The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-19
LAW Of CACHE CHARGES
M'CUNE WITH BRIBERY
An Astounding Accusation Made BY StalWart
Cannon Man.
Story Disbelieved and Laws Fellow Republicans Bitterly
DenOunce Him-Thrilling Scene In Joint Assembly.

made an appointment and failed to
keep 1t. Then another appointment,
which again he failed to observe. The
, committee endeaVored for three davS
to reach Jackson, but he was too
elusive. Earlier in the session jack
son is reported to have told of another
attempt to bribe him. 1t was said he
even went so far as to name the bribe
oferer. The man ne named denied ever
having seen Jackson. He didn't know
him. He offered to meet Jackson, but
the latter didn't care to form any new
acquaintances, and the matter was
dropped, as everybody understood the
situation. Last evening Jackson was
a considerable period in earnest con-
sultation with Senator Shurtliff at the
Cannon headquarters.
BIG CROWD PRESENT.
1t was evident halt an hour before
the joint session was called to order
that something unusual was going to
happen, for the assembly hall was
packed as it never has been before
since the race began. Every nook and
corner was filed. Men stood on the ra-
diators, clung to the windowsills. and
the throngs in the corridors We're so
close about every entrance to the cham
Der that the late comers among the leg
islators could only with the greatest
difficulty fight their way to the doors.
When Mr.. Law rose to a question of
personal privilege, by some secret tele-
graph, the word was whispered all
about the hall that he was to prefer
charges of bribery. AS he went on with
his perOration a deep, eXpectant hush
fell over the audience, but when he
came to the point where he made the
direct charge of bribery, a deafening
yell went up from the packed gallery.
The legislature itself was deadly, SOL
emnly, menacingly silent. Then for
few moments MIR. Laws every ether
word was cheered, but as he began TO
get down to facts the sentiment chang
ed. The thin, unsubstantial, unsub-
stantiated nature of his charges, his
confession that Mr.. McCune had re-
fused to go with him into the trap he
had prepared gradually turned the tide
of favor and sympathy against the ac-
cuser and in favor of the accused.
From Kissing the name of McCune, the
crowd began to cheer and applaud him,
and when Law had ended and Senator
Evans offered his authorized denial of
the charges, the crowd cheered again
and again, and even the insistent
pounding Of President Nebeker'S gavel
could not still the noise. And from
then on the revulsion of feeling in ia
vor of McCune was complete.
OVATION FOR MCUNE.
After the joint session legislators,
business men and politicians thronged
to the McCuue headquarters until the
whole hotel fairly seethed with them.
Mr. McCune was besieged with visitors
who insisted on seeing him and shak-
ing hands with him and expressing
their conviction that he was innocent
OF the charges preferred against him.
The gathering became a reception in
five minutes and in ten it turned into
an ovation. For hours the rooms We're |
thronged to Overlooking with people. |
Several delegations of Democratic la
dies called TO express their confidence |
in Mr.. McCune during the afternoon, /
and they stated to him that they felt |
that time would see his complete vim |
dicatiOn. Not until the early morning |
hours did the headquarters resume I
their wonted aspect.
Notable among all the spectators who |
came to see the bribery charges sprung !
was Sam hing, brother of Congress /
man King. King cheered uproariously !
and clapped his hands almost inces- !
sanity during Laws speech. He was so |
noisy that the sergeant-at-arms was 1
compelled to request him to be less !
demonStratiVe Again. when Mrs. Mat |
tie H Cannon voted for McCune, King |
was observed to hiss and the sibilant |
sound was heard to come from his lips. /
A second time during the single session
the brother Of the congressman was
requested to observe the proprieties.
Gustave Kroeger, a house committee
clerk. was another gentleman who his
sed the lady senator.
To some of Mr.. McCune's friends, the
Law sensation was an explanation of
some things that had been q mystery
The day before. 1t had been noted that
?. II. Lannan and Chief Prott were in
ieep consultation Friday afternoon.
That of itself was not regarded as un-
usual, because the chief and the pub