The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-19
COMMITTEE AN EARNEST BODY OF MEN.
A Determination Shown to Get to the Bottom Of the
Senatorial Scandals Without Fear or Favor
to Any Of the WTOnSdOerS,
BY HENRY JAMES.

CALL HEADQUARTERS. SACRA-
MENTO, Jan. 18.-There is no wild ex-
element in watching the progress of a
ballot for United States Senator when a
similar ballot has been cast from two
to four times daily with the certainty of
the arrival of the noon hour. To-day
there were two ballots, perfunctory, list
less, with no detection, even the little
candidates with their suggestion of sup
port appearing in the same strength
Everybody was glad when a motion to
adjourn was made, and it was carried
without dissent There was a general
feeling that no change would have been
recorded if the members staid in their
seats all day. They are waiting, for
what do not know They do not know
themselves, but. that a break is coming
soon nobody seems to doubt. Perhaps a
good deal depends upon the work of the
investigation committee which is engaged
in trying to ascertain all the truth about
Speaker Wright.
Amy observer of this committee would
be bound to regard it as a sincere and
earnest body of men, working without
fear and with no intent of shielding. The
members seem to have a clear idea as
to their duties. They are evidently law
yers or close students of legal methods.
None of the questioning is irrelevant, and
II
he is quickly convinced that while he
may advise he must not attempt to die
tate.
This evening Speaker Wright is on the
stand. He came into the room this after
noon and announced that he was ready
for the ordeal, but the committee was
not ready for him. Green was wanted
first Green had been on the stand in
the morning and refused to answer as to
the destination of certain moneys he mad
sent to help the campaigns OF cand1-
dates.
the closest look at him. The man is un-
der a tremendous strain, and though he
shows 1T in drawn face and nervous
manner, his bold front. studied though it
NAV be. shows him to be a person with
some courage. From the knowledge or
testimony already given, from ms own
words, the sworn evidence OF unbiased
men, it seems to me there awaits MIN
inevitable ruin and disgrace 1t is not
simply that he voted for Burns, but that
to do so he violated pledges more sacred
than any political PROMISE and accepted
money from a candidate. whom ne had
agreed to support and whom ne dld not
support. This element of ingrautude
lends darker nue f6p TO bs Yote and sm
ply be corrupt, but to take the money
and not deliver the vote adds to the act
a despicable quality not TO pc conooneu.
But when Green was wanted he was aD-
sent and while a message was sent Tor
him James Brown was put on the stano.
Mr. Brown has been an associate mana
ger with Green but if the committee eX-
Iracted any information from hlm L
failed to catch it, With never-faillng
regularity he affably failed to remember.
So far as the committee Is Conce[Iletu' lt
ual passing of the buck TO Green maze
the information stored in the nina OF the
latter assume new value.
Meanwhile Assemblyman RaW hao
come in and expressed a desire to make
a few remarks. He was told that later
he would have abundant opportunity
Then Green came in and took the stand
He was not loquacious. The questions he
had refused to answer in the morning ne
still refused to answer. AS to- the TACT
that money was used to help the fight or
cret He asserts that the money was not
wrongfully used and that in ten in
stances at least it went to assist cand1-
dates who did not know or It, ana were
still in ignorance. Another question was
put which had TO be added to the list he
declined to answer. 1t was in relation to
County. Green admitted freely that the
money had been sent. but said 1t had
gone to a gentleman not actively in poll
tics and who this gentleman is he would
not state Finally he was granted the
privilege of postponing his reply until to-
morrow The fact was brought out that
this particular money had Deen carried by
Green's typewriter, lady. There was
but the witness knocked out this plan by
quoting law to show her not competent
witness. However, the committee is not
wholly satisfied, and there. may yet be d
spbpena issued for her. If she gets here
and has no right to talk Attorney Bacon
will be on hand to remind her of it.
There is an evening session with
Wright on the stand. As he is the central
figure of the whole scandal there ought to
be something in the nature of climax,
at least dramatic passage, but this let
ter cannot wait for it. He cannot clear
himself for his own words have already
condemned him, and to deny would be
but to impugn his own veracity. That
his claim of having the Supreme Court
behind him in his change to Burns is
false has been clearly demonstrated,
while the declaration of non-belief in the
charges against Burns cannot be COM
forting to the colonel, for a moral bill of
health from Wright would be about as
hard a blow as q man could receive. Just
as the matter stands noyS and taking
chances on the verdict Of The committee.
would advise Burns to get Wright TO
denounce him. This would be good poll
tics.
Senator Boyce has Joined the ranks of
those who dislike newspaper men. His