The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-04-03

others, had promised that their con-
tracts should be guaranteed by the house
of Seligman. To this the banking
house had agreed, as it should in one
way or another have to be recognized
by the Danish government"
Mr.. Richardson said he did not
charge that any Senator or member
of Congress had been bribed. He had
simply presented the allegations of this
agent that money had to be used for
bribing Congressman. The charges had
been published in this country and
abroad, he SAID, giving the impression
that conditions in the United States
were " simply horrible" He, there
fore, proposed this inquiry, so that each
member could disclaim the charges 80
far as they affected him.
Mr.. Richardson said, however, that
there was one objectionable feature of
the affair, in that the State department
must have known of the publication of
these charges prior to the ratification
of the Danish treaty.
MIR. Cannon, of Illinois, made the
first rejoinder of any length. He
pressed Mr.. Richardson to know
whether the report gave the name of
a member or members of the House
said to ha, @ been bribed, and they en-
gagged in very sharp clash. Mr.. Can
non was plainly laboring under con-
siderable excitement.
Mr.. Richardson insisted that the re-
port did charge members of the House
and Senate. 81 have mentioned sev-
eral of the names," said he. "I will
repeat them if need be.'
1t seems TO me-" said Mr.. Cannon,
breaking in, that it would be wise to
make this investigation, if it is worthy
of investigation, after the members of
the House have had an opportunity to
examine the documents which the gen.
tleman from Tennessee has read. do
not believe that there is man in the
; House who wants to investigate the
mere statements of an acknowledged
thief"
Mr.. Cannon moved to postpone con-
sideration of the resolution until to-
morrow.
Me. Underwood, of Alabama, de-
clared that the honor OF the country
, was at stake in this matter. 1t mat
tered not, he said, whether Christmas
was thief or knave. He lad made the
charges, and they should be investi-
gated.
Mr.. Cannon declared that he had
never heard of this man Christmas
. until today. He had no knowledge OF
information concerning him, but &C.
! cording to his own belief he was q
briber and worse.
But he was accredited by the Sec
retary of State," interposed Mr.. Rich
J ardson, " and instructed to 90 to oul
minister i'm London.n
u "This gentleman artfully says tn,
- Secretary of State made this man hi
= AGENT" cried Mr.. Cannon Indignantly
u / know nothing about it. If any
=. thing ought to be investigated 1 am II
y for an investigation"
But these charges were printed il
10 Denmark and were known here from
= January 28 to February IT." inter
~ posed Mr.. Richardson. Does th
~ gentleman not think the Secretary O
a State should have called the attentio
40 40 OF the Senate to charges that $500 90
70 was being spent to bring about sue
% cessful termination of the negotit
ie tions ?''
n n "I do not know anything about it,
la responded Mr.. Cannon, "and until
- do l will say nothing that would di
honor any one."
a am not seeking TO dishon0r an
one. am seeking to prevent di
honor" replied Mr.. Richardson.