The Raymer enterprise., 1912-07-25
new NEWS OF YEs1tRDAl
Sight That Fairly sickened az
Upright Senator.
commepts Of William P. Frye After
Asl Members Of Upper House Ex.
eept Quay Had Sworn They
Hadn't Spssuiated IN SugaI
BY e. }. EDWARDS.

BY G. J. EDWARDS.
In the summer H 1897 :. comIipt,r
OF the United States senate. OF which
Senator George Gray OF Delaware was
chairman. spent several weeks Il, III
yesligatirg accusations publicly made
that members OF the senate during the
consideration OF the so-cailed Wilson
tariff bill. had speculated in the &c.
curities of the American Sugar Refin'
Ing company. commonly called the
sugar trust
The sugar scheGuls in the Wilson
tariff bill occasio19d prolonged and ex.
cited discussion In tie senate. Some
senators were In favor OF reducing the
tariff on raw sugar te n nominal point.
while many other senators favored in.
creasIng the rate: and while the dis
cussion was In progress the accusa.
tion was publicly made that various
senators had been speculating In
sugar. and so specializing that their
sotes upon the sugar schedule would
faporably affect IEeir venture into
the stock market.
In the course Of the investigation
BY the senate into the truth Of these
accusations II was suggested tha, ey.
cry senatoy be called before the com.
mittse and made to testify under oath
Stsiher or rfof he had been spcculat.
Ing in sugar al aAy time during the
pendcncy OF the tariff hll This was
done. aud every senator testified. and
every ons. WITH single exception, de-
MED having directly - indirectly
specunted In the secl'ities Of the
sugar company. The one exception
was the late Senator Matthew San.
FAY Qnsy Of Pennsylvania. whU frank.
ly and Csurageously testified lsat he
aad spsrnIatcd. adding thai ha had
r.osed his speculative accounts be.
fore tho senate had voted 9sen the
sugar schedule.
Soma weeks after TIE close Of the
Investigation | ne. the late William
p. Frye. senator from Maine ass he.
knowing that had been among 9th.
crs sSh,Moned before the iny.sti:at.
ing committee 10 give testimsny and
had been indicted for refusing TO tell
the committee from whom Obtained
the Information cn which ] based my
f. newspaper letters accusing senators
OF s7eculating In sugar. began Of his
own accord conversation with me
upon that subject
Il have always liked Matt. Quay
personally" said Senator Frye. al
though when first knew Of him |
must confess that ! knew that he
would 20 'leetlr' farther In political
management than was willing TO 20
when was chairman " .Se ltcpubli
can state COMMITTEE In Maine: you
may remember that | succeeded Mr.
MaiBs "a chairman II that commit.
tee. lIO~etcr. that rs neither here
nor there; what WAT, 10 say to you
now Is shat Quay gained NY u8bound.
cd respect and admiration when he
appeaFed before the sugar committee
and in reply 10 the question whether
or not hc had been speculating In
sugar securities frankly and bluntly
told the committee that h. had. /: Is
my opinion that there Is today not n
member Of the senate who does not
entertain for Quay tigher feeling OF
respect because he had the courage
to give that truthful testimony than
he ever felt for MIN before.
And want TO add" went on the
man who wss for so many years
president pro ten. o; the senate, and
throughout his long public career WAS
greatly esteemed by the public for
his integrity OF PURPOSE and charac.
ter. II want TO add tha, It made me
sick at heart to see several senators
go before that committee and deiiber.
atelt periurc themselves, though they
knew as well that members Of the
committee and other senators were
fully aware that they had been spec.
ulating In sugar, ! haven't yet been
able TO get rid Of the feeling tha, this
is one Of the most pitiab!e exhibitions
ever made OF the sort Of deprayitt
which men who ate in politics and
who are seeking TO make money n,
the same time are so likely to sinl;
ln,1"
,CopyrSbi. 1911. by T.. !. Edwards. Al,
Rights Rcscrvcd)