The San Francisco call., 1899-01-24

Q. Did you have a conversation with
Speaker Wright, at any time, IN regard to
self?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What was that conversation?
A. 1t was, let me see: The first ballot
was on Tuesday, if I remember correctly.
The second ballot on Wednesday-We edneS-
day afternoon, | think.
Q. 1t was right after he changed?
A. No, before he changed.
Q. What was that conversation?
A. 1 told him that 1 had expected his
vote and. he said to me that there had
voting for me. He said he had been in
vestigating the charges that had been
made against me by The Call and the
Chronicle and had not made up his mind
that he ought to vote for me until the
afternoon that I had the conversation
with him. He said he thought now that
the charges were. disproved in his 1udg-
ment and believed that he would be do
ing right to vote for me.
Q. Did you remind him, or did you init
mate to him in any shape or form, that he
owed the Speakership to you?
A. did not.
A. considered that I was factor in
shape or form?
A. | consider that / was FACTOR In
making him Speaker.
Q. And to what extent?
A. Well, to considerable extent. My
friends, who are legislators, supported
him or agreed to support him, when he
was first announced as candidate. Mr.
Wright and [ were on very friendly terms,
but there was no question OF consldera-
ton in that. It was merely what course
| might pursue with relation to anything.
Q. At some previous time had you prom,
ised to give him your influence toward
the SpeakerShip?
A. All some previous time?
Q. Yes.
A. Yes, sir.
Q; Will you state the particulars OF
A. Well, that is all there is to it. I
agreed that 1 would support him long be-
fore the election.
Q. Were there any conditions attached? ?
A. None whatever. l had agreed to
support Howard Wright for Speaker a
considerable time before the election.
Mr.. Burnett-At whose request, MIR.
Burns, did you agree?
A. 1t was after a consultation between
him and myself He told me that he
wished to be Speaker of the House Ala
media County had had very prominent
candidate for Governor. They failed in
securing the nomination. They have had
no place on the ticket-on State ticket
and / thought it was due to Alameda
County TO give them the Speakership. l
said to him: ''If your county asks this,
and the Assemblymen from your county
desire it, / will assist you"
q. Did you state to Mr.. Wright at the
time that you spoke to him and told him
that you had expected his vote-did you
state to him the ground upon which you
had expected that?
A. No, sir.
Q. Well, upon what grounds did you
base your expectation?
A. That of friendship; 1t is very rarely,
Mr.. Burnett, that | ask a man the direct
question. 1 do not believe. that 1 have
any recollection now of asking any one
whether he would support me or not.
There are certain lines of friendship that
l believe would indicate the course they
would pursue without asking a question.
Mr.. Wright and l have been on very
friendly terms, and / expected his vote
as much as expected one from San
Francisco or any one from San Francisco.
The chairman-Colonel at the time or
just prior to the time the Speaker of the
Assembly changed his vote from Bulla
to yourself, was any inducement brought
to bear upon Speaker Wright by way of
money, or the promise of money or pa
tronage, or the promise of patronage, or
by way of a threat of Withholding pa
tronage, or Withholding of influence upon
any legislation that he might desire, to
induce him to change that vote?
A. No, sir.
Q. By you or by any agent of yours,
to your knowledge?
A. No sir; ii was a voluntary act on the
part of Mr.. Wright. did not send for Mr..
Wright. He sent for me and said he was
ready to make the change. did not seek
him. He sent message to me.
Mr.. Mellick-I1e sent what?
A A message that he wanted to see me.
The chairman-Are there any further
questions? If not, you will be excused,
Mr. Rurns