The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-09

the day after he submii tied the state
.ments that the Associated Press could
not use it,. s.
Affterward, he said, he submitted
his statement to several newspapers
and more or less cff it was printed.
De denied reports that the whole
matter was a quarrel between Christ
mas and himself over acommission for
the saleSof the islands, and read a let
ter stating that an old alliance be-
tween certain Danish men and Ameri-
cans in thesfan Of 1897 was declared
month ago. He mention
ed the names Of b. 81. Rogers,
Charles r. Flint and himself as the
Americans Interested at that time In
negotia ting the.sssle of the islands.
Asked specifically regarding a state
ment. in the Christmas report to the
efectsthat Rogers had agreed to ac-
complishs sthes sale Of the islands: for 10
per cent Of the purchase money, Mr.
Gron said that there was no such
agreement.
Mr. Gron refused TO give the names
Of the persons whom he said he now
represented in this country. bnt saio
they were members Of the Danish
upper house. Mr.. Gron was closely
questioned as to whether a proposition
was made for Christmas and Rogers
and himself to divide the commits
sion. He replied that there were
various proposition He said he had
never heard Rogers say that he had S26
votes IN the Senate and co1ld defeat
the negotiations, and said he was
never present at an interview between
Christmas and Rogers. He denied
absolutely that he lGron9 had signed
a acontract with Christmas by which.
he (G;ron3 aud Rogers were to- have
two-t thirds OF the commission He had
never made any contract of any char
acter with Christmas, but the latter
had made over a power Of attorney to
him, which later he (Gron) repudiat-
ed. Mr.. Rogers saw Christmas, he
testified, but once. After that Rogers
refused to see Christmas OF answer his
letters or telegams.
Mr.. HIT asked specifically If he
knew what press associations were
referred to in the Christmas reports.
81 do not know, said Mr. Gron- I.
Representative Grosvenor made a
statement at the afternoon session.
He spoke Of receiving the note Of
introduction and OF going over the
papers with Mt. Con. At that time
Mr.. Grosrenor felt that the matter
should be looked. into with view Of
ascertaining if there was any irregu-
larity. He conferred with Chairman
Cannon, OF the appropriations commit
tee, and asked that, if an appropria-
tion bill for the Danish purchase
came In, action on it be deferred until
Nj. Grosvenor returned from a West
ern trip and had an opportunity to go.
over the papers. Mr.. Grosvenor later
saw Secretary Hay, who said that
there was nothing in the charges of
which cognizance should be: taken.
Resuming his testimony, Mr. Gron
told of his connection with the Scan
dinavian department of the National
committee In 1896, to
which place, he said. Senator Hanna
had appointed him. Later, he said,
Senator Hanna gave him a letter of
recommendation to the two Massachu-
setts Senators, Hoar and Lodge, and
the latter In turn recommended Gron
to the President for appointment as
minister to Siam.
Mr.. Gron said hewas a Republican,
had ca1lvassed for that party in 1892
and 1895, and in 1897 had been a can
didate for the Danish mission. He
produced a letter In favor of his candi-
dacy By Senator Culiom, of Illinois,
and endorsed by the late Senator
Davis, of Minnesota.
In reply, to specific questions he
said he knew of no Senator or Repre-
sentative who had been bribed or
whom anyone had attempted to bribe.
At the State department. he had only
personally seen Mr.. Kassarl.
Mr.. Giron was then excused.
Chairman Dalzellsa announced that
be had summoned Abner Mckinley.
Col. Brown and Fischer Hansen, and
that they would appear on Thursday.