Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-09-27
= 4 n r
RAILROAD MONEY
USED in CAMPAIGN
OFFICIAL OF OMAHA ADMITS EN-
PLoYEs WORKED IN LA FOL.
LETTE CAMPAIGN.
FIND OUT WHAT WAS SPENT

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ST. Paul, Sept ga. w. Trenholm,
general manager OF the Omaha road,
who was on the stand at the hearing
on commodity rates before the railroad
commission yesterday, admitted that
he had allowed leave of absence to
ten or fifteen men so that they could
do some political work in Wisconsin.
Pushed for an answer as to what cam
paign they had worked in, he stated
that he did not know, but supposed 1t
was in the last campaign OF Robert La
Toilette for governor of Wisconsin.
He admitted that the company had
/, paid bill OF at least $500 for the ex-
penses Of some Of the men while en-
gagged in this work, and that the sala-
ries Of all of them continued just the
same.
Worked Against la Toilette.
Mr.. Trenholm was asked IL he did
not know Jack Cluen Of Ellsworth,
Wis, an engineer; George Wright OF
Elroy and Scion Perrin, an attorney
!, for the Omaha at Superior, Wis.
He replied that he knew the men
named. Then Mr.. Manahan, attorney
for the shippers, said:
isn't it true that Mr. Perrin, as a :e.
gal representative Of your road, spent
much money belonging to the compa-
thousands Of dollars-in opposing
the candidacy Of La Toilette in Wis
consin?"
Mr.. Trenholm replied that Mr.. Per.
rim was not under his jurisdiction and
that he could not answer for what he
did.
did you not permit subordlnates,
officials and employees, to take part in
the campaign and spend time while in
the pay Of the company to work
against Senator La Follette?''
Their Pay Went On.
Certain men came to me and asked
for leave of absence to take part in
the campaign for governor, and 1
granted such leave"
did they participate in the cam
paign against Senator La Follette?"
Eyes. think they did,
*'Their pay went on just the same?"
YES"
An attempt on the part Of Mr.. Man
ahan to secure the names OF the men
engaging in the work was futile.
Objection on the part of counsel for
the Omaha to going any further into
the matter was not sustained by the
commission.
Want to Know How Much.
Commissioner Staples commended
that 1t was material to the hearing to
show Just how much money the road
had spent In politics. as 1t would show
what had been diverted from the earn
ings. Mr.. Manahan. who conducted
The examination, was unable to find
out further than the $500 and the sal
aries paid the ten or fifteen men while
they were campaigning just what had
been expended for this purpose.
Mr.. Manahan declared that If the
company would allow an examination
of its records that be could show that
the amount would figure into thou
sands.
Others Will BE Called.
Mr.. Trenholm declared that he had
only honoreG vouchers for 5000, but
that other sums might have been paid
and he would not know anything about
them. The names Of those who would
know, had such money been paid, were
secured and they will be called to tes-
tify.
rs itnot true,'' continued Mr.. Mana
han, that Mr.. Perrin brought 400 to
500 Italians to Superior and iae1d them
there long enough to have them vote
for the candidates opposed; to Senator
La Follette7"
II know nothing of that whatever"
he replied Mr.. Perrin does not ra-
port to me-"
As to "Other Expenses"
Mr.. Manahan then took an item OF
$4,000 credited as "other expenses"
in the 1904 annual report Of the com
pany. He attempted to bring out by
cross-examination that the political
contributions alleged to have been
made might be lurking in this item OF
general expenses.
Mr.. Trenholm stated that there were
innumerable items which went toward
making the classification known IS
the general expenses"
r. "A. Stone. assistant attorney gen,
eral, then began an examination OF Mr..
Trenholm. He asked him il any OF the
money spent by the Omaha in politics
had keen spent in Minnesota. Mr..
Trenholm declared that not one dollar
had been spent In Minnesota.
Storm Destroys Flax
Fertile, Mimi, Sept GA severe