The San Francisco call., 1906-11-13
HAYES OBsTRUCTED
BY A SCRUPLE.
G.. w. Turner Will Not Sign
Congressman Account
OF Election Expenses
STANDS BY THE Law

The conscience of George w. Turner
real estate dealer, threatens to stand
between E. A. Hayes of San Jose and
his qualification as Congressman from
the Fifth district. Turner was selected
as member of the auditing or purity
OF election committee of the Fifth Con-
gressional district, but the candidate
and his managers neglected to confer
with him in the matter of election ex-
penses, and when the time comes for
Hayes to file with the Secretary of
state his electioneering expense ac-
count, there is a grave danger that
lurners name will not be signed to
the statement, which has also to be
hled by the purity committee.
The amendment to the election laws,
passed at the session of the Legisla-
ture in 1903, provides for the purity
committee of Congressional districts to
tile with the Secretary of State affi-
davlts showing what expenses were in
CURED by the candidate This Turner
says he cannot do, since he. has not
been consulted in the matter. He adds
that all Hayes money cannot force him
TO do IT. Turner's colleagues on the
committee are Frank MCGOWAN Charles
L. Thompson, Marshal Pomeroy and w.
A. Beasly If they should show the
consclentlousness that distinguishes
Turner there will be a wall in the way
OF the qualifying of hayes as a Con-
gressman. The Political Code adroirlv
clouds the issue by not stating what
shall be done If the purity commirtee
does not file its statement 1t saws EN-
phatically, however, that it shall file
such statement
WILL OBEY THE LAW.
When seen at his home, 3712 jackson
street, last evening, Turner was not
inclined to pose as a purist. but he
was less inclined to appear as a purity
committeeman The question is SIM
ply thfs-I couldn't be persuaded to
commit perjury for Edward Hayes or
President Roosevelt. I won't do it.
that is all, and SO 1 do not see how I
can sign the campaign account for
Hayes. friend. of mine, Mr. Merrill
OF San Mateo, asked me to serve on
the auditing committee, and when I
agreed John Rogers, curator of the
Park Museum and chairman of the
HAYES convention, brought me a paper
which l signed, thereby signifying my
intention to serve. From that day
to- this | have heard nothing of the
campaign. understand from the
codes that the auditing committee has
full power in the disbursement of all
campaign expenses of the candidate
1t represents. | have seen nor heard
nothing of the Hayes funds.
CANNOT COMMIT PERJURY.
How could I attest to the state
ment without committing perjury?
Under the law person guilty of per-
jury can be sentenced from one to
seven years in State prison. 1 prefer
to spend the next seven years with
my family; I can do that very pleas
antly. I am motorist and as such
obey the State laws. In passing
through a town I restrict my speed
to the ordinances of that town and
intend to conform to the election
laws as rigorously I'm not making
any grandstand play on this matter
and / don't know how it became public
that / was aversei to swearing to the
account of the Hayes campaign fund,
but that is my stand. I don't look ON
the election law as a joke. / intend
to take 1t seriously"
The duties of the auditing commit 1
tee are fully explained in the code, and
a certificate of nomination cannot be
issued to a prospective candidate until
he has filed the names of his commit
teemen and their acceptances. Each
committeeman must participate in the
handling of the funds and take oath
twenty days after the canvass of votes
regarding the expenditures. Turner
says he has not had the opportunity
of doing the first and will not do the
latter.