Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-30

the Push.
The revelations barely outlined by
leader Richardson, of the Democratic MI.
nority on the floor of the House, Thursday
last, touching the proposed purchase Of the
Danish Islands in the West Indies, are. If
even moderately true a disgraceful chap
ter in American history. Nothing TO equal
this dishonor 10 the nation has occurred
since Grants Secretary Of War was con-
victed of selling post trader ships for spot
cash and forced to leave the Cabinet
Belkuap did his negotiation through con-
fdential stipendiaries, and it seems the
same policy was adopted by some of the
statesmen involved in the Danish steal
Mr.. Nelis Grou, the Danish special mes
senger from Copenhagen, who brought over
the secret report fled by Captain Won
Christmas, the Danish representative who
negotiated the deal with Denmark and who
also acted on behalf of our own State De-
partment states that so shocked were the
Danish statesmen at the corruption of
American officials that they determined to
expose to the world the whole unsavory
transaction.
besides those connected with our State De
partment are Abuer Mckinley, brother of
the late President, and the man who has
become millionaire from being travelling
drummer under his brothers. adminstra-
tiou. Abner Mckinley is Mark Hanna's
close friend, but as If this was not enough
Senator Hanna's confidential man, c. w.
Knox, is involved aud charged in Captain
a. Of AZ 1,,,
had 10 deal with. Attorney Evans is an
other name mentioned, and also both Of the
corrupt press associations. Here is what
Captain Christmas in a secret report to the
Danish State Department says:
1T was not alone the members Of Congress
I had to invite. had as my SPECIAL as
sistants two men, c. w. Knox, who was an
intimate friend of Senator Hanna, and
Richard P. Evans, lawyer in Washington,
who represented Mr.. Gardner and his
friends in the House These took an active
parr in the personal agitation since they
talked with large number of members of
Congress and agitated for the purchase of
the islands.
! had contracts with them both, accord
ing 10 which they and through them certain
members of Congress should have a share
OF the commission if the sale took place:
but the two gentlemen's agitation expenses,
etc, bills in restaurants aud hotels, had to
pay. The two press associations, Abner
Mckinley and Brown, Evans. Knox and
others, had promised that their contracts
should be guaranteed by the house of Selig.
man To this the banking house had
agreed, as il should in one way or another
have to be recognized by the Danish gov
ernment"
Mr. Richardson, In commenting on this
statement, said Now, Mr.. Speaker I could
make more of these quotations, but | will
not take the time of the House. It is
enough 70 show what a report this creature
has made to the Danish government; this
man whom our Secretary of State used as
an agent was about to say tool. but as an
agent--to carry trusted diplomat from our
legation in London to the court at Copen-
hagen and there entertain this trusted
agent and procure him admission and in.
PRODUCTION to the prime minister of Den.
mark, which resulted in putting on foot the
negotiations leading to this treaty
Now, am not here to charge, and do
not charge, that any American Congress.
man or Senator has been bubed in this
matter; but here is the declaration of this
eh ~hA Va AAAN DdMl1Al kONEAMulENA anu VI Oul
own Government that lie had contracts for
FIVE hundred thousand dollars of the money
which we supposed we were paying into
the treasury of Denmark for these islands,
10 be used, as he said, for the corrupt pur-
pose Of bribing American Congressman"
Mr.. Richardson concluded his remarks on
his motion for a committee of investigation
with this significant reference to the Seere-
tary of State
4 take il that the Senate Of the United
States did not know, on the 18TH day OF
February, that $4,000 of that money had
been bargained away for the corrupt pur-
pose of buying them, and you and the bal
anee Of US iuto the support of this meas
ure; and yet on the 18th day Of February
the American Senate almost unanimously,
as believe, and as has been published IN
the newspapers, ratified this treaty.
Did they know, Mr.. Speaker, wheut hey
ratified this treaty that these things we're
being published in Copenhagen, Denmark?
Did these United States Senators, did the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the SEN
ate know this2 do not know, but this is
the first time the attention Of this House
has been called to this disgraceful state
of affairs. II seems to me there is one
thluk AhPal lueuabl| lH lhAs WhoAI Duoineabi
and that is that the Department of State
must have known of the publication of
these infamous charges in Denmark, and
in Copenhagen, for two weeks, or nearly
three weeks before this treaty was rat
fed
Captain Christmas,went back to Denmark
as the accredited agent Of the United States,
after having arranged with Mark Hanua's
intimate friends, Abuer Mckinley, Knott