The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-19

he will not hesitate to tell a deliberate
falsehood under oath. Perhaps still
another thing was demonstrated. 1t is
that the committee does not propose
to allow Wright to debase himself any
further than such debasement will dis
credit the Senatorial candidacy of U.
S. Grant.
However this may be, the fact re-
mains that the questioners sought to
put answers in Wright's mouth and re-
fused to ask him such questions as had
been asked of other witnesses. But in
spite of the aid and comfort given him
by his seeming protectors, Wright
could not conceal his abasement. He
confessed to the receipt of 1850 from
Grant through Milton Green. He went
further and confessed to having made a
pledge to support Grant for Senator.
Having made confession, Wright
sought to divert attention from his own
infamy by a TRADE Of personal abuse
against one of the persons who are his
accusers. Needless to say, that abuse,
coming from the lips of such a man
certificate of honesty for the person
against whom the abuse is directed.
No one forgets that the strongest evil
dence against this statesman, who
holds honor so lightly that he is will
ing and anxious to barter it for cash,
is his own voluntary confession. That
this confession was made to a person
who was not to be cajoled or intimi-
dated into secrecy was unfortunate for
Wright but extremely fortunate for the
people of the State.
When the particulars of Wright's re-
treat into the Burns camp become
known the exact degree of his infamy
will be apparent. At present he ap-
pears as common scoundrel who, hav
ing sold himself, refuses to stay bought.
The reason for this refusal may, when
it becomes known, make him eligible
to the society of frequenters of the
health resort at San Quentin.
Alden Anderson, Speaker pro tenn, of
the Assembly, furnished some of the
most sensational testimony of the day. |
He related to the committee of the cir
cumstances of a visit he made, subse- |
quent to his nomination, to the office of
Mr.. Grant and Mr.. Green in San Fran |
cisco. After introducing him to Mr.. |
Grant, Green took Anderson into pri-
vate office and proposed to bear his |
election expenses, the understanding |
being that Mr. Anderson should sup
port Grant for Senator. Mr. Anderson
declined the offer and was about to
leave the room when Green stepped in
front of him and offered him a handful
of double eagles with the remark:
We'll, take these along with you, any
way"
Mr.. Anderson did not take them |
along and he did tell the committee |
the facts to-day, to which he added |
some observations that were natural
enough to an honest man who has been |
offered bribe by an unscrupulous per-
son.
James P. Brown, who, with Green |
shares the confidence and the finances
of u. S. Grant, was also one of the wit
nesses before the investigating COM
mittee to-day. He gave evidence of a |
remarkable loss of memory and at |
times he seemed to have forgotten his |
own identity. In brief his testimony
was to the effect that Grant had pour |
ed money into his lap in exchange for
exnerience. but he was not sure the |
amount exceeded one thousand dollars |
He had used the money, he said, in |
paving hotel bills and travelling ex-
penses, the latter item including trip |
East to see Steve Elkins and others in |
the interests of Grants candidacy. He |
did say, however, that he had learned |
that Secretary of State L. H. Brown |
was seeking to intimidate Grants
supporters in the Examiner by telling |
them if they continued to vote for
Grant they would be debarred from
any participation in the patronage of
the administration.
A verbatim report of all of the pro-
ceedings before the committee to-day |
is printed in full in this issue for the |
purpose of giving to every man, women
and child who can read in the State an
opportunity of judging for themselves |
of the facts as they are brought out
by the investigators.