disease of the Kidneys, u tumor in the left side and other dis- cases incidental to fe- that I have for weeks and months at & time been totally unabls _and much of Nothing could T {:fiaflme‘ eonfma: to thu bed. lone for me that afforded more thai rary relief. About three month: .g? lnwl:.ng: Vvised to place wmysell under your treatment. On my first interview, after fesling my pulse, you described my conditlon more aceurately than T could have done myself. After using rour medicine and foilowing your advice since that time [ am very happy to say [ have en- tirely recovered my health; am fully able to fulfill all my duties as the mother of a large family of children; indeed, for the past 15 or years I have not enjoved as robust health. s 2 RS, HETTIE E.LOWE. street, San Francisco, Cak October 15, 1398. g