The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-28
DEMOCRATIC LEADER CREATES
STORM IN STIRRING DANISH
WEST INDIES SCANDAL
ABNER MKINLEY IS INVOLVED
Republican Leaders Offer Strenuous
Objection to the Investigatfou ~
the Report of the COpenha-
gen Representative.
LIVELY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 27.-rhe
scandal touching on the character of con-
| gressmen and duplicating Abner McFIn-
icy, brother of the deceased president.
which was ventilated in the house today
upon the initiative Of Mr.. Richardson. of
tennessee, resulted in the appointment NJ
an investigating committee Mr. Rish-
ardson is the floor leader of the Demo
Gratis
Representative Dalzell, chairman of the
special committee, says he will 90 over
the allegations tomorrow when they an
pear in the Congressional Record ana
arrangements viii then be made for An
early meeting Of the committee urobab-
| ly on Saturday. Until then Mr. Dalzeu
Said there would be no plans as to the
conduct of the investigation.
Richardson (TennD. the minority leader
offered as matter of privilege. a reeoiu-
ton Tor the appointment Of committea
OF seven to investigate the charges said to
| nave been made by DR.. Walter Christmas
| sem-otficial representative of Denmark
IN secret report to his government i'm
which it was made to appear that he was
TO receive $4,000 of the purchase money
| for the sale Of the Danish West Indies for
orlblng newspapers and members Of con-
gress.
The resolution created great excitement
on both sides of the house The ReUJb-
lican leaders hurriedly consulted and when
the reading had been concluded Mr.
Payne, the majority leader. made the
point of order that the matter presented
was not privileged. The resolution. Mr..
Payne said, contemptuously. was based
on an alleged secret report to the Danish
government. Instantly Mr. Richardson
met this with the statement that ne had
copy of the secret report 10 the Danish
government. Said he:
Forces Ruling by Henderson.
On my honor as a member or this
house, | have now on my desk what I
believe is that secret confidential report
Assuming the full responsibility of my
words, l believe I have unmistakable eVi-
dence that this report was made TO the
Danish government by a quasi If not a
real agent Of that government.
When did ,he gentleman obtain access
to the secret archives OF the Danish gov
ernment?' mterposed Mr. Payne
Mr. Richardson retorted: Il have
never been to Denmark but there
are other ways of obtaining authentic
government documents. This is a grave
charge. l do not bring it here for the
purpose Of making political capital Here
Is a charge that $500,0O was paid for th-
express purpose Of bribing the Ameri
can congress, yet the gentleman from
New York seeks TO interpose a technical
objection"
Speaker Henderson called attention to
the fact that the language Of the resolu-
ton charged that newspapers and mem
bers Of congress had been bribed
Members Of congress" he said. "d.I
not necessarily include members Of the
house. If members Of the senate. that
body must be custodian of it's own mem
bers.'
He thought if the resolution was to he
privileged it should specifically include
members Of the house.
II am prepared to say" replied Mr.
Richardson that these charges do i'll
clude members of the house and viii
amend the resolution to that extent"
Matter Declared Privileged.
Speaker Henderson thareupon ruled that
the matter was privileged.
Almost every seat was occupied ana the
members listened eagerly as Mr. Richard
son presented his case. First he read
extracts from the press at Copeuhaeen
They were followed by an affidavit from
Neils Gron concerning his dealings with
certain people but they were not par
ticularly sensational
The real sensation came when he began
to read from what purported TO be the re
port Of Walter Christmas concerning the
negotiations He prefaced the reading by
the statemen, that ii would sho-y a cor
rupt bargain" worthy of the considera-
ton Of the house. The report was too
long to read IN full, he said: III viii only
read the luscious extracts, which If true
should bring the blush Of shame to the
cheek of every American" said he. Tor
the statement will disgrace this country
in the eyes Of every foreign country i'm
the world. This is what this corrupt bar
gamer says"
He then proceeded to read Mr. Christ
mas account Of his interview with the
prime minister Of Denmark in which h-
was said to have told the minister of the
necessity for the use Of money 20 bring
the negotiation for the sale Of the is,anCs
to a successful termination.
duplicates ABner McKfnIcy
He told OF his acquaintance with Abner
Mckinley, President McKinIey's brother
and his law partner, Col. Brown. two
gentlemen which Mr.. Christmas descrlb-
ed as having entry 10 the White house
and being familiar with the WAYS oP
American politics and with the members
Of congress who would have to be paid
10 accomplish the results desired
The report then described how Mr.
Christmas had enlisted not only Pre-t-
dent McKinley's brother and his partner.
but two press associates, one in New
York and one in Washington. and
prominent banking house in New York in
the sale Of the islands
Ir the report Mr.. Christmas said that
he had as his special assistants q. W.
Knox, an intimate friend Of Senator
Hanna, and a Washington lawyer named
Richard =. Evans, who represented Mr..
Gardner and his friends in the house
The Danish foreign minister was re-
ported as dIssusted with the methods
which had to be pursued, but as finally
giving his acquieScence
Quotes From the Report.
Mr. Richardson said Mr.. Christmas
was speaking Of inviting members of con-
gress TO dine with him at the Hotel Raj
eigh, in this city. He then quoted from
the report as follows:
1T was not alone the members or con-
gress had to invite. / had as my spe-
cial assistants two men, c. W. Knox.
who was an intimate friend of Senator
Hanna, and Richard p. 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