New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-17
Prominent Democratic Pol
iticians Offer to Reveal
Campaign Methods.
PROSECUTOR NOT
READY TO HEAR
Won't Give Immunity Till He Is
Sure of COmpensation-Ryan
Tells New Graft Tale.

hearing until Friday. The first was
with lawyer who represented three,
probably one or two more, of the big
gest men politically in the Democratic
state organization.
This lawyer whose identity was care
fully concealed, made an offer on be-
half Of one Of his clients 10 go before
the grand Jury and tell the whole story
Of Democratic state campaign funds
for 1912 and 1911, but the offer was rot
accepted offhand by the District Attor-
ney. The politician concerned is at
ready heavily involved by the evidence
now in Whitman's hands. and Whit
man is unwilling to give any immunity
baths until he is sure he will get tull
CONDENSATION for them.
Expects Complete Exposure
Whitman is satisfied from the infor-
nation now in hand that he will ultl-
rnateIv he able to uncover the entire
matter Of the raising and expanding or
tho Democratic state campaign funds,
and he is equally certain that the final
story will show that more than SlOO-
eco was raised last year, and not ac-
counted for in any sworn statement
filed by Arthur A. Mclean, treasurer
Of the Democratic State Committee or
i'm any other statements filed with the
Secretary Of state.
The District Attorney sent men up
state last night TO begin an inquiry
and check up the story outlined to him
Yesterday by the lawyer. and if proper
corroboration can be brought forth Il is
expected that the break in the inner
ring of the political "bagmen' which
will lay bare the whole game will come
within the next few weeks.
Whitman's second conference yester-
day was with stephen Ryan, the DEM
ocratic leader of ChenangO County.
RYAN. il is understood, will be a grand
jury witness to-day, and his story. &C
cOrding to reports, will come nearer 10
involving political henchmen in the
Highways Department and the powers
i'm the Democratic State Committee in
a campaign fund graft conspiracy than
anything else that has so far been
brought forward.
Ryan's name was first brought into
the inquiry by John A Hennessy on his
first day on the witness stand in the
John Doe proceeding, which was the
first day Of the inquiry Hennessy said
that at the famous meeting in the
Hotel Utica, in Utica, between George
n. Mcclure and himself he had met
and talked with steve" Ryan in the
lobby and cafe Of the hotel before going
up TO McGuire's room.
As Hennessy told the story, and as
Mcclure subsequently corroborated IT,
Ryan was waiting there for Hennessy
when he arrived. Hennessy and Nc
CURE spoke 10 each other for a minute
or two in the lobby and then Hennessy
excused himself for a few minutes TO
talk TO Ryan. Starting in the lobby,
Hennessy and Ryan adjourned to the
cafe where they continued their talk
for about half an hour, during which
time Mcclure waited.
II was just after his talk with Ryan
that Hennessy went 70 McGuire's room
and got from the Syracuse man the
sandbagged by Everett p. Fowler and
other representatives Of the Democatic
state Committee.
Corroboration is Expected.
Ryan's story. II is rumored, would be
backed up by afiidavits Of two con-
tractors who had been awarded two
small repair contracts by Charles r.
Foley. then Deputy Superintendent Of
Highways. These two contractors, the
story goes, were approached for con
tribution" on the strength Of their con-
tracts. but each told the "bagman"
that his contract was too small to JUS
tify the assessment
Then followed the most astonishing
instance Of coordination between state
officials and political "bagmen" that
the graft inquiry has yet uncovered
for the two contractors were told by
the "bagman" TO go down 10 Albany
and sign the necessary papers to get
an additional award.
Subsequently these two contractors
did go to Albany and did get an addl-
tional award, which was charged up 10
the grade Of stone TO be used on their
reuair work. The little joker" Of the
transaction. however. came later when
the two contractors, surprised that they
had not been solicited again. returned
10 Albany 10 get that additional award
on their contracts, and found that the
money had been marked up on the
books Of the Highway Department as
having been paid TO them. The infer
ence was that IL had been turned di-
rectly over TO the campaign fund, saw
ing them the bother of making a CON
tribution" and extracting the assess
ment Eat the source" along the lines of
the federal income tax.
John Nj. Murphy, Bronx contractor.
who testified at the John Doe hearing
last week TO paying S3,3GG G6. one-third
Of his profits on a commission deal on
highway material, to Charles r. Muir
phys close friend and associate, James
f.. Gaffney, will be witness before the