The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-20
ONTARIO SENSATION.
Bribery Charges Made in the Leg
islature Against Provincial
Secretary stratton.
Member for Manitoulin Gives the
Liberal Government a
Rude Shock.
Corresnondenoe Of The Journal.

OF the Ontario legislature, which is now
in progress here, opened with a most
dramatic scene.
The liberal government only secured a
majority of one at the election last May,
but when the house met on March 10 six
additional adherents had been secured, so
that Premier Ross and his lieutenants felt
tolerably secure in the control Of the legis-
lative machinery. But they had counted
without their host
After the mover and seconder. Of the
address in reply to the speech from the
remarkable thing happened.
Instead Of the leader Of the opposition.
Mr.. Whitney, rising to reply, as is Gus
tomary, an obscure and hitherto unheard
member rose at the end Of the opposition
benches, caught the speakers eye and
made his maiden speech.
It was R. r. Gainey, the member for
Manitoulin. He may be credited with ca,ls-
ing the greatest sensation that could
possibly be sprung on hitherto rather
listless and unsuspecting assembly.
Briefly Mr.. Ga1ney charged J. r. STRAIT
ton. the provincial secretary, with bribery,
and produced documentary evidence Of
the most convincing character to substan-
t1ate his charge. Mr.. Gainey had his
speech all ready written out and, when he
concluded, deposited it with the letters
and papers to which he referred with the
leader Of the opposition, who stated that
he had not known why he was asked to
give way to Mr.. Gainey before the latter
had spoken. .-..
CONSERVATION reigned upon the govern
nent benches and Mr.. Stratton, the
member principally affected, had not a
word to say to the house. He whispered,
however, to his leader, Mr.. Roos, and the
latter stated that his colleague denied
the charge In toto, but an investigation
should be held and he would not remain
member of the governemnt if the
charges were shown to be true
Now Mr.. Ross is endeavoring to induce
the house to agree to refer the inquiry
to commission of judges, instead of the
committee of elections and privileges, and
mission sits and hears the evidence and
counsel for the government and the oppo-
sition. This proposal is being vigorously
condemned by the opposition, which has
practically assumed control of the house,
though slightly in a minority
Mr.. Gainey is a conservative and was
elected by about $40 majority beating tho
combined votes of j. M. Fraser, the regu-
lar liberal nominee, and a socialist can
d1date by about 100 votes. The returns
were held back to the last moment, so the
story goes, and he was threatened with a
protest by the liberal workers. He laughed
at this and then was asked to support
SAo SoNCAAluSllL 1Oi d consideration. he
| agreed to do SO after comforting with J. H.
McGregor,c of Gore Bay, the chair
man Of the Manitoulin converva-
tive association, who confirms what Mr..
Ga1ney says. They planned to over
throw the schemes of the liberal workers
by appearing to fall in with them.
Negotiations were carried on through
Frank J., Sullivan, an ernploye Of the pub
| lie works department, and resulted in Nh
Ga1ney signing a letter agreeing to sup
port the government and saying he was
not receiving any value except the pat
ronage Of the district. This letter was
addressed to the premier, Mr.. Ross, and
retary placed before Mr.. Gainey, in the
smoking. room Of the parliament buildings,
a package containing $4,000, of which
Sullivan took half and Gainey the remain
der. - ..-; ..E.
Subsequently at Mr.. Stratton's request,
| Gainey signed an interview, which was
published in the Toronto Globe. promising
! to give independent support to the gov
| ernment.s For this he received $1,000,
which was a1so divided with Sullivan
| AS a result of his apparent detection
from the conservative ranks (nothing else
| being known publicly Mr.. Gainey was
abused and ostracised by his former
luton condemnilg him at a public meet
ing, but he maintained his own counsel,
as agreed with MIR. McGregor, and with
held any public statement of the facts
until he made his speech: in the legisla-
ture. After the arrangements were com
| pleted, however, he played a trick upon
| Sullivan which that individual is not like
| ly to forgive, which, while simple, was by
no means novel contrivance for getting
! a man to convict himself out Of his own
! mouth. .< So:
Sullivan met Gainey by appointment
after office hours in a piano warehouse
where they were supposed to be alone and
| discussed the whole affair in all it's bear
ings But Mr.. Gainey had artfully con-
cealed three stenographers on the prem
ises and now has transcripts Of their notes
of the interview to confirm his story.