, 1892-11-03
INFAMOUS WORK.
McGraw Was the Principal In the
MetCalf Bribery Case.
How He Attempted TO Accomplish
the EffectuaI Ruin of Others TO
Further His own End--The Tes-
aIuaouv

the EffectuaI Ruin of Others TO
Further His own End--The Tes-
tImOny.
The friends of John H. McGraw and the
! journals throughout the state of Wash
ington that are supporting him for COVER
nor, have continuously insisted that, not
withstanding his bad record in the east,
and Notwithstanding the fact that he is ac-
cused, aud it isnot denied by him, of keep
ing a gambling house and a low dive in
Seattle, that those who oppose him cannot
point to a single dishonorable act of his
since coming to this state; but in this they
are overlooking very important period in
the history of McGraw this in state. 1t
will be remembered that in the famous, or
rather the infamous, senatorial contest
of Watson c. Squire, John H. McGraw
was the leader and director of the Squire
forces. 1t was charged at the time that
John II. McGraw advised John L. Met
calfe, bribe taker, to go to any of Calkins'
friends that he could find, and try to get
| them to bribe him to vote for Calkins. In
this connection the evidence of this bribe
taker Metcalfe, taken before the committee
of investigation appointed by the legisa-
ture will be interesting reading, and we
quote from Metcalfe's testimony given
under oath at the time, printed in the
House Journal for 1891. Metcalfe was
/ testifying as to the conversations which he
had had from time to time with Judge
HOughton and H. A. Clark, for a few
days just prior to his accepting the bribe and
as to the details leading up to that point
He had testified that he went to Judge
| HonghtOn, whom he knew to be friend
of Calkins, and engaged in conversation
with him and also with Clark for the pur-
| pose, if possible, of inducing them TO offer
/ him a bribe to vote for Calkins il being
known that he (Metcalfe) was for Squire.
In these conversations he was pretend
ing to be their friend. He had also CON
/ fessed that all the statements he made to
them were false and made to de-
celYe, and all this was done under
the direction of McGraw. Counsel here
asked the following question -(page BOG,
A, @. H.J)
! Odd you have a conversation with
anybody before that time as to your inten-
tion to do this (To get them to brlbe
/ him.)
Al had yes sir.
! Q.-With whOm2
! A.-Col. Gilbert and Mr.. McGraw
Q.-What McGraw is that2
! A.-A gentleman from Seattle.
| Q.-Is that John H. McGraw who is COM
monty known as Sheriff McGraw2
| Ayes sir.
! Q.-John H. McGraw2
| Ayes sir.
| Ole is understood to be conducting
the canvass of Senator Squirrel
Ayes sir.
.Q.-Did he encourage you in this course
of yours
Ale did, most emphatically.
He further answered as follows: ~ went
] tn Mr. MpfAro w and told him from, hot /
! could see money was being used freely, and
| If anybody came to me, or if / had an op-
pOrtunity or a chance, / would try and ex-
pose it, He (McGraw) says, 4 hope you
/ WILL
II spoke to Colonel Gilbert about the
matter, and he said I don't know wheth-
er it will do or not. We (referring to him
self and McGraw) will talk it over and see
whether this will do or not A
while after that Gilbert came to
me and said if this thing was done he
believed it would elect Senator Squire, and
asked me if was approached if would do
it, and said would. McGraw said if 1
did, it would raise me in the estimation of
the people,"
Mr. j. H. McGraw testified before that
investigating committee, but he failed to
deny single statement made by Metcalfe.
He therefore stands convicted by his own
confession of having arranged the whole
matter with Metcalfe to elect Squire to the
/ United States senate by methods of
bribery. 1t will be seen from the evidence
that Metcalfe hesitated, and that McGraw
and his accOmplice, Gilbert, consulted over
the matter and then insisted on Metcalfe
going into the Calkins camp, among Calk-
ms friends, and inducing them TO bribe him
to vote for Calkns, and to so conduct the
matter that they could secure the evidence,
and thus smirch the character of an hon
orable candidate for the United States SEN
ate and his friends, and under the cloak of
the exposure of the alleged dishonesty and
corruption of Calkins and his friends, make
sure the election of Squire.
The report of this investigating COM
mittee on page 427 Id. says: "Third-We
find that the said Metcalfe was en-
couraged by others to accept the said
five hundred dollars" thus referring
specially to John H. McGraw and
conyictlng him Of being the power
behind the throne Metcalfe was only
to make Squire senator. They had no
hope of winning by fair and honorable
methods. They were ready to do that
which might forever ruin their fellow man.
To McGraw the reelection of Squire iusti-
fed any means to that end. They were
looking forward to the canal scheme and
they must have one Of the ring in the sem
ate. What did they care who was wronged
or ruined so they succeeded. And that is
the spirit now. What do they care for
Olympld OF Jne rest OF bne sJaJe, II bney
can only get the scheme saddled on to the
government in the appropriation bll for
rivers and harbors, they can increase the
demand from year to year. Suppose it did
ruin some one, it elected Squire Suppose
our canal scheme does injure Olympia and
ThurstOn county and any other portion of
, the state, and reduce the value of real
estate in any city and town save Tacoma,
on the Sound, what need we care, it makes
us rich and Seattle prosperous? And this is
the same disposition the Seattle ring has
manifested for more than ten years.