The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-04-19
BASEBALL SCANDAL EXPLODED
The REV. Mr.. MILLER ACCUSED
or "ABSOLUTE FALSEHOOD."
He says Hia story OF $3.50 .O,O Corrup.
tion Fund Came From q. n. Gould OF
Albany-Couid Denies II: insists That
He Never Heard Of such . Plot.

NuUub SoHuC We ~ srvss'ss W
Albany Gould Denies II: insists That
He Never Heard Of such . Plot.
ALBANY. April Ex-senator James d.
McClelland. chairman OF the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections. went
to bed tonight feeling sure nobody had
been around distr ibuting s2So.oOo doodle
fund to influence legislation favorable to
Sunday baseball.
For two hours this afternoon and two
more tonight at a meeting of his COM
mittee Senator McClelland cross-examined
the Rev. o. r. Miller. superintendent OF
the New York State Civic League and
registered lobbyist at the Capitol, who
told i5O ministers at the Methodist con-
ference AT Saratoga on April that he
a Doodle fund Of $3.50. 900 had
been raised by the big baseball clubs OF
the country to pass the Sunday baseball
bill in the Legislature"
The Senate on Monday night adopted a
resolution calling upon the Rev. Mr.
Miller 10 give the reason for his assertion
and the source Of his information. The
clergyman said George r. Gould. attached
to the circulation department Of an Albany
morning newspaper. told the story to
him. Before the committee tonight
Gould said Mr.. Miller's statement was an
absolute falsehood"
The committee concluded to report to
the Senate tomorrow that there was no
foundation in fact for the Civic League
mans charges.
senator /. Harvey Ferris OF Oneida.
who offered the resolution compelling
Mr. Miller to explain; Senator Big Tim
Sullivan and Assemblyman Mcjrath.
who have Sunday baseball bills in the
Legislature. and other members OF both
houses were wrought up by the story of a
$3.50. 900 Doodle fund and they demanded
that it be officially proved or discredited.
II is understood that the Committee on
Privileges and Elections intends to go
after others who make similar charges
OF corruption.
Before tho committee this afternoon
Mr.. Miller said he had not asserted OF his
own knowledge that a corruption fund
OF $3.50. 900 had been raised, but that he
understood or had been told that such was
the fact. The committee then directed
Nr. Miller to reveal the name Of his In
forrnant and he said IL was George r.
Gould.
Senators Ferris. c. d. Sullivan and New
comb, members OF the committee. ques-
toned MIR. Miller He admitted that he
was soliciting in the Reform Bulletin.
Of which he is the editor, 81 ,0oo to place
the people on guard against the "nefarious
efforts OF the baseball interests His
questioners tried to show that MIR. Miller g
particular point was TO create an i'm
precision that tremendous interests were
opposing his work and he needed the
money to combat them.
He said his annual salary was s.. 600.
which he didn't get always, and that his
expenses for his Albany lobbying were
Si6 to S2s q week He denied that he was
circulating the Doodle fund etory for the
purpose OF getting subscriptions toward
his work.
The COMMITTEES took a recess at o CLOCK
this afternoon and sent the sergeant-at
arms of the Senate for Mr.. Gould.
Gould went to the Capitol voluntarily
tonight and faced Mr. Miller. who said
he recognized Gould as the man who
told him about the Doodle fund. Chair
man McClelland said:
Mr.. Gould, the Rev Mr.. Miller has
testified that you told him fund OF $3.50.
600 had been raised to influence legis-
lation favorable TO Sunday baseball
IL that the fact?"
1t 10 an absolute falsehood." snapped
Gould. Il never told him anything Of
the kind l never even heard Of such a
thing until I read his statement made at
Saratoga"
/ Mr.. Gould said he had discussed Sunday
baseball only once with Mr. Miller and
the conversation was confined to the
character Of newspaper cartoon which
MIR. Gould said. Mr.. Miller spoke very
bitterly against. MIR. Miller insisted tina,
Gould made the statement
In answer to q question by Senator
Newcomb Mr.. Miller admitted that the
Gould statement was the only basis he
had for his reference to the doodle fund
The committee will leave it to the
Senate as to what will be done with Mr.
Miller. II was suggested at the meet
ing that tho Senate should ask the Sec.
rotary OF State to revoke Mr.. Miller's
license as lobbyist for the Reform