The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-07
WRIGHT MAKES AN
ADMISSION THAT
IS SIGNIFICANT
Attempt Was Made to Tamper With
the Vote of Morris Brooke.

imagine that threats to unseat men,
Der would follow the failure Of efforts
to bribe him. All day long the touts
hav, been working to break the force
of The Calls disclosures, but their en-
deavors in this direction bring out con-
firmatory facts.
Colonel J. B. Wright, division super
intendent of the railroad, saiu in an in
terview to-day: About one month ago
a prominent merchant of this city came
to me in the interest of Morris Brooke,
saying that if 1 would interest myself
in Brooke's behalf, his (Brooke's) vote
| could be controlled for United States
Senator. 1 said at once that 1 had no
choice at that time for Senator, and,
Furthermore, that 1 did not believe
Brooke's vote could be controlled III
that way. Then 1 dismissed the matter
and never heard any more about
Brooke until a few days ago, when the
same merchant called me up by tele-
phone to assure me that That vote is
all right 1 said that it made no diff
ference to me-"
The confession that a prominent
merchant was engaged in fixing the
vote Of Assemblyman Brooke is sig
nif1cant. The telephone message to the
erect that the vote was all right surely
intended to convey to Mr.. Wright the
| knowledge that the vote was all right
for somebody known to the receiver as
We'll as to the sender of the brief mes
sage. There is not the slightest doubt
| in the world that the sender of the
| message in telephoning to Mr. Wright
meant to convey the glad news that
the vote was all right for Dan Burns.
Ihe prominent merchant is doubtless
| 2 fl1a L., \
with ASSemblyman Brooke at the Col
den Eagle Hotel. In the first interview
the proposition was made to Brooke
that the contest would be dismissed if
he would pledge himself to vote for
some candidate to be named at future
time. The Assemblyman did not take
kindly TO the suggestion of promising
to vote for an unknown and therefore
withheld his reply. When the secono
interview took place the prominent
merchant" mentioned the name of Dan
Burns as the candidate whose identity
had been concealed at the first meet
ing. At the second interview the prom
1se Of reward to support Burns was
coupled with the threat that the AS
Semblyman would be unSeated if he
did not get into line for Burns
This circumstance corroborates The
Calls original story that Brooke was in
distressing position and hesitated to
give a straight answer. The presump-
ton is clear that the prominent rner-
chant construed the hesitation upon
the part of the Assemblyman as a sure
indication that the coveted vote for
Burns had been obtained. The message
was, therefore, telephoned to Colonel
Wright: THAT vote is all right"
There are some hidden facts in the
story of attempted bribery and intimi-
dation. If The Call had the authority
vested in the Assembly to administer
oaths, summon witnesses and compel
the production of papers, it would very
soon ascertain the name of the ''oroni-
nent merchant" who promised to re-
ward Assemblyman Brooke, provided
the Assemblyman would vote for Dan
Burns, and then threatened that if
Brooke did not line up for Burns. Will
liam Johnston would be seated in the
Assembly to represented the Twenty
second District. This is a good time to
expose by name the paid agentS of the
railroad who offer bribes and utter
threats to influence the votes of men,
bers of the Legislature.
The Assembly has the power to COM
pei witnesses to attend and answer
questions.
The prominent merchant" who Of
fered Mr.. Brooke four years position
in the County Clerks office of Sacra-
mento, asserting that William B. Ham
ilton had promised a place to j. B.
Wright, had no authority for making
such an offer He offered goods that
he knew he could not deliver. County
Clerk Hamilton asserts no promise of a
position was made to Colonel Wright,
but on the contrary position was re-
served for Assemblyman Brooke. who
was on the Peoples ticket along with
the County Clerk. The Calls investi-
cation of the facts in the case shows
that Mr.. Hamilton was in no sense
connected with the negotiations. Ger
tainly Colonel Wright had no claims
for recognition. as he opposed the cleo
ton Of Hamilton.