New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-03-06

ment for him to vote against the so-called sun
Elementary text book bill, or in favor Of any
pending or proposed amendments offered
thereto? @
Answer. have not and do not know Of any
money being offered for that purpose.
/. .. Are you in the employ of any publishing
house? q
A. Yes; the house Of A. s. Barnes & Co., and
no other.
9, Have you, as such, endeavored to defeat
A. / have. I have conversed with different
members of the House and Senate.
@. Have you talked with Mr.. Brandt Of the
House:
A. I did.
@. State briefly the circumstances, and
what was said and done.
A:-Saturday morning Mr.. Brandt came to
room 81 in the Merchants hotel with Mr.. Geib.
Geib introduced him to me when Brandt
stepped into the room. The first I recollect
that was said was by Brandt, that he called to
talk about the text book bill. Said he should
support the amendment to the text book bill
making it optional with the districts to take
books or not, and he said he intended to do so.
We talked for several minutes. I gave him
my reasons for opposing the bill. Asked me
what thought of the amendment including
cities. replied that I did not consider it
essential, and did not think it right that cities
or towns should be compelled to use the books;
was to leave 1t optional with the distei cts.
Brandt said he thought so too and intended to
vote Tor the amendment making it optional.
That was all that was said about the text book
bill. Then talked on other SUBJECTS; about
the grasshopper troubles; said his county suf
fered and he had suffered, and was hard up.
Nothing more had been said as to how he in
tended to vote the text book bill. Mr..
Brandt is in my congressional district. Inever
met him before this time. 1 did not procure
the appointment for him to come to my room,
and did not know that he coming. l took
him to be an influential man in his commune
ty. When Brand t got up to leave the room I
gave him fifty dollars. It was my own money,
and not given with any idea of procuring his
vote on that amendment, as he had stated un-
qualihedly that he was a friend of the amend
ment. The point had in my mind was to
secure him a friend in case wanted his
assistance in political matters in the future.
Odd you converse with Geib the night
before at the Merchants?
Al did.
Q.-What was the conversation?
Alt was brief; cannot hardly tell; but the
substance was-can' t you give me a lift on this
bill. He told me he could not and that was
about all; he said his constituents were in favor
of the bill. and that ended the conversation as
far as / know.
Odd you intimate to him that parties
that would vote for the bill could get 800, or
any sum?
Al did not. had an envelope in my
hand; did not show it to him, to my knowl-
edge. What was in the envelope [ do not know.
This was in the Office or saloon Of the hotel 1
am not positive whether I asked him if he
could not get another member. If did, I
have forgotten it. 1 did not send anyone to
bring Geib to the hotel.
Q.-Have you paid out any money for, OF
belonging to any parties in order to defeat this
Merrill text book bill?
A.-Not to any member of the Legislature,
but have employed two to help defeat
the bill for short time not connected with the
Legislature. did not see Geib, to my knowl-
edge, on the morning that Brandt came to my
room until he brought Brandt. He came to
the door and introduced Brandt, and left i'm
mediately.