The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-19

Representative Alfred A. Law of
Cache county yesterday delayed A. w.
McCune's election to the United States
senate by the charge made in joint ses-
sion of the legislature that Mr.. McCune
had paid him money for his vote.
Law obtained the floor at the begin
ming of the session to speak to a ques-
ton of personal privilege. In tones
tremulous at times, occasionally hesi-
tating for a word, though for the most
part speaking readily-for he IS hu-
ent speaker-Law told the story of his
own shame and connivance with the
chief of the secret service arm Of the
Tribune TO inveigle into wrong doing
the man for whose defeat the Tribune
has eXerted its every influence and
power Chief Pratt sat behind Law
during the recital, blandly smiling as
the Cache county man told his tale.
Laws story in brief, was that at
his Oaw's) request Mr.. McCune had
met him at the Wasatch drug store and
subsequently on the street corner,
where AIcCune had given him $50, as
part payment for his vote.
Law said with conscious pride, that
he had decoye,d Mr.. McCune into a trap
for the purpose of exposing him. He
said that he called on Nj McCune at
his headquarters ana opened himself
to an offer OF a bribe. Yesterday morn
ing he called Mr.. McCune up by tele-
phone and asked him to meet him at
the Wasatch drug store for the purpose
of closing the details Of the transfer of
his vote. This is Laws story. He
added that the way had been paved for
It and McCune presumably went pre-
pared. However, McCune declined to
accompany him TO the room in a lOdg-
ing house he had hired for him, and
though, according to Laws story, Nc
Cune had come prepared TO buy him
for $780, the senatorial candidate had
only $50 to give him.
Mr.. McCune says that he met Law,
who offered. unsolicited, his vote for
$5.06O-an offer that he promptly de-
clined.
The meeting was at 10 o'clock in the
morning. at one of the busiest corners
in the city, and at an hour when the
streets were well flled.
Mr.. McCune didn't want to meet Law,
according to the statements of friends.
When Law made the request, McCUne
asked the advice Of several friends, one
OF them q member of the legislature.
This man, Law wants me to meet him.
He wants to vote for NE. but I am
afraid if he voted for me he might in
jure me by driving some Democratic
votes from me-"
One gentleman present was Of. the
same opinion of Mr. McCune. Itewas
Moses Thatcher whose advice was
taken MIR. Thatcher took the position
that Law was n bimetallist. and as
much n Democrat as a Republican. |
'He has already voted for one Demo- /
cTat. and I would let him come" con- /
cluded Mr.. Thatcher. Then Mr. Nc /
Cune went forth to the meeting.
PREVENTED AN ELECTION.
Mr. McCune would have. been elected |
yesterday but for the Law incident. /
There can be no question of this. Nor 1
was Law $ vote al all necessary for his /
election. In addition to the twenty !
eight members who have been support /
ing him SO steadfastly. four others had [
promised him their votes. Laws vote /
was not required for an election. In /
deed, Mr.. McCune already had one /
more assured than necessary, for thir- I
ty-One only were needed to elect.
Members Of the legislature very gen
orally discredit the story told by Law.
and they regard it as simply the last /
effort of desperate men to defeat Nc
Cune. For weeks some of the minority
and the friends on whose advice they
lean have talked Of bribery. But they
have Withdrawn the charges when cor
neTed. Only a wek ago the Tribune
announced. with faring headlines. that
the charges Of bribery We're 10 be in
Vestigated. It was stated semi-official-
" that Representative Jackson of Salt
Lake county was the member who
would claim to have been approached
and that Jackson himself would offer
the resolution But il never came. In
this connection there is an interesting
story. Jackson. so members of the leg
islature said, had himself circulated the
story of an attempt TO influence his
vote by the use of money. \ committee a
of members, anxious TO learn the truth.
sought an interview with him. He