The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-18

to the stand.
Testimony of w. S. Leake.
The chairman-'What is your business,
Mr.. .Leake?"
Al am manager of the San Francisco
oQ-"Are you acquainted with Ulysses S.
A-'Yes. sir; 1 know him by sight, and
L Know him to speak to him."
Q-"Are you acquainted with the Hon.
Howard E. Wright?"
| Ayes, sir
The chairman-"I hand you for exam
ination copy of The Call of January the
18TH. That is the paper of which you are
| the manager2'
Ayes, sir"
| Q-"Now let me take it, please. Can you
ten me VINO wrote the matter on the first
| page OF that paper?"
| Al am responsible for everything
that is in the paper of that date
.,Q-'And you make this your act, then
the writing of whatever there is in that
Al am the manager of the Call, and
| am responsible for everything that went
from , this end of the line
Q-"What do you mean by being respon-
| sible for it?''
Al saw everything that was pub
hshed before 1t left here by telegraph
q w hateVer was put into this paper
approval?"
A-"With my knowledge and approval"
from Sacramento?"
Al said from this end of the line"
Q.I''YGu assume the responsibility for
the headlines, too?'
Al did not write the headlines. Those
were written in San Francisco"
The chairman-'Now, the opening state
Howard e. Wright of Berkeley, Speaker
of the Assembly, received $3.50 from u S.
Grant Jr., through his political manager,
that he would vote. for Grant for United
States Senator. Mr.. Leake, will you
kindly state to the committee what knowl-
statement
A.-'That information 1 received from
Mr.. Howard 2. Wright himself, also Mil
ton S. Green
Q.-"Each of them told you that?'
A.-"Mr Green did not tell me the ex-,
act amount, but he said it was over a
thousand dollars. Mr.. Howard E. Wright
told me it was $780,"
Q.-"Where did you have that CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Wrght?"
Anew, Mr.. Chairman, let me under
stand what the scope of the investigation
is. Do you wish me to lead up to how I
received this information, or do you sim
ply wait me to answer yes or mo- to
Or would like to have the full story;
just how you came up to this information,
how you received it. :"
Mr.. McEnerney - 1.-The circumstances
which led up to it?'
The chairman-"YeS."
The witness-'I would like to state that
10 SHOW you lildI L CdIIlG Dy IuG lNIOTHld-
ton legitimatety and not confidentially,
as might be claimed"
The chairman-"Wel1. that would nat
urally develop; of course, Very well, you
may state 1t. Mr.. Leake."
A.-"Mr. Howard E. Wright was elected
to the Legislature from Alameda County.
to be, Speaker of the Assembly. 1 made
an appointment with him Ito meet MIR.
Spreokels and myself in my Office in San
Francisco. We had a meeting. I asked
MY. WRIGHT If he in manner .Ohli-
gated to any individual. or any corpora
ton, so that he could not give every one
proper representation II he was elected
Speaker of the Assembly, and he told me
that he was as free as the air; unat he
was under no obligations to any one, any
corporation, and had made no promises
and would not make any.
Q.-"Now pardon me. This was prior to
his election?'
A-"As Speaker"
Gas Speaker only?"
A.-"But after his election to the Leg
islature."
Al cannot. 1t was shortly after the
election 1t was the day before The Cali
came out indorsing him for Speaker.
That date 1 cannot give you from men,
ory. Mr. Spreckels was present; heard
Mr. Wright's statement. l asked Mr.
Mr.. Bacon-"Well, now Mr.. Chairman,
I think it would not be proper for him TO
give conversations with Mr.. Spreckels.
The chairman-"I was going to ask II
that was in the presence Of Mr.. Wright"
Ar said the three of US were In my
private Office"
The chairman thlnK that "ouiu pe
proper"
am concerned"
would like to be able to have The Call
come out and indorse Mr.. Wright for
Speaker of the Assembly. He. said after
hearing Mr.. Wright's declaration that ne
Willing that | should do
The interview was very short. The next
day the paper came out 1ndorslng MI
Wright for Speaker of the Assembly, L
had several conversations with MT
Wright. took several lunches with him
at the San Francisco Club, at which there
was nothing particular discussed. The
Call asked no promise OF MN; lnaorsso
him because they believed him to be the
man for the place. After l came to Sac
ramento, after Mr.. Wright was elected
Speaker of the Assembly, he came to The
Calls headquarters on K street. In the
Capitol Hotel, at my request. He came
there for this reason: Mr.. Muenter of
San Joaquin had been requested.
the same as every bv ot9 Tbe ceI fo
express their preference either for or
was sent to all of them MI; Muenter
came to San Francisco. He did not an
swer the telegram. He told he was OPP
posed to Mr.. Burns and that his people
were opposed to him, but he didn't care
print After some short conversation he
then told me-authoriZed me to state that
his people were opposed to Mr.. Burns and
under no consideration would he vote for
him After l reached Sacramento some
three or four gentlemen from Stockton
came over-the names now l cannot re-
CALI know their faces when | see them
called on Mr.. Muenter and told him that
he had made a great mistake; that they
had been informed by Mr.. Burns friends
that the administration now would not
give San Joaquin any patronage. Mr..
Muenter brought those gentlemen over to
me and introduced me to them, and we
had quite long conversation in The Call
Headquarters, and they told me that they
had received this information, that Mr..
Muenter would not be even given a
Craftsmanship of a committee. l felt an
interest in Mr.. Muenter; If he had made
a mistake, that was partially RESPONSE
Bile for it, sent for Mr.. Wright and laid
these facts before him. 1 asked as a per-
sonal favor-not from The Call, but from
myself-that Mr.. Muenter be given
craftsmanship. Mr.. Wright gave me the
assurance that he would receive one.
Then the conversation drifted off into the
Senatorial fight"
The chairman-"Now, the conversation
where?'
Ain the headquarters in Sacramento
here. Mr.. Wright told me that he was
In very bad fix. / asked him why
Q.-"Pardon me. The last I have known
of your conversation you were with