The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-04-01
NeiIS GrOn, the Man Who
Brought the Charges,
on the Stand.
NE IS OPPOSED TO THE SALE
Persuaded to Come to Washington and
Expose the Christmas Letter by
Those Who Hoped to Keep the
Islands = Went to Representative
Richardson Of Tennessee Only as C
Last Resort.
(By Associated Press.)

tion of charges made In connection with
the Danish West Indies purchase was
begun today before the special commit
tee appointed by Speaker Henderson.
Besides the special committee there was
present Neils Gron, who brought the
charges to the attention of Representa-
tive Richardson and quite number of
interested spectators. Mr.. Gron was
the first witness sworn In by Chairman
Dalzell.
He said that in Febraury last parties
In Copenhagen who opposed the trans
fer Of the Danish West Indies to the
United States conferred with him and
brought his attention to the Christmas
report.
Chairman Dalzell asked who these
parties were. The witness said they
were members of the Danish upper house
but he did not think it proper to give
their names. Mr.. Gron said he was at
present the representative in America
of those parties.
Mr.. Gron gave way temporarily to
Representative Alexander, of Buffalo,
who desired to make a complete disclaim-
er of any knowledge of Christmas or
the Danish transaction.
Had Not Seen Christmas.
Mr.. Alexander said he had never seen
Christmas, had never spoken to any one
in or out of congress as to the Danish
treaty and never heard 1t discussed by
any one until the recent present action
of the report to the house.
Mr.. Gron told how the Danish parties
opposing the sale of the islands had
persuaded him to come to Washington,
and place the Christmas report before
congress and the public so the facts
would be known. He told of having
secured a note of introduction to Cen
eral Grosvenor of Ohio; of arranging
to meet the latter In Washington, his
purpose being, he said, to carry out
assurances given at Copenhagen that
he would place the matter before influ-
entail men and thus bring 1t to the at
tention of congress and the public.
Mr.. Gron told in great detail of bring
ing the papers before General Grosvenor,
who ut first seemed quite indignant, Mr..
Gron said, and spoke of laying the mat
ter before the proper parties in order
that suitable action might be taken.
Witness said that later General Gros-
venor concluded that 1t would be proper
to lay the matter before the secretary of
state.
Gould Take No Action.
This was done, and Mr.. Gron said he
learned that the state department held
that 1t could take no action, and that
the authorities here had in no way COM
mitted themselves to Christmas.
Mr.. Gron said that after General Gros-
yenor had decided not to proceed with
the matter he (Gron) had prepared a
statement for the Associated Press and
had asked Mr.. Crane. a newspaper man,
to send some one from the Associated
Press to Join him for the statement, and
also to General Grosyenor for assurance
as to Gron's standing.
He learned later through Mr.. Crane
that Mr.. Grosvenor said that he knew
nothing about it, but he said he was in
formed the day after he submitted the
statement that the Associated Press
could not use 1t.
AfterWard, he said, he submitted his
statement to several newspapers, and
more or less of 1t was printed.
The witness then detailed how he had
placed the matter before Representa-
tives Richardson and Underwood who
had gone over the papers.
what was your purpose in bringing
1t before members" asked Mr.. Dali
zell.
ITO get 1t In the house and before the
American people,"
In response to inquiries, witness took
up various branches of the case. He said
he repreented those constituting the mo
sale" party in Denmark
Gron Makes Denial.
He referred to reports that he (Gron)
had himself been trying to obtain a
commission for the sale Of the Island