Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-02-24

Representative Law of Cache county.
McCune enters firm denial of the
charge, which is met by Law with the
assertion that he is prepared to prove
the charge. Utah politics have never
known such a sensation as the charge
has produced and little else is talked
of. A commission composed of Sena-
tors Shurtliff, Whitney and Howell
and Representatives Sorensen, Stewart,
Cummings and Mansfield has been
chosen to investigate the charges.
They are now sitting as court of in
quiry, but report is hardly expected
before Wednesday. The commission
Is empowered to summon witnesses
and compel them to testify.
At the opening of the joint session
Saturday, Representative Law arose to
a question OF personal privilege His
manner indicated that something I'M
usual was about to transpire He
spoke with earnestness and seemed to
weigh his words as he uttered them.
There was marked stiffness when in
clear, positive tones he charged that
Mr. McCune had given him money for
his vote. After a few preliminary
remarks, Mr.. Law continued:
Mr.. president and members of this
legislature will now give the proofs
for these charges made. Now, sir,
will state that last Tuesday night
held an interview with that gentleman
mi. McCune) and in the course of our
remarks he said that he proposed to /
be electcd-that he had spent too much |
In this fight to lose. And, sir, on top Of |
that, he said: Law, il you will vote
for me tomorrow you may name your
price" Mr.. President, did not take
advantage of that offer because | am
honest man and l cannot be SO at
tracted from my line of duty. Had it
not been for the knowledge that l
might detect the foul schemes of this
man and expose them to you and the
people | should most assuredly have
flung everything back into his teeth.
have taken a stand against that can
didAte, and then determined to dis
close this kind of business.
Now, sir, yesterday afternoon I was
telephoned to from the McCune head
quarters and was asked to come to [
those headquarters. l made the ap-
pointment at o'clock, and the same
was made me as on Tues
day night. Now, sir, after left those
headquarters i was detained for two [
hours, after which l went at once to ,
the chief of police, Mr.. Pratt, and l /.
agreed that 1t was our duty to detect
and expose and drag into the iron arms
Of the law, this culprit--this man that q
was trying to purchase the honor of ,
this great state of Utah. We acted on -.
short notice. We instantly made a
plan to reveal to the public this scheme
hat had been so fully plotted. Now,
'ir, l am here now to present the facts {
n this case.
l telephoned to the McCune head
quarters this morning, and after insist
ng on seeing McCune personally-Mc- I
June himself-McCune came to the
telephone. l then reminded him of
he conversation Tuesday and told him
-(God forgive me for telling lie; but a
did II for the honor of Utah)--I told h
lin that | had reconsidered his offer a
md wanted to meet him for further
of the proposition.
Mr.. McCune and then met at the O
drug store; and there and then O
We held a conversation, the substance n
4 which was how much it would take =
o buy my vote. We agreed upon the
rice. The exact amount is not neces- Il
airy to be named, but will name it il r
GU want me to do so. Numerous
ries of name it, name itr) 1t was
1,5o0. Fifteen hundred dollars, my
allow legislators-fifteen hundred dol =,
AIRS for me to sacrifice the honor of
,yself, my citizenship, our Utah, our CT
reat republic! That was the price OF
greed upon, and in few minutes it 1,
'as agreed that l shonld be paid 500 :
his morning, and between 3 and "
clock this afternoon l was to receive v;
ne remainder of the sum. OF
Now, sir. want to tell you just how q,
proposed to detect the thing and fur
ish indisputable evidence for the M
,heme, in order that the public may d.
OF doubt the foul effort. aud in order e,
lat we might strike terrific, stag 90
ering blow to this corruption of stated
ow, l slept in the jennings block last %
Ight, and it was our plan to have Mr..
cCune meet me there in my room this
orning, while Mr.. Pratt should be
here he could listen to what should W
. said by us But, sir, when l asked hs
r. McCune this morning to go into 81
lie privacy OF my room, he said: mo. ~
I us 60 into some saloon / replied sp
tat there was too much at stake for be
6 to go into so public a place, and mn
Id him that my room where | slept
st night in the Jennings block would ie'
the most secret place Then Mr.. &C
cCune said: wait till l get some ey
Iange, and he bought some cigars at bu
stand While ha xvan dr;uU this 7 ~,