The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-01
TUESDAY, APRIL /, 1902.
THE RICHARDSON F,Asco.


So after all Mr.. Richardson's
dramatic exposure" is not much Of an
exposure and the amount of lung pow
er and emotional energy he expended
in making his charges against the ad-
ministration have been wasted. OF
course nobody expected any different
extremes the opposition is willing to
go to make a point, or supposed point
against the administration. Richard
son thought he saw an opportunity
and awaited himself of it. That the
facts do not bear out his assertions
is probably a source Of regret to him,
his partisanship being of the sort that
would cause him to prefer to see the
government mixed up in a scandal Of
the kind he declared existed in cor
nectbcn with the transfer of the
Danish West Indies, rather than know
that no basis could be found for say.
ing aught against those who negotiat-
ed the cession, provided, always, that
the government at that particular time
was in control of the political party
he opposes. Mr.. Richardson is sorry
that the truth does mot bear out his
accusations. He has no other regrets,
for he is so strongly prejudiced THAT
he does not care for the fact that he
has wrongfully accused innocent men.
Ve thought he could do hsi party a
service and without doing as any fair
and honest minded man would have
done-.nake personal Investigation
jumped at a conclusion and now has
to bear the odium that always at
taches to those who would ruin the
reputation Of others for no purpose
than personal advantage and the vent
ing of hatred and spleen.
In addition to the disclaimers made
by Icur own state department, the
Danish government very promptly de-
MED any connection or dealings with
the man Christmas or his partner,
Niels Gron. and has repudiated their
claims and pretentions of all kinds.
It absolutely denies having engaged
them or either of them to represent
it in the transaction and will not pay
them the commission they claim they
were promised in the event the islands
were bought by this, nation. This de-
NAL Of the promise of any commission
effectually disposes of the charge
made by Christmas that he Vas com-
PEELED to use money corruptly to eff
feet the transfer. Everybody repudi-
ates the Dane and the only person who
cen to take him seriously is Rich
ardson. Even the attorney of Christ
mas says he is a falsifier and denies
in the most vehement manner the
charges made in his clients report,
declaring them to be defamatory and
outrageous. He goes further and gives
it as his belief that Christmas never
saw any Of the men whom he names
In his report. Then there is the let
ter of William c. Brown. the partner
VI AUNeT mChlHley, one Oh the men
named by Christmas. Mr.. Brown not
only denies all Christmas says. but
volunteers to appear before the in.
vestigating committee and give test.
mony.
But Richardson has succeeded in
stirring up what he considers a sen
sation and having made his name
feetingly prominent is, no doubt, sat
is fed. no matter how much he may
regret that for party purposes his
charges have been disproved and tbs
results he hoped for may prove of the
kind that react. to the detriment q
those who would bring them about.