New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-28
What Foes Called campaign
Contributions" Were Gifts
from Friends for Personal
Use, Is His Defence.
FOUR DAYS STORY TO TELL
Governor to Take Stand and
Charge Murphy and Wall
Street with Conspiracy
Mysterious Woman Is
Sought in New York.
[By Telegraph TO The Tr'hnn"

found his salary Of $4,000 year as
Governor inadequate for his needs, just
as William ]. Bryan discovered his an
nual stipend Of $4,000 insufficient to
keep him going in proper style a.
member Of President Wilson's Cabinet.
The dignity of their official positions
was not allowed to suffer, however, in
either case While Mr.. Bryan took his
place between Swiss yodelers on the
Chautauqua platform. Mr.. Sulzer, fore
seeing the necessity, turned to his
friends for aid before election ana ac-
cepted gifts OF checks and cash. which
were afterward called campaign con-
tributions" by his foes.
Debt and poverty will be Governor
Sulzer's defence at the impeachment
trial, according 10 friends and hints
that have been thrown out by his et-
torneys this week. They say that when
his name was mentioned as a candidate
for Governor he was $4,000 in debt
and that he agreed TO accept the nomi-
nation only after his friends offered TO
/ pay these debts. II is said that In this
manner the Governor will explain the
large number OF checks sent him during
the campaign and which he did not ac-
cept as campaign contributions.
| Because OF his debts" said one Of
his friends to-day. Governor SulZer
was reluctant 10 accept the nominal
! tion. He felt that complications would
surely result and that he could not live
on the salary Of $4,000 a year al
lowed the states Chief Executive and
at the same time do anything toward
the payment OF his debts. one Of the
/ first persons he consulted concerning
the acceptance Of his nomination vas
Mrs. Sulzer. who advised him against
being a candidate until friends agreed
TO come 10 his assistance in paying his
financial obligations. She then con-
sented."
Sulzer's Story To Be Long.
It is said that President Wilson also
L
nomination. the subieSt being discussed
at a visit by Mr.. Suizer TO the Prcsi-
| dent at Spring Lake, n. j.. last fall.
Friends Of the Governor, however. do
not believe that Mr.. Sulzer's financial
difficulties were referred TO at the visit
10 MIR. Wilson.
The Governor, il was said here to-
night. is still determined to go on the
stand and tell his own story. II is said
that unless hts plans are changed he
will take four days to tell his story.
and that he Will go into the minutest
details TO show that money which the
prosecution charges was given TO him
as campaign contributions was for his
personal use. He will charge that
Charles F. Murphy, backed by infsu-
ences In Wall Street. entered into a.
gigantic conspiracy 10 use these cir
cumstances TO discredit him when they
found that they could not force him
10 do their bidding
The Governor and his attorneys
worked far into the early morning
hours every day this week, and one of
them said to-day that In spite Of the
damaging evidence OF yesterday they
would be prepared 10 meet every bit OF
evidence brought out by the prosecu-
tion.
The prosecution has all kinds of
,,rf.h % IA
Governors counsel; they have raked
the state fore and aft for testimony.
Every one Of their witnesses has been
interrogated, and we haven't the slight
est idea what they have yet in store
TO spring on us, yet the Governor is
not worrying and is confident Of the
tinal result"
Call Peck Tammany's Friend.
IF Governor Sulzer makes any de-
fence at all will he not be forced 10
take the stand to answer the testimony
given by Duncan w. Peck and Henry
Morgenthau?" the attorney was asked.
The Governor has never yet been
1OrCeu 10 10 any tHllB hc uiuH want
to-" was the reply.
He was OF the opinion that If the
Governor took the stand it would be
for other reasons than this. Duncan
w. Peck, who is the State Superin-
tendent of Public Works. testified that
Governor Sulzer had asked him 10 deny
on the witness stand the gift of 500
he made TO the Sulzer campaign fund.
Friends of the Governor are inclined
to discredit his testimony. saying he is
friendly TO Tammany. But they have
little TO say concerning the testimony
of Mr.. Morgenthau, who said that Gov
ernor Suzer asked him 10 be easy"
with him. Mr.. Morgenthau was one OF
the Governors chief supporters.
Governor Sulzer has been given strict
orders by his attorneys not to talk
about his case 10 any one, over the
telephone or otherwise, as a result OF
the Peck and Morgenthau testimony.
which they admit took them by sur
prise He sees no reporters, and the
conferences he holds at the Executive
Mansion are either with close personal
friends or members of his legal staff.
They deny the stories which have
reached the Capitol that he is already