The San Francisco call., 1896-04-17

courage to say that he was candidate for
the Presidency. He did not say, as others
did, that he was ''in the hands of his
friends" That usually turned out, Hill
said, that the politician found himself "in
the hands of his enemies [Laughter.]
Mckinley had the right to aspire to the
Presidency and Hill supposed that he was
making an honorable canvass for 1t.
Therefore he had been startled on reading
these charges of "boodle' which had been
spread before the country.
After the newspaper articles had been
read Hill said
81 have too much confidence in the Sen
ator from New Hampshire to think that
these allegations were made thoughtessly
or unadvisedly. l think that he knew
what he was talking about. l think that
he believed the allegations. They have
not been answered. They have not been
met. Abuse of that distinguished Senator
is not an answer to the allegations re-
Election on his motives does not meet the
charges. Here Is distinguished Senator
making an allegation against a leading
candidate of his own party for the Presi-
dency-against the candidate who is to be
his money to buy his nomination. He
charges the levying of contributions on
the protected industries for the purpose OF
securing platform and a candidate suita-
bic to those interests. Yet no Senator,
not even the Senator from Kansas, has
asked for an investigation. The charge
affects the elective franchise. 1t affects
the purity of our primary meetings. 1t is
stab at the foundation of our Govern
ment. [ am not proposing any investiga-
tion of the charge. am only suggesting
it. Why has it not attracted more atten-
tion ?''
Hill then went on to comment upon the
sugar trust investigation as another re-
markable instance of silly investigations.
He described the humiliation of Senators
in having trailed upstairs to the commit
tee-room and in being put through lot of
questions as to whether they had specu-
lated in sugar stock.
"And under oath, too," Hawley (R.) of
Connecticut suggested.
"Of course, under OATH" Hill replied.
"They would not take a Senator's word.
And what was the result? They found one
Senator who came before the committee
anu Sdlu eS, ulu Duy some sugar
stocks. / should do it again. I have a
right to do it. What are you going to do
about it?' and to-day that distinguished
Senator (Quay) is the candidate, the favor
ite son of the leading Republican State of
the Union for the Presidency, and he has
got as many and as warm friends as any
man who is candidate for the Presi-
dency."
In that connection Hill created amuse-
ment by referring to Senator McPherson's
maid and Senator Ransom's son as other
spectators in sugar stocks-the latter
having invested $40 or SIS in a bucket
shop speculation. And that, he said, was
the net result OF that great investigation
which had been got UP On account of news
paper clamor. He mentioned this, he
said, simply to show that Senators be-
Titled themselves in the eyes of the
people by ordering an investigation with
out sufficient cause. He asked Senators
to pause before entering on any such
ridiculous proceeding again.
Without concluding his speech Hill
yielded for motion to proceed to execu-
tive business, and at $50 P. NJ. the Senate
adjourned until Monday.