The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-03-17
Delegate Hoffacker's Letter.

The talk of lobby at Annapolis is heard
whenever the General Assembly is in session.
The past few weeks several Baltimore papers
by cartoon, insinuation and by direct charge,
have created an impression that there is a
lobby at Annapolis, pentifully supplied with
money to purchase votes Of members of the
legislature for or against certain measures.
This impression has been given additional
weight by a newspaper interview with Mayor
Hayes, of Baltimore, who strongly intimated
belief in the existence Of lobby. A com
mittee Of Investigation was appointed by the
House, and that committee had Mayor Hayes
before them on Wednesday. In the mean
time Mayor Hayes got possession Of letter
written by Delegate Samuel III. Hoffacker. of
Carroll, to a brother in Baltimore. The
Mayor had il photographed and later furnish
ed copies of it to the Baltimore papers, which
published fac simile Of Mr.. Hofiacker's let
Ter on Thursday. The letter was as follows !:
House of Delegates,
Annapolis, March 9Th, 1900.
Mr.. John W. Hoffacker:
Dear bro-Your letter received Will say
i have bin well, there has been quite large
delegations visiting us today from Baltimore
City the most important one was on the Elec.
trical Subway bill. think there might be a
considerable amount of Budel aoting for some
UOuy DtiOft iHB VII IN ulSpOocu on you might
look up the case and find out which way the
wind blows there might be something in it for
us.
if You find anything out Of importance come
down or let me know.
Respectfully yours,
s. II. HOFFACKER.
Delegate Hoffacker was summoned before
the investigating committee to testify as to his
knowledge of n lobby. He acknowledged
the authorship of the letter to his brother,
John II. Hofiacker.
Recently my brother wrote to me- he
testified, 'askiDg If could receive him in my
room, as during his first and only visit Of the
session. replied that could. In his letter
he asked me, incidentally, what was new. |
said, nothing, except that, according to the
newspapers, there was great deal of money
here for and against some bills. / meant this
statement only as joke, and such. indeed,
intended my letter TO be. | have never had
any idea Of Doodle or the corrupt use of
money for any purpose. know personally
of no lobby, nor have any personal knowl-
edge that money has been or is being used
improperly. have always maintained that
am representative of the people, and not of
any special interests"
What did you mean by the sentence in
your letter asking your brother to find out
what was in the electrical subway bill, etc. ~
asked Mr.. Stewart, Of the committee.
Nothing"
Have you any knowledge of the existence
of lobby here ~
ssNo, SIR
HAS anybody ever approached you to in
fuence your vote by use Of money p
''No, sir"
"Where did you secure your information
that there is lobby here ?"
''ln the newspapers. and especially in an
afternoon newspaper"
MAYOR HAYES KNOWLEDGE.
VIXEN Mayor Hayes was questioned by the
committee as TO the existence of lobby.
The following questions and answers. give
good i'd Of his whole testimony, and shows
that his -pinion as to lobby was based upon
common rnmor only:
Mr.. Waller-Have you any personal knowl-
edge that money has been used Z?
Mr.. Hayes-I have not, sir.
Mr.. Waller-Would you mind stating your
reasons for declining to give the names of the
lobbyists TO whom you referred?
Mr.. Hayes-I do not. have no evidence
to confirm me in my suspicious and do not
think il fair to them TO mention their names
and implicate them in this matter when l
have no evidence.