Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-19

mer. Mr.. fancy is the man VINO, it has
been charged, bounded General st.
Clair in his newspaper until, in sheer
desperation. st. Clair used his position
to get valuable concession to buy
Taney's silence. Mr.. Taney's concession
is for directory of exhibitors, a dis,
tinct publication from the Conkey cata-
logue.
FIRM FRIEND OF UNION PRINTERS.
Mr.. fancy refused to talk of the mat
ter yesterday, saying that he would
give the whole story to the investigating
committee to-day. He was very much
surprised that union printers were max
ing war on him. "Pll tell you what ]
think of union printers in few words"
he said. II put up $4,000 with the
Ways and Means committee as the price
of this concession, but rather than have
my directory printed in a non-union
shop would forfeit that money and
forfeit any profit l might make from
it's publication. In my newspaper Office
at Wheeling and my book-bindery at
Charleston l employ none but union
men, and rather than incur their i'll
will would lose my deposit of $4,000
and my profits from the directory, which
some people who don't know anything
about it say will be enormous"
The investigation presided over by
Judge Walker drew large crowd TO
the Rand-McNally building yesterday
afternoon. Many of the directors were
present to hear the evidence, among
them Lyman J. Gage, Ferd W. Peck,
Adolph Nathan, George Schneider,
Charles Fl. Wacker, John J. P Odell,
Andrew McNally and w. D. Kerfoot
Major Hany, Traffic Manager Jaycox
and others were there. About the
time the inquisition began MIR. Conkey
came in. Mr.. Conkey is a short, fat
man, apparently 40 years old, with a
closely cropped mustache the color Of
a pumpkin pie. He was accompanied
by Judge Page, his lawyer. The judge
is rather tall and thin. His mus
tache is the hue OF Kansas prairie
fire.
Judge Walker referred to the charges
and outlined the plan of procedure.
"We want an everyday investigation
no attorneys" said Delegate Askew
Judge Walker said Mr.. Conkey could
not be denied the right to appear by at
torney il he so desired. Anything to
get at the facts. he added.
Delegate Agne n addressed the three
judges on "the degradation OF labor"
and the right of the exposition company
TO use its funds to support firms hostile
to organized workmen. He said the
company was being used by an organ
ization-the Typothete-to defeat the
aims Of union printers, and then tried
TO prove it..
THOUGHT IT AN EXCELLENT BID.
Andrew McNally, a member of the
Ways and Means Committee, was
called, He took the stand and was
about to proceed when the delegates
exclaimed in chorus: Swear him"
II am perfectly willing 70 be sworn"
he replied. A handy notary admins
tered the oath and Mr.. McNally pro-
ceeded. He told the judges that Di-
rector Z. 3. Butler had carried on all
the negotiations with Mr.. COnkey, and
had the contract almost ready to sign
before he knew anything about it. Mr..
McNsllY read from the records of the
showing the progress Of ne
The subject was finally
referred 20 a subcommittee" he said,
land on November % l introduced
resolution to give the contract TO Mr..
Conkey on payment of 500, 900 and GER
tain percentages of his gross receipts
from sales aud advertising"
by what authority was the contract |
let without advertising?" hH'"'-"ra A. |
nc" I GsSrIi Is no rule requiring the COM
nittee to advertise. Most OF the con-
cessions have been given that way. we
thought this was an excellent BID Tor
the exposition and took it,"
"Did you ever tell Mr.. Conkey that
YOU had control of the CONCESSIONS?
81 never made such statement"
"HaYe you had any relations with
Mr., Conkey to make you interested in
this contract?" This by Judge Moran.
"Noue whatever"
HAS there been a suggestion that
either you or any member Of your COM
pany might have an interest in the con-
cession, either directly or indirectly?"
There has been no such suggestion"
Mr.. McNally said he would not have
bid for the work if he had had chance.
LAWYER Page asked Mr.. McNally a
question for his client. WAS your &C
ton in this matter Influenced by any
motive other than the strictest honesty
and a desire to make good bargain for
the exposition company"
at was not"
CONSIDERED \ SPECULATIVE PROJECT
Mr.. McNally retired, and Mr.. Dono-
hue, of another big printing house, was
called. 1t had been admitted in the be-
ginning that the committee had not
asked for bids, so questions in that line
were ruled out.
Would you have bid for it II you had
been given . chance?"
No The work is Of speculative
character and we take no chances"
Charles q. Leonard, Of another print
ing house was next called by Delegate
Askew. He also said he would not
have bid for the job if he had been
asked to.
ave call for Mr.. Conkey now," Mr..
Askew said. Lawyer Page objected to
his client taking the stand until the
delegates had made a case. He said no
testimony had been offered TO show
fraud and did not propose to unmask
Mr.. Conkey's batteries. Judge Walker
thought MIR. COnkey ought to testify
anyhow, and, while Lawyer Page was
obiecting, Mr.. Conkey took the stand in
spite of his lawyers protest.
Mr. Conkey told the story OF getting
the contract. There was nothing eX-
citing in the narrative. He was simply
looking for business and happened to
hear about the catalogue. After a
number of interviews with Mr.. Butler
the terms were agreed upon in bust