Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-03-10

Mr.. Eastman denied asking Blaine
to derail the investigation. He adj
mitted changing from Cook to stephen
son. But he denied receiving money
for it.
Asked when before the primaries
he saw Mr. Blaine he said:
81 think Mr.. Blaine came down to
Platteville a week before the prima-
ries. | was with him when he was
making campaign speeches. Part of
the time we were out in an auto; part
of the time in rig. have no recol-
lection of having any talk with him
regarding the matters l am accused
Of"
On cross examination he said Cook
was his choice That he continued to
be his choice until about two week S
before election. Then he changed his
opinion and began to work for
Stephenson.
Were you ever in Ellisi's office in
Platteville?"
"A good many times
Were you there before the cleo
tion?"
Three or four days before the
election
who was present at that timer"
"Mr Ellis, Mr.. OFT, Mr.. Pullen, Mr..
Miller, Mr. Goodale and myself. Mr.
Miller is one of the agents for Stephen
son. Mr.. OFT supported Mr.. Cook be-
fore and after that meeting. He did
not know when Mr. Goodals support
ed after that meeting
DO you know Ben Webster?"
He wasn't at that meeting"
do you know whom he supported
I'm the early part of the campaign
he was a Cook man."
'Isn' it a fact that some of the men
that were present in Ellis's office sup
ported Mr.. Cook?"
Some of them"
Isn't it fact that after that meet
ing you and these supported Mr..
Stephenson"
81 did"
Whom did Mr.. Ellis support
HE wouldn't declare himself"
The same was true of one or two of
the other men, the witness admitted.
Mr. Miller who was at the Office
was an ardent Stephenson man and
wanted the boys to- support Mr..
Stephenson" he said finally. THE
purpose of the meeting was to discuss
a change of politics. Mr.. Pullen and
himself were the only ones that
changed The others said they would
remain inactive.
Referring to the talk with Senator
Blaine, he said he declared the inves-
LEGATION a farce.
You were against the investiga-
tion?"
my opinion of it was against it"
And you so expressed yourself?"
We'll, don't know
Nov Mr.. Blaine says you opposed
the Investigations.
Not the way you put it."
Didn't you say the investigation
was a farceH'
Yes
You weren't in favor of an investi-
gation?"
IF / said it was farce, 1 wasn't |
in favor of it,
Then you were against it."
Eyes; it might be-"
What was the other thing you
deny?"
Buying Cook votes"
The testimony doesn't say buying,
does it?"
well, there is something to that
effect
"You didn't pick off Cook votes
them
Not by paying money
How were they picked OFF,
by moral persuasion
You do know of some that were
picked off by moral persuasion?'
81 don't know if / do"
Mr.. Bray nterjected-"You know of
at least one?"
Il don't know if / do"
Mr.. Bray-'H owabout yourself?"
Would you mind to tell the COM
mlttee why you changed from COOk?'
Senator Morris continued.
Because Cook didn't have any
show" the witness replied
You went to Stephenson because
you thought he would VIM"
Yes; he was my next choice
What else do you denY3'
He denied asking Senator Blaine to
sidetrack the investigation. The wit
mes stated that Mr.. Blaine wac at his
house when he didn't nowNwhether
to run for district attorney or state
senator. Il introduced him to the
boys. and he said that he would let
us know what position he would run
for"
He admitted saying to Mr.. Blaine
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