St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-05
Most Shameful State Of Things in North Star
Politics for Which Nobody in P Particular Is
Held to Blame.

"Where money was offered so freely
II would be strange il there were not
found some who were willing to accept
it," was a remark made by member of
the senate yesterday. when he had fin
ished reading the report Of the commit
lee appointed two years ago to investi-
gate the charges of bribery i'll cOnnec-
ton with the Republican caucus that
named Gen. w. ID. Washburn for the
United States senate over ex-senator
Sabn. This report. as made public yes
terday, Is filled with more than rum0rS.
as the friends of Gen. Washburn have
all along asserted. and fully sustains
Senator nonneIly in his demands for
its publication. 1t will take q deal of
explanation to persuade The people of
the state who read 1t that corrupt
methods were not used in the senatorial
election of 1889.
The committee were appointed to in
Vestigate the charges of bribery in con-
nection with that memorable caucus.
The senate committee was made up of
Messrs. " ard. Pope and Edwards, ana
the house committee consisted of
Messrs. Seyatson, HOmpe, Stebbins,
Searlcs. f. c. Stevens. Dment and
John Day Smith. The first meeting of
the house committee was held Jan. 2l.
1889, at which, before doing anything.
the following resolution, presented by
Hon. John Day Smith, was adopted:
Resolved, That in the course of this in
vestigation, If amy person is accused Of nav
ing used. or endcaYOTcd 20 use. corrupt
means 10 influence members to vote for or
against any of the candidates balloted for at
The caucus for nomination Of lnited states
senator oil the Eth INST, such person so
accused shall be summoned before this com
mittee TO testify.
Knew of All Attempt.
Hon. f. l.. lIOppin, a representative
from Mower county. was the first man
to be examined by the committee. MIR.
HOppin knew Of an attempt being made
TO bribe Il member. and knew 1t pretty
well, too. as lie was the man. But here
is his version of the affair:
know of an aiiempt TO corrupt member
of the legislature, 10 secure his vote for one
of the candidates for nited States senator
before the late caucus-the day before l
WAS that member. II occurred at room 152
Merchants hotel. in this city. | was APP
preached by 4 man who was introduced to
me by the name OF Thompson. 1t was about
= O'Clock of that dav There was considerable
previous talk Of not much account. He re-
uucsted Il private interview and asked where
we coud go, and said if there was no other
place we could go 10 my room. We went
there. lie said To ne: If Won will 90 into
the caucus tomorrow night and cast q secret
ballot for ". ID. WeShbum | will give you
800 spot cash and 500 after the caucus is
over He said he had no authority from
amy one 10 make that offer. lie did not state
how he was interested. / told him he had
struck the Wrong IEan
and had made bad mistake He old not in
timaie where the money Was coming from
and did not show any money. Cannot tell
what Thompson it was; do not know his
first name. He was introduced as being a
man from ST. Paul. ] can give description
he = tall slim man; wears heavy mus
tache, think, without whiSkers; was little
lame; wore Il low SiOuch haU and mink coat;
was in the room about five minutes At the
time we broke he asked me not TO sell out be-
fore he had chance 10 see ME again. lie
said he wanted a little chance TO confer
with the boys met him about couple Of
hours after at corner of jackson and Fourth
streets. the same day | think Subject was
again taken up. He took hold of any shonl-
der and pulled me- 10 one side. He said Il
nave been dispensing Doodle here i'll every
election Tor years, ana i never was so let
down rs have been to-day by a Mower county
man." / said rs that so, what is the matter
now" He said "A Mower county man came TO
me day or two ago and said that he was
acquainted with that man HOppin from
Mower county and he could be induced TO
vote for Washburn and can be handled all
right for Si00. Thompson says: Il gave him
SlVh lie came Dack second time and told
me he could not quite fetch him CIoppIn
for 500 but for 500 he could get him to vote
for Washburn. / gave him another Sl0O He
came again and sand y have got him ali right
lie has promised TO vote for Washburn -
Thompson sad he tnen gave him
81 as his service for working me- ] said 10
Mr.. Thompson, You are badly let down; he
never said senator 30 me-" asked him who
the man was, and he said he did not wish 10
give names. I said. Perhaps | can guess
Did he have long. black whiskers:' lie said.
Yes, sir. | said, Are the initials of his
name Clarence Warren:" aud he said, You
are good at guessing" declined 10 answer
for whom voted. At the time of these in
terviews had never told any man that he
could have my vote.
ThompSOuss Testimony.
Mr.. Uoppin further stated that he
was neither opposing nor supporting
Gen. Washburn. lie had seen Mr Sabin
and talked to all the candidates. Pur-
Suant TO the Smith resolution Edw,H s.
Thompson was day or tWu later called.
as 1t was supposed that lie was the
gentleman referred TO by the Mower
county legislator
Mr, Thompson proved to be the man
and knew Mr.. Hoppin-"had met him.
lie knew of no offers of money being
made to any one 10 vote for MIR. Wash
DuIn ana positively denied Mr.. Hoppin's
statements. Mr.. Il0ppin had never told
him tIiat he had struck the wrong