The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-04-01
.|ND|ESSCANDAL
Causes Sensation In o.
fical Circles.
RICHARDSON READS
Charges Against Abner Me.
kiniey and His Colleagues
AN Investigation Com
mittee Is Appointed.


presented by Mr.. Richardson, of Ten
nessee,. in the house yesterday against
Abner Mckinley and others, allegin
the corrupt use of fund of $50000C
in connection with the sale of the
Danish West Indies, has created SEN
sation in official circles. =
These charges were contained in an
alleged secret report of Capt. Walter
Christmas to the Danish government,
which declared that he had employed
corrupt means to bring the negotia-
tions for the sale of the islands to a
consummation.
The report, extracts from which Mr..
Richardson read, mentioned Ghe names
of Abner Mckinley and his partnef
Col. Brown; c. w. Knox, who was
described as IAN intimate friend OF
Senator Hanna" Richard p. Evans,
who was said to represent "Mr. Gard
ner and his friends in the house." and
two press associations, the names OF
which were not given, as having been
interested in the matter.
EXTRACTS FROM PRESS.
Mr.. Richardson in stating the
charges, first read extracts from the
press at Copenhagen. These were fol-
lowed by an affidavit from Neils Gro1
concerning his dealings with certain
people here, but they were not par
ticularly sensational. The real sensa-
ton came when he started to read
from what purported to be the report
of Walter Christmas concerning the
negotiations. He prefaced the reading
by the statement that it would show a
corrupt bargain" worthy of the con-
sideration of the house. The report
was too long to read in full, he said.
II will only read the luscious ex-
tracts which, If true, should bring the
blush of shame to the cheek of every
American. This is what the corrupt
bargainer says"
HE KNEW ABNER.
He then proceeded to read Mr..
with the prime minister of Denmark,
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
termination. He told of his acquaint-
ance with Abner Mckinley, President
McKinley's brother, and his law part
ner, Col. Brown, two gentlemen whom
Mr.. Christmas described as having
the entry to the white house and be-
ing familiar with the ways of Ameri-
can politics and what members of
congress would have to be paid to ac-
complish the result desired"
The report then described how Mr..
Christmas mad enlisted not only Pres
ident McKinley's brother and his part
ner, but two press associations, one in
New York and one in Washington,
and prominent banking house in
New York in the sale of the islands.
Upon the basis of this report Mr..
Richardson asked the adoption of a
resolution for the appointment of an
investigating committee of seven. The
speaker ruled that the matter was
privileged after Mr.. Richardson had
amended his resolution so as to spec
ifically include members of the house.
SUSTAINED RICHARDSON.
Great excitement attended the whole
proceeding. Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois
insisted that Mr.. Richardson's presen-
tation was fragmentary and that the
while matter should go over until to-
morrow in order that members might
read the documents presented. which
included newspaper extracts, Gffidavits,
ETC., in the record. Christmas, he de-
clared, on his own statement, was a
briber and worse. But the house voted
down the motion to postpone and the
resolution. after being amended in
minor particulars was adopted
The speaker Immediately appointed
the following committee to make the
investigation: Messrs. Dalzell, REP,
Pa; Hit (Rep., Ill.); Cousins (Rep.,
la; Mccall (Rep., Mass.); Richardson
Dem., Tenn.); Dinsmore, Dem,