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

office and Mr. Grant was in there"
Q. Mr. Grant?
A. And Mr.. Greenland I forget;
there were some other gentlemen
there, but after a little casual talk
Mr.. Green called me into his other
office, and, after little talk, he
wanted to know how I stood on the
Senatorial question. told him that
my constituents, as yet, had no de-
cided preference. He said, "You are
very friendly toward MI. Perkins. !"
I told him my people up there felt
very kindly toward Mr.. Perkins. And
he tried to persuade me that it was
Mr.. Perkins wish that MI. Grant be
elected United States Senator from
Southern California, and he attempt
ed to show me some letters, but I
paid no attention to him, and he went
on and said he was lending some as
sistance to candidates and would like
to assist me in my canvass. I told
Mr.. Green. as near as I can remem-
Der, or words to this effect, that he
probably did not know me very well,
but it was no use to make that kind
of a proposition to me; that when I
could not go to Sacramento as a free
moral agent to act as thought right
and just for the best interests of the
people that I went there to represent,
would not go at all; was willing
RI no defeated T
started to leave the room, but in the
meantime Mr.. Green had been FUN
bling at a drawer or something, and
he stepped around in front of me and
said, you had better take this any
how" He had a handful of $50 gold
pieces, but I walked past him and
went out, and from that day to this
1 have had no further conversation
with him. But I Immediately, when
I got on the street, expressed myself
to friend of mine that never in any
shape or manner would I vote, if my
vote was to be the deciding vote, for
Mr.. Grant or for any other candidate
who used those methods to become
elected United States Senator.
Q. What is this mans name that came
10 see you down in Suisun about five
weeks before election?
A. Raymond Benjamin Of Vallejo l be-
ileVe he is in Sacramento at present.
have not seen him.
-. Since you came to Sacramento have
you been approached in the interest of
any candidate with improper influences?
A. have not in any way, shape or
q Ts +bera apv+bi,,c, aIsa ,,o,, ,,,o,,+ 70
say, Mr.. Anderson?
A. If there is any question you can sug-
gest. do not know of anything by
Which l could make myself clearer. If
Mr.. Benjamin is in town l would be
pleased to have you subpoena him and
have him tell or make his statement.
q. Let us see. was not there some story
about an offer of patronage? Have you
received any offer?
a. Never, in any way. shape or manner.
Q. Did that agent in Suisun intimate
that II you received that money it would
be part of the expectation that you
should vote for Mr.. Grant?
A. Well, l cannot remember that that
consideration was expressly stipulated
but that was my understanding of it.
9; And how about when Mr.. Green
spoke to you?
that it was expressly stipulated, but that
is my understanding. | know that [ felt
rather indignant. | thought that my rep
utation was such as to preclude any such
that did not care to remember anything
about it.
M. Burnett-There was no one else in
the room with you when Mr.. Green made
this offer?
- A. No sir.
Mr.. Lardner-Mr. Anderson, if you could
by any means have been tempted to ac-
cept the money would you have felt that
you would have been in duty bound TO
support Grant?
A. Morally, I would have been bound
10 haT Tod
Q. You felt that the condescension went
far enough If you could have been tempt
ed to, accept the money you would have
been bound to have supported Mr. Grant d?
a. That was my understanding, yes.
Mr.. Sanford-When you visited Mr.
Green's office did you say that Mr.. Grant
was there also?
We'll he was in the first office when L
went in, but Mr.. Grant never spoke to
me about supporting him or any one else"
He did not mention the matter him.
Not at ALL"
The. chairman-Mr. Anderson, at the
time that Mr.. Benjamin was at your Of
flee in Suisun, did you say?
That incident occurred before your
meeting with Mr.. Green in Mr.. Green's
Yes. I would say probably a week be-
And what time was that with relation
to the nomination in your Assembly dis
trict?
AS near as I can remember it was after
the nominations. l know as near as [
can remember 1t was about a month be-
fore the election.
The candidacy, then, for the Assembly
on your part was in progress?
Yes, sir.
Was the question of Mr.. Grants candi-
dacy discussed by Mr.. Benjamin to YOU
and with you prior to any offer OF as
sistance to you?
Well. 1t all came in the conversation
But / would say here that Mr.. Benjamin
was not acting as an agent. He was
merely, l might say. as a mutual ac-
quaintance.
OF yours?
OF Mr.. Green. I am not much acduaint-
ed with Mr.. Green. Only met him casual
ly: L did not know the gentleman much.
You do not now remember whether any
statement was made that Mr.. Grant
would be a candidate for United States
Senator prior to the offer of assistance
in your campaign?
Who by, do you mean?
Mr.. Benjamin.
A. Well, this all took place at one con-
Versation.
Q. I know at the one conversation. but
now, then, it seems TO me to be important
TO know whether the question of Mr..
Grants candidacy had been discussed at
all between you before any suggestion
was made that you might receive finan-
cial assistance.
A. Oh, it was all covered This financial
assistance was part Of his candidacy as
1 understood it.
Q. You don't remember now as to the