The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 20, 1899, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1899. THE SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY BROADENS OUT. me to make better state h Howard . 0 ahead wit : know the f; 1 so that r that ¢ as far as I 1 is becom- 3 f t he termed ikt ited five any ac- P al ard, what e accom- of $750. >r publicatior per for 1f constru be he ht ¥ {n the public interest, b t ¢ e that point. He said ed the money, but put into the bank rs, and I will en how much &l He said he equently said he expenses. Be- ng, but su { 'Mr. Pring! e the 2 amount e the amount. I . Green any note an. He sald he pplication_for snce. Now, o indignation at him and 1 made hat he was bribed. 1 him about the money Mr. Green. ou desire to state in that aske wi I think of. Recalling now ersation with Mr. Green, I think if he gave Mr. Wright money off and he told me no. that conversation with Milton anything said about a sum of other number of dollars hav- anced to assist In the nom- Wright? s not. ar n of M any tonversation with Mr. Wrl, A It did not. ht? s | port as arlor_to | ¢ | not see an: 1 such matter occur In lhel Q. So far as any money transaction was | concerned, then, your conversations wers | confined, were they, to the question of | this §750 loan and any sums that he might | ha paid to M Pringle? sations: w But I asked each of . because Mr. Leake hac t and desired me to ask t point. Q. Did Mr. Wright detail to you at that time the circumstances attending the loan | of $7507 AL Yes, sir. > Q. What was said in that regard? A. He sald he desired the loan to take | , and he directed or requested to pay the money to Mr. 1 of Berkeley. rether he had ard that had been recelved tk taken up with t . No; he did ) state. He told me that loan of $750? e you refresh my mem- at he paid it to Mr. ote. returned the that question. t or Mr, Green was that was y did. | ect that this on to the elec- tor? a Howard Wright ence legisla- ate for United | of suggestion? of rumor or | | | ne of surgestion, I avor to get Dan Cole’s Clough. written to Lamberson Wade if any one offered to | and he spurned the call to mind any other. ou know of any list have been a: r the Assembly by ted Mr. ng of such a list. I never 1 nes, but I think that he best way out of {t—would him. at does not answer the ques- d the question.) ur judgment on that to what the policy of the pa- t is a_ mere matter of| not authorized for the p; e its policy, but it is myi t the policy Of the paper is . Burns and C. S.| od, States Senate. BurKe, do you know or methods thi ot uld consider improper, pursued by Burns, or any agent of his, r indirectly, to influence -t f legislators for United States Sen- . Well, now, that is a very broad ques- ., Mr, Chairman. You have got to | ke the definition of what an improper is. I say anvthing that you consider {m 1 ving it with you, b se. Then the | after v answered, will | themselves as to whether it is | hat Colonel that he | of the party | will be—that in | patronage of the vill be recognized—I oper thing. Mr. Burke, if any one | friends who has held out | ator the argument that in n of patronage Burns' would be recognized? c oint to you a single | 10 has said that, but I am morally | -ed that the impression has gone | | g n my Q. Can you direct this committee to any | ho can give this committee in- in that behalf I would put Major McLaughlin e That is the only way he only way that you know? | know about Visalia? ick—What do to Lamber: know only by a report that $1500 to that county in aid of Grant, ition candldate was elected, | it was corruptly used ou 2. Do you know to whom it was sent? A. No. u know who sent it? | you know of any place that we | d get the information that would en- | able us to ascertain who sent it and to | whom it was sent? A. 1 do not know of any one, but Mil- ! ton Green might know about it. 'He might | know about it; I do not know that he knows about it. Sanford—Did you hear a current re- | to who sent it? A. I heard it currently reported that it was Grant money. Q. But you did not hear the person that had sent 1t? A. No. Q. But you did hear that it was sent to amberson? A. Lamberson, I believe it was, sent to him. 1 do >w that he made any | improper 1 I do not know that he e rman—If T understand you, that to Lamberson by letter, nd the report? now how it was sent, but letter. May 1 ask the witness a .7 —1 just want to say this: here saying that the policy of his paper is to defeat Colonel Burns {and Mr. Grant. Now, then, he points us to this Lamberson leiter, telling us that there was $1500 possibly sent down there. I do not see what use there is in sending that he comet for that letter. Mr. Boone is here, the Democrat from that district. Even though money was sent there it would not | have any effect upon the resolution upon which we are working. It simply helps you do what you say the policy of your paper is—the defeat of Mr. Grant. 1 do use of that kind of testimony | here at all. The witness—Mr. Mellick, I want to cor- rect your statement in one particylar. | Tbe chalrman—I will give you the op- portunity, Mr. Burke. A. I want to say to Mr. Mellick that T did not state that it _was the policy of The Call to defeat D. M. Burns and U. S. Grant. Q. Only that was your opinion? | A. Only that was my opinion. Mr. Bacon—Mr. Burke, you say that you have heard that $1500 6f Granv's monoy was sent down to Mr. Lamberson? A. To Lamberson, T belleve. Q. Where does he reside? Al 1 believe at Visalia Q. Who told you that down to Mr. Lamberson? A. I cannot call to mind who told me, but the suggestion came to me that the committee ought to Inquire about that. Q. Did Mr, Lamberson tell you that he had received $i500 of Mr. Grant's money? A. No. I do not know Mr. Lamberson. Q. Does Mr. Lamberson live in the same $1500 was sent county that Mr. Cosper lives in? A 'I&ha( I do not know. Q. Did Mr. Cosper tell you that Mr. Lamberson had received " $1500 of Mr. Grant’'s money? A. He did not. Did any member of this committee ou that Mr. Lamberson had received of Mr. Grant's money? A. No member of the committee told me S0. . Did anybody on earth ever tell you th?u Mr. Lamberson had received $1500 of Mr. Green's money? A. No. . That is what I thought. 2. But I sald I unaerstood that $1500 was sent to Mr. Lamberson. The chairman—You know, Mr. Burke, that )(l:. Lamberson lives in Visalia, in Tulare County. and that that is not in the Fifty-fourth District, from which Mr. Cosper came? A. I did not have that in mind at all. The same simply was impressed upon m as money having been sent in the distri e Testincny of L. L. Levings. L. L. Levings, being sworn, testified as follows: The chairman—State your name to the committee. A. L. L. Levings. Q. Your residence? A. San Francisco. Q. And your occupation? A. Newspaper man. Q. Connected with what newspaper? A. San Francisco Call. Q. Mr. Levings, do you know of any means used by any candidate for the United States Senate before this Legis- lature, or by his agents, to influence the vote of the legislators, one or more of them, that you consider improper? | A. Well, if you ask me what within my | own personal knowledge I have never | seen anybody buy a legislative vote or anything of that kind. I know circum- stances that led me to believe I have heard circumstances that led me to be- lieve that such has been the 3 You may state the circumstances that led you to so belleve. A. Hearsay; what has been told me? Q. What vou know. That is what we want to confine ourselves to first. The chairman—I want to say ‘to the tee that this matter of going into what Is simply hearsay is barren of all results to m I do not know how it is as to the rest of you. Mr. Mellick—I_think so. | Mr. Lardner—I think so. The chalrman—We have taken a broad- er scope in that matter, gentlemen of the committee, than we otherwise would e | done for the reason that we are investi- | gating and with the hope that this hear- | say matter might bring out some things | that would finally result in obtaining spe- | e terest of any of the candidates for United States Senator? subject—how do Burns with that fact? of the Chronicle. conversation—the exact langu as you can g Mr. Mellick—Before you leave that other | you connect Colonel | ass to Merrill's friend? A. It was obtained at the solicitation | of Colonel Burns. i Q. Of Colonel Burns? | A. Yes, sir. | The chalrman—How did you learn that A. Through Mr. Simpson, the city editor Simpson, the city | Q. What did Mr. edifor of the Chronicle, say to you in that | respect? A. He related to me the circumstances as they were related to him by the men €PN Pacific Company, who prepared the story for him—the mem- | bers of his own staff. | Q. What did Mr. Simpson say to you? | That might be only a conclusion on your | Give the part, Mr. Levings—that is all. e it, or the s the lunguage that Mr. Simpson used in conveying that intelligence to you. A. I don't recollect the language; but if you want me to relate the story as I re- member it, as it was related to me, I can | give you that. Q. The substance of it. We are not af- ter the exact language. Mr. Mellick—I will state that Mr. Simp- son Is right there, and we can have him in a minute instead of having Mr. Levings second hand. The chairman—You may answer the question, A. My recollection of it at this time is that it was understood that Mr. Her- rin of the Southern Pacific Company was giving out passes to legislators in | the interest of D. M. Burns, 7 % cific and positive testimony; but it scems to be barren of results thus far. So, Mr. Witness, at present, at least, you will| kindly confine yourself to such circum- stances as you know of your own knowl- edge that led you to believe that improper influence has been brought to bear upon | the legislators. | The witness—Well, I know pof a case where passes were given to a legislator, and I have reason to belleve that— Q. Passes to the theater? A. Ralilroad passes—ralilroad transporta- tion. Q. You may state to whom. A. To Assemblyman—not to, but through —Assemblyman A. H. Merrill of San| Francisco. Q. A. H. Merrill? To any others? A. Not to my knowledge. Q. Do you krow who gave the passes to | Mr. Merrill? A. 1 did not see the trasaction. I have knowledge that perfectly satisfies me. i Q. How did you obtain that knowl- edge? A. Through others. . Through what others? Newspaper men. What newspaper men? . Newspaper men connected .with the | Francisco Chronicle. . Mr. Levings, you know what I want. I want the names of those men. A. You have not asked for them. | Q. Yes, I have. I am asking you who they were; but, then, we will not dispute | on that point. Kindly give the names of the newspaper men who Informed you | of that fact. A Simpson, the city editor of the Chroni | Q. Any others? . No. Q. Do you know the nature of that . I do. Q. State it to the committee, please. A. It was transportation for a man and his wife, from San Francisco to New York. Q. Do you know anything about the consideration of that pass, if any there was? A. There was no consideration so far as I know for the man who traveled on the | pass. | Q. It was not given to Mr. Merrill, then, himself? A. It was given to Mr. Merrill 4n per. son, at his solicitation for the person who used the transportation. Q. Do you know in whose interest that pass was granted? A. I think I do. Q. In whose was 1t? A. D. M. Burn: Q. In the interest of D. M. Burns? Do you know who gave the pass? A. I think I do. Q. You may state who? A. Willlam F. Herrin. Q. Who is William F. Herrin? A, He is chief counsel for the Southern | Pacific Company. | Q. Over what road, if any, was that pass | granted? | A. Over_the Southern Pacific and Pled- mont roads to New York by way of New | Orleans. | Q. Do you know the extent of the priv- llefe! granted under that pass? . Second class transportation, as I un- derstand it. Q. For one person? A. Two persons—a man and. his wife. Q. Returning again to the question of consideration: Do you know anything about what consideration Mr. Merrill was to give for that pass? A. I do not. Q. Do you know of any other influences that you considered !mpraver, in the in- | went with this man to see Colonel Burns. Colonel Burns referred them to Mr. Bert Worthington, a con- fidential secretary of —1 | have forgotten whether it was Mr. Fillmore or some other official of the South- and Mp.Bert Worthingtonrefer- red Mr.Merrill and his friend to Mr. Fillmore, or to Mr. Huntington—H. E. Hunting- ton. Mr. Huntington said |that he did not want the |politics of the railroad ' mixed up with his depart- | ment, and told Mr. Merrill | to go to Colonel Burns and get a note to Mr. Herrin if he wanted the transporta- tion. Mr. Merrill returned, with his friend, to Colonel | Burns, and they entered a private room and held a conversation which was | not overheard by any one. | Q. By ‘‘they’’ whom do you mean ? A. Colonel Mr. Merrill. Q. Not the other man with him ? A. The other man was left out of this private con- ference; did not know what transpired; but when Mr. Merrill returned he had a note, and he and his friend went over to the railroad building and the note was presented to Mr. Herrin, and Mr. Herrin Burns and IR WADE GAYE HIY IDEAY ABOLT ATTACHE CHAIRMAr™ VALENTINE REPORTED *THAY HIS COMMITTEE FAVORED THE. *PURCHRASE OF A PORTRAIT OR EX=GOV. BDUDO.- and his candidacy — not then yet announced except by Mr. Herrin —for the U. S. Senate, and member of the Chronicle staff was detailed to as- certain whether or not that was the truth; and |in the course of his inves- tigations he became ac- quainted with a man who had been in San Francisco for a few months—six or eight months, or a year or something of that kind—a | New Yorker, there with his wife, out of employment, and wanting to get home. During the campaign he became very well ac- quainted with Mr, Merrill, who was elected from—I have forgotten the district —to the Assembly ; and he applied to Mr. Merrill for assistance to take him and his wife to his home a| l\said, “Wait a minute,” and gave some instruc- tions to one of his clerks, and presently the clerk re- turned, handed Mr. Herrin the envelope, which he, in turn, handed to Mr. Merrill, and Mr. Merrill and his friend went down ‘the street, where the envelope was opened; and it con- | tained two passes—one for Mr. Merrill’s friend and one for Mr. Merrill’s friend’s wife, and the reporter for the Chronicle went across the bay with his friend, | whose name 1 have forgot- ten—but he went across the bay with this friend the night he started for New York, and went up the road as far as Port Costa; and all of this was related to him by Mr. Merrill’s friend. The reporter posed in the guise of a man from in New York. Mr. Merrill| Philadelphia who was Q. | tion in stranded financially and wanted to return, and wanted to know how he could get transportation; and this friend of Mr. Mer- rill’s told him how he could get it—how he had got it, related the whole conver- sation in detail, and ‘then gave the reporter a note of introduction to Mr. Mer- rill, in which he recom- mended that Mr. Merrill again use his good offices for this financially stranded Philadelphian who wanted to go home. That is practi- cally the story that was told to me. Have you exhausted your informa- the direction of improper infiu ences brought to bear upon the legisla tors, so far as this one instance is con: cerned? A. Well, if you confine it to information I can tell you information that I have, but the value of it is— The chairman—I think we had better have him give us the names of those that can give the information and get it di- rect. We may spend a year here on hear- say matters. Mr Burnett—I would like to have his information so far as I am concerned. The chairman—-Very well. Then the question is submitted to you, gentiemen, whether we shall go into hearsay matters with this witness or whetner we shall ask him for his sources of information and get it direct from these. Mr. Burnett—I think we better get the information to see whether it is worth pursuing or not. Mr. Sanford—We can start with it and see whether it amounts to anything or not. The chairman—Very well, you may re- late to the committee what information you have. A. Information was brought me from some source that Assemblyman Cosper, chairman of the committee, had ap- proached Milton J. Green, the political manager for U. S. Grant, and told him that either Colonel Burns or his financtal representatives had offered Mr, Cosper $6000 to vote for Mr. Burns; that Mr. Cos- per told Mr. that he did not want to vote for Burns; that he preferred to vote for Grant, but that if he did vote for Grant he thought that he should be remunerated to the extent of the offer | that had been made to him by Colonel Burns or Colonel Burns’ agent. That was the information. And in justice to Mr. Cosper, I would like to add to that that I detailed two reporters of The Call to in- terview Mr. Cosper as to the truth or falsity of it, and Mr. Cosper denied the truth of the interview he was said to have had with Mr. Green in which these facts were stated. The chairman—Now, I would like to say to the committee that this matter, being a somewhat personal one, I hope you will make the examination exhaustive. If can help you out at the end of it I will do so, but I would rather you would con- uct the examination upon that propo- sition, at least until I see that it is as he usl‘llvt;“.'_\skl am satisfied with. Mellick—Who told you, Levings? A. T do not know. 3 = Q. Well, there was the name of some Assemblyman mentioned in_ connection with it, was there not? I did not hear your story very good. Some one told you that some Assemblyman—told you that Mr. Cosper had— A. N the information that I had was that Mr. Cosper had gone to Milton Green and then these other facts transpired. You wish me to repeat it? Q. I did nct hear it very good for some reason or other. A. The information was that Assembly- man Cosper had gone to Mr. Green and told him that Colonel Burms, or some of Colonel Burns' authorized agents, had of- fered Mr. Cosper $6000 to vote for Colonel Burns for Senator; that Mr. Cosper told Mr. Green that he did not want to vote for Colonel Burns; that he preferred to vote — when he changed his vote from what it is at present—to vote for Mr. Grant, but that he thought that if he did vote for Mr. Grant he should be remun- erated to the extent of the offer that had been made to him by the Burns people. And I afterward sent two men to see Mr, Cosper and Mr. Cosper denied the truth of that information. Q.1 do not understand that exactly. Do you say that your information is that Mr. Green went to Mr. Cosper? A. That Mr. Cosper went to Mr. Green. Q. When did you hear this, Levings? A. Four or five days ago—I do not re- member. Three or four, or four or five days ago. Q. And where were you when you re- ceived the information? A. In Sacramento. Q. Whereabouts? A. 1 do not remember. Q. You haven't any idea whether it was in the Capitol bmld!ng? A. I think it was downtown—probably was downtown. Q. Down at the Golden Eagle Hotel? A. Presumably. That is where we meet most people that have information to ive. gQ. You think it was in the Golden Eagle Hotel? A. I rather think so. Q. Was it in the evening? A. I do not remember. . That was a very important plece of information, was it not, if it should be true? A. If it was true, yes. Q. That should have impressed you. Is not your memory good enough to have it impressed on you—the man that gave it, or the time, or something about it? A. I have told you and the committee, Mr. Mellick, that I do not remember the source of my information. Q. No; but I want to try and refresh your memory. A. All right; go ahead. Q. Was it @ man or a woman that told rou? X A. I do not know. Probably a man. Q. Was he an old man? A. I am sure I cannot tell you. There is no desire of evasion that I reply this way. Q. I know; but I want to refresh your memory, Mr. Levings. A. I really do not remember. I have tried to refresh my own memory before I came here to-day, because I never expect- ed, after I had ascertained from Mr. Cos- per his denial, to be able—even if it were true—to fix the truth of it, and I dismissed it from my mind, as there are many other matters that engage my attention. Q. I know; but you detailed two report- ers, did you not? A. I did. Q. Who were the two reporters? A. Mr. Colver and Mr. James. Q. Mr. Richard Colver and Henry James? A. Yes, sir. Q. What did you tell them when you saw them? A. I repeated more briefly what I have told you, and told them to go to Mr. Cosper and ask him as to the truth or falsity of it. Q. Both of them? A. Yes. Q. Did you indicate to them from whom you had gotten it? _Maybe they will re- member what you téld them? A. No, sir; I did not tell them. I pre- sume I did not. 1 do not see why I should have_told them— Q. You gave them no imkling of what kind of a man it was that told you about it, nor anything of the kind? Did not you glve them any inkling except, just go and interview him? A. That 1is all. Q. Well, do you think they have any knowledge of who it was that told you? A. I know they have not. Q. You did not dream It? A. No; I did not dream it. Q. It seems to me that you ought to remember something about the kind of a man that would tell you such a story as that; I surely would. A. That is' a very natural thought, I will admit. Q. Did you believe it when you heard it? A. 1 neither belleved nor disbelleved it. Q. Then you had it in your mind in abeyance to find out, did you not? A_ I intended to find out about it if I | could. Q. Did you Inquire any more about it yourselt? A. I do not think I made any direct in- quirtes. I possibly tried to ascertain some of Mr. Cosper’s antecedents or his political connections, or something of that I | | | | k | tainly,” | me to see them alone. filr‘;d; I do net recollect whether I did o1 ot. Q. Did you inquire from Mr. Colver o1 Mr. James as to what they found out? A. They reported back that Mr. Com per had denied that there was any trutk in the statement which they put to hir and which I asked them to. Q. Did Mr. Green ny it also? A. 1 did not ask Mr. Green. Q. I mean did Mr. James or Mr. Colve: ask Mr. Green? A. They did not. Q. Then you were satisfled that it was not true when your reporters came bach with_that report? A. I was not. Q. Then what el: A. 1 dropped it Q. Did_you make note book or anywher A. 1 did not. Q. No way of refres as to who told you at A. Not Mr. Bu who ‘could give & to it outside of Mr. Green and Mr. Cospe: No; I do not. If I did I would have A, got it m Mr. Lardner—How long ago was it that instructed _the two reporters to go i rview Mr. Cosper? « recollection is that it was last Sun Mr. Cosper probably will re. member. The chairman—I will testify after awhile. The witness—I do not remember the Mellick—Mr. Levings, it seems tq e bit unfair to vring up a thing 1 not think it is po 0 ble for fresh your memory e give you time? A. If I do, T will certainly volunteer the information to the committee. Q. There is no data of any kind that you could go to and help your memory? A. I have no knowledge of any. Mr. Burnett—Was it an absolute stran- ger who told you this? A. I do not know. I tell you I do not remember who It was. The chairman—Mr. Mellick is hereby designated as the chairman of this com- mittee for the time being. I desire to be sworn, gentlemen. GRS Cosper on the Stand. Mr. Cosper, being sworn, testified as follows: On last Sabbath afternoon, at about ! o'clock, I was in my room at No. 809 L street, with my wife, doing some work In connection with the contested election. The door bell rang. Two gentlemen stood at the door and said to the landlady that they desired to see Mr. C er, or some- thing to that effect. I stepped to the head of the stairway and called them up. I had seen the gentlemen before about tha corridcrs of the Goden Eagle Hotel, but di1 not know them. They came into the room. and asked if could see me alone. I said to them, “Certainly,” and requested that my wife go into one of the other rooms that we have there. She left the room, and I then asked them what their business was. I do not remember the language I used in that respect. And they began to tell me something of the story that Mr. Levings has detailed on this stand just now I said to them: “‘Gentlemen, the lady that was with me is my wife, and if you have any interview to seek with me it must be in the pres- ence of my wife.” They sald > that was agreeable to them, or words to that effect. So, I called Mrs. Cosper into the room. They stated their names to me. The smaller man said that his name was Colver, and in to the taller man, saying that his name was Mr. James. y sald to me Mr. C , was the spoke: m % at they had a mat- ter to tell me about that they thought gerhaps I would not care to have my wife ear was the reason that they had asked I safd to them that there was nothing in my actions or in my career in any way at all that I was not erfectly willing hat my wife shoul know. They said then that that was perfectly sailsfactory to them. Then they went on to say that there was a rumor on the street that Mr. Green was saying that I had sent somebody to him—not naming that body, by the way—td him with a statement to the effect—I do not know that I can re- peat the exact language, but the sub- stance is very clear in my mind—to the effect, I say, that Colonel Burns, or some- body in his interest, and offered me $6000 if I would vote for him for United States Senator, and that 1 did not so desire to vote_for him, but that if I should vote for Mr. Grant they ought to do as weil by me, I think, was the language that was used. Well, I said: “Gentlemen, from what sources do you receive any such information as thi: They said they were not able to tell me. I said, “To whom did Mr. Green say this?” The; said they did not know. I said to Mr. Colver that the man who relterates a scandal is equally gu“t_\' in law and morals with him who originally pub- lishes it, and I hold you per- sonally responsible for this statement. 1 think, like what they say of my friend Wright, I was a little hot and sald some- thing to the effect that I should hold any- body strictly responsible, and Mr. Colver sald that he was entirely willing to ve responsible—that is, he said, “The man- agers of our paper are.” *Oh,” I said, “a libel suit or a suit for slander is no remedy for a man that the newspapers attack. The only remedy is a shotgun, and it may be that it will be necessary for me to use it. That is irrelevant, but still I am trying to give the entire conversation. They said it was not in any aggravated sense like that they came to me, and they seemed to be fair in their way of treating the matter, and I cooled down. It is not my custom to get off my base that way generally, then ressed the matter as to whom Mr. Green ad made this statement. My theory is that Mr. Colver said that he did not know —that he was not’certain, but that he thought that it was Mr. Leake. Mr. Mellick—Which Leake? A. I think the term then was Mr. Leake. My understanding was that it was the man they called “Sam’’ Leake. But how I got that understanding I cannot de- scribe to you. I said, I want to see Mr. Green and Mr. Leake.” They said, “We felt that you.ought to have at least the opportunity to deny such a charge as that.” 1 said, “I thank you for that kind- ness,” or something to that effect. I said, “You may say that if any man, Miiton J. Green or any other, says that I sent to him any word or intimation that I de- sired him to give $6000, one or any other number of dollars for my vote for United States Senator, he is a devilish liar.” And I think I said something to the effect that 1 desired to crowd that lle down his throat. I do not know what it was that I sald, but something to that effect. I said further that if any man has inti- mated that Daniel M. Burns, Ulysses S. Grant, or any other candidate for United States Senator has offered me any con- sideration of any kind whatsoever for my vote for United States Senator that that man is a lar—that any such statement or intimation is an absolute and uncon- ditional lie, and I so relterate that fact to this committee now. I say that no man has offered me, or so far as I know intimated to me that I might have a meretritious consideration for my vote for any candidate that is before this Legis- lature for the office of United States Sen- ator. I think I sald to these gentlemen that if they would inquire into my his- tory and antecedents they would readily learn that such an offer would not be entertained for a moment by me or by any of my friends. I had my overcoat and hat on when these gentlemen came and was about to go up to the Golden Eagle Hotel to catch the news. When they reported I went immediately to the Golden Eagle Hotel and sought to find Mr. Green. I did not find him. I did not know Mr. Leake, but I desired to ses Mr. Green first, to know whether there was any truth or shadow of truth in any such statement as that that he had made such a statement concerning me. I do not now remember whether 1 went home to my room prior to this second circumstance or not, but the second circumstance is this: That that evening, while standiag by the lunch counter of the Golden Eagie Hotel, Mr. ver came to me and sald to me that “we do not intend to use that inter- view and the matter had better drop where it is.”” What his language was I cannot quite recall, but my understanding was, as he conveyed it to me, that they had run it down and considered there was nothing in it. At least I so felt and said nothing about it until two or three days ago, I met Mr. Green in the hallway near the statuary. on this floor of this building. As a reason for not finding those gentle- men before, I will say that, after having been Rpgoh’lted the chairman of this com- mittee. I felt that I did not want to be at the headquarters of any of the can- didates for United States Senator, and I have kept away from them because I wanted to keep my mind in the condition that the mind of a juror ought to be—unprejudiced and unblased by any of those incidental remarks that & man is apt to get in such a place as