The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-04-01

OF the Sdlu lSldudS-
REPUBLICANS FIGHT IT.
The Republican leaders hurriedly con
suited during the reading OF the resolu-
ti0ns and when the reading had been con-
cluded Mr.. Payne, the majority leader,
Immediately made the point OF order that
the matter presented was not privileged
The resolution, Mr.. Payne said. CON
temptulously. was based upon an alleged
secret report to the Danish Government.
Instantly MIR. Richardson met this with
the statement that he had a copy of the
secret report to the Danish Government.
ION my honor as a member OF this
House. said he, Il have now on my desk
what purports to be and and what | be-
lieve is that secret confidential report.
Assuming the full responsibility Of my
words l believe l have unmistakable evil
dence that this report was made TO the
Danish Government by a quasi ii not Il
real agent Of that Government"
When did the gentleman obtain ac-
cess to the secret archives of the Danish
Governments" irterposed Mr.. Payne sar-
castlcaliy.
Il have never been to Denmark" re
torted Mr.. Richardson, but the gentle
man knows there are other ways of OBJ
tanning authentic government documents.
| have the evidence here. This is d
grave charge. | do not bring it here for
the purpose of making political capital.
Here is a charge that $500, 600 was paid
for the express purpose of bribery the
American Congress yet the gentleman
from New York seeks to interpose a
technical objection"
Speaker Henderson at this point called
attention to the fact that the language
Of the resolution charged that newspa-
pers and members of Congress had been
bribed. Members of Congress- he said,
did not necessarily include members OF
the House" He thought if the resolution
was to be privileged it should specifically
include members of the House. /.
81 am prepared to say replied Mr..
Richardson, that these charges do in
clude members of the House and will
amend the resolution to that extent"
Speaker Henderson thereupOn ruled
that the matter presented was privileged.
THE AGENTS REPORT READ.
BY this time the interest in the House
was intense. Almost every seat was oc-
cupied and the members listened eagerly
as Mr.. Richardson proceeded to present
his case. First, he read extracts from the
press at Copenhagen.
These were followed by an affidavit
from Neils Gron concerning his affidavit
with certain people here, but they were
ret particularly sensational. The real
sensation came when ne started to read
from what purpOrted to be the report Of
Walter Christmas concerning the nego-
tiations. He prefaced the reading by the
statement that it would show a corrupt
bargain worthy of the consideration of
4 tho HO1ca Tho ranort va too 1nnO
to read in full, he said, Il Will only
read the luscious extracts which, if true,
should bring the blush of shame to the
cheek of every American" said he For
the statement Will disgrace this country
in the eyes of every foreign country in
the world. This is what this corrupt
bargainer says He then proceeded to
read Mr.. Christmas account of his inter
view with the Prime Minister Of Den
mark, in which he was said to have told
the minister of the necessity for the use
Of money to bring the negotiations for the
sale of the islands to a successful termi-
nation. He told of his acquaintance with
Abner Mckinley, President McKinIey's
brother and his law partner, Colonel
Brown, two gentlemen whom Mr.. Christ
mas described as having the entry to the
White House and being familiar with the
ways of American politics and what mem
bers of Congress would have to be paid
to accomplish the results deSired.'
The report then described how Mr..
Christmas had enlisted not only President
McKinley's brother and his partner, but
two press associations, one in New York
and one in Washington and a prominent
banking house in New York in the sale
Of the islands.
The Danish Foreign Minister was re-
ported as disguised with the methods
which had to be pursued, but as finally
giving his acquiescence.
Mr.. Richardson said that Christmas was
speaking of inviting members of Congress
to dine with him at the Hotel Raleigh
in this city. He then quoted from the
report as follows:
ct was not alone the members of
Congress l had to invite. | had as nv
special assistants two men, c. w. Knox.
who was an intimate friend Of Senator
Hanna and Richard 2. Evans, a LAWYER
in Washington, who represented Mr.
Gardner and his friends in the House
These took an active part in the per
sonal agitation, since they talked with =
large number Of members of Congress
and agitated for the purchase of the is
lands. | had contracts with them both
according to which they and through them
II tCl ain AA-D = SIOui0 ma "a
a share of the commission if the sa1a
took place; but the two g~entlemen'c agi-
tation, expenses, etc, bills in restaurants
and hotels, | had to pay. The two nraee
associations, Abner Mckinley and Brown
Evans, Knox and others, I had Promised
that their contracts should be guaranteed
by the House of Seligman. To this ~
banking house had agreed, as it sbou,d in
one way or another have to be recopni1aa
by the Danish Government"
KNOWN BY STATE DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Richardson said he did not ob.-
that any Senator or member of Congress
had been bribed- He had simnlv =
scented the allegations of this agent thai
money had 70 be used for bribing Con-
gressmen, ne cnarges had been published
ing the impression that conditions IN ~
United states were Simply horrible" He
: therefore proposed this inouirv - 1