The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-16
STAIN Of SUGAR
Appears On the Garments of
Senator Ransom Today.
His Son Speculated in Sugar
Stocks.
A CLEAN BREAST OF 1T
Apparently Made Before the
Committee.
How Young Ransom Bet On
Sugars Rise and Fall.
Senator Quay Boldly Admits
That He Speculated.

WASHINGTON, June 1O.-SonatOr Ran
som created slight sensation when he
appeared before the senate sugar trust
investigation committee today.
He was asked. as were others who
were before the committe, the following
question by Senator Lodge:
HAS any member of your family or
any person in your employ any clerk
employed under the laws of the United
States in your service, been to your knowl-
edge, interested in any of the ways
indicated in any of the preceding ques-
tions in any transaction in sugar stock or
certificates during the period men
tioned?"
Replying to the question, Mr.. Ransom
asked leave to make statement ON
the night of last Thursday he had been
visited at his home by Mr.. Rowland,
who ask him substantially the same
question as had been put to
him by the committee. Mr. Ran
som made explicit denial whereupon
Mr.. Rowland Informed him that brok-
erage firm in this city, Silbee d Co, had
entry in their books which Indicated
that the senator had speculated in sugar
stocks during the period of the tariff
debate.
"Mr. Rowland" continued Mr.. Ran
som, asked me if / knew any other per-
son by the name of Ransom in the city.
the city by the name of Ransom, and
that was my son George, who was my
clerk.
"He asked me where he was, and 1
said he was in the parlOr, and l would
step in and bring him in. / was perhaps
more cautious than occasion required,
and l said to Mr. Rowland that would
thank him to come with me to the door
SO that he could see no communication
should take place between me and my
son.
81 went to the parlor door where
George was and beckoned him to come in.
l did not speak to him see him be-
tween the parlor and my room, and when
he got in my room asked the gentleman
to state his business to him and told my
son whatever the matter was to tell the
truth about it.
He then stated to those in my pres
ence that he had bought some sugar
stock on the 17th or 18th of April. He
put up a margin of SO, which he paid
the broker in sugar stock. He said on
the same day he put up margin of $50
on cotton. He said he lost the cotton
and made $40 sugar and that after
that he repeated the same bet on sug ar,
but not on cotton, and | think he lost the
second.
.sHe then stated he and Captain Barnes,
a messenger here at the commerce com
mittee room, after that, two occas-
sions, bought $40 worth of sugar stock
They went in together and asked the
correspondent to examine my fully
as he pleased and to examine Captain
Barnes too.
Mr.. Ransom proceeded to relate that
about two weeks ago Captain Barnes
previously alluded to had come TO him
to tell him that friend
had informed him that he (the senator)
had been specializing in sugar. The
senator denied the story and sent Barnes
to investigate it. The latter returned
with the assurance that there was no
basis for the assertion. The senator had
told the correspondent, Rowland, about
this incident, Withholding the name of
Barnes informant. which had been COM
municated to him in confidence.
Senator Ransom advised the commit
tee to examine Mr.. Barnes and see if his
story did not correspond with what had
just been stated to the committee.
Senator Gray asked: Had you any
knowledge whatever until this interview
with Mr.. Rowland on the evening you
spe of the bets of your son with this
broker in sugar and cotton?"
Senator Ransom replied: 81 never
dreamed of such thing. / never thought
of it l would not have believed it. The
truth of it is, 1 went to my son with a
great deal of confidence and told him
that this correspondent wanted to
see him. The papers show
that when he bought this sugar stock
was out of the city. The eighteenth of
April was when we were at Governor
Vance's funeral at Ashville. L may state
to the committee that have no interest
whatever and never had stock or trade or
anything else in any way since have
been in the senate"
quay Boldly Admits.
$3.50 .. m.-Senator Quay was before
the sugar trust committee just before
o'clock. He told the committee that he
bought sugar stock for speculation