The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-11-17
FOWLER DECIDES TO
TELL BAGMAN STORY
Won't Risk Peril Of Prison by
Refusing Information
to Whitman.
GOT $4,000, SAYS MACK
Thinks Inquiry Is Needed If
"Sandbaggers" ExtOrtcd
$3.50. 900 in 1912.

Everett =. Fowler. indicted last Friday
on charge Of extortion. sent word 10
District Attorney Whitman yesterday that
he would be ready this morning to tell
the complete story of his activities AS
the "bagman'' of the Democratic state
committee in the campaigns of 1911 and
1912.
When Mr.. Fowler gets through with his
disclosures the District Attorney expects
to have we'll In hand not only the scheme
of which Seneca r. Hull OF Cortland was
the victim to the extent of $3.50 in 1911,
but also a similar scheme that in the
campaign OF 1912 extracted another 800
from MIR Hull. A lot Of circumstances
combine to indicate that the exposure OF
the scheme as worked in the last Git
bernatorial campaign will be OF ex-
traordinary interest.
Norman f.. Mack OF Buffalo said last
nieht that only 335. 900 was collected for
campaign purposes in 1911 and that II.
as has been alleged. s'1o.o0O was COL
lected. he would not bla. . the people
Tor wondering what became Of the money.
Mr.. Mack said that the amount collected
in 1911 was accounted for by Treasurer
Mclean in the report filed with the Sec
rotary of State.
The records in the Office OF the Secretary
Of State show that Seneca Z. Hulls $3.50
was not accounted for. George VI. Nc
Guire has testified that he made seven
collections in that year. Only one OF these
was accounted for. The theory OF the
present John Doe proceedings is that
much more money was not accounted for.
The fact that the District Attorney is
after the 1911. graft ring makes plain his
anxiety to have George ii. McGuires full
story before calling other witnes esses IN
the John Doe proceedings Ii also explains
his determination to- call Eugene d. Wood
to the stand again and to hear what Will
lam Suzer has to say.
1t will be recalled that In his testimony
Mr.. Mcclure said that on the morning
after Sulzer was nominated he met the
candidate in his hotel and handed him
$500 IN bills.
Only $3.50. says suiser.
Sulz.r was prompt to say that tn.
amount was only $3.50. Since then Me
CURE has talked privately with the Dis
tri,t Attorney and when th' hearings
are resumed it viii probably appear that
both Mcclure ami Sulzer Were correct.
III. diNcrrn,e is that Sulzer may have
foteotten that he met Mr.. Mcclure twice.
As tn. story unfolds it appears that the
conference in Coy piN's office in Albany
in 1911. al which Everett l.. Fowler IS
alleged to nav. been decided upon ~ the
"hagmau" to collec; from highwny contrac-
tors, Has not the only one Of it's kind.
Ti,r. WAS a similar conference IN Syld-
cuse and Mr Whitman is going TO call /.
number of men who are reported to have
attended it.
As Mr.. Sulzer had j,ist been nominal ed
, and was much Interested IN his campaign
| ne is 10 be called and asked whether or
I not h. attended syracuse sandba ggins
, conference.
George II. Mcclure said in his M
| telegram to John \. Iiennessy that whcu
| Fowler went to Syracuse in 1911 and
| 1872" to collect from highway contrac-
| tors he made his headqua rters in the oilics
of William IL. Kelley. Therefore tn.
| District Attorney will call Mr.. Mcclure
, Mr.. Fowler and Mr.. Kelley to learn
whether or not they attended any con
! ference at which il was decided to copy
! the campaign tactics of 1871 for the
| benefit OF Mr.. Sulzer in 1872.
Eugene y. Woods denial OF John A
! Hennessy's testimony respecting the man
ner OF Judge McCall's nomination did no,
, eliminate him as II person possibly having
information respecting the manner oi
financing Mr.. suffers campaign. So h,
will he called also to testify - to ar
! alleged conference in Syracus. i'm
mediately after Mr. suffers nomination.
/ Henry +, Burgard OF Buffalo, who
! ousted William H. Fitzpatrick at the re
cont primaries and who gave $1,000 t1
! help Hennessy continue his investigate
/ Of highway graft, is also known to hav,
been in Syracuse at convention time ana
to have worked hard for Mr.. Sulzer dur
! ing the campaign.
viii Not D~ witness.
/ Mr. Burgard will not he witness il
the John Doe proceedings, according I,
present plans. he knows Il lot abou
highway contractors in the western par
OF the state. Th. District Attorney il
trying to find out who collected from con
tractors who went to Buffalo in the sam,
way that Seneca r. Hull went to Syrn
cuse to see Mr.. Fowler
should Mr., Fowler tell the District Al
torney that he did make collections fron
highway contractors who met him il
Syracuse the situation would not be en-
tirely clarified. Mr.. Fowler may hav
made the collections legitimately an'
without making the threats that Seneca T.
Hull has testified were made to him. An,
whichever way II was Mr. Fowler woul,
| ha only one "baPman"
According to what Hennessy says Nc
Guire told him the whole State wa
divided into districts for the collection
of campaign funds. SO far IL appear
that Mr.. Fowler went nowhere except Il
i Syracuse. The information In the hand
of the District Attorney is that some on
made collections also IN Rochester. IL
Buffalo and in other places.
II also appears that such collection
as Mr.. Fowler made were only fror
= highway contractors. What " puzzlln