Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-01-22
rESTIFIES IN JOHN DOE GRAFT
INQUIRY INTO STATE
CANAL CONTRACTS.
WOULD NOT OBEY The Chief
Murphy Told Him He Would Rnin
Him. If SuIIcr Refused to APP
point "Bagman."

threatened to wreck ms duHllH4SlIh-
u,u as governor OF New York II he
did not appoint James +. Gaffney
commissioner Of highways. He said
he had declined to mako The appoint
mrut after United States Senator
James A. O'Gorman told him that
Gaffuey was Murphys chief bag
.nan" and that Gaffncy had attempt
ed To holdup James O. stewart a
state highway contractor and client
of the senators for 100000 "and that
to appoint him would be disgrace to
the state of New York.
Suzcrs testimony was his first
sworn statement of charges he has
made against Murphy and in many
particulars he added to and eluborat
ed them.
sulzer appeared as a witness in
District Attorney Whitmaus John
Doe" inquiry into state highway
graft. lie was called to explain why
as governor-elect he had sent q
telegram to the state canal board re-
westing Il to defer action on
$4,000 O00 canal contract upon which
stewart was lowest bidder. Stewart
who failed to get the contract tos'i-
fled at a previous hearing that man
named Gaffney had asked him for
contribution of five per cent Of the
contract
Sulzer today said that he had sent
the telegram because he had been
told there WAS danger that Stewards
bids would be thrown out and that this
would be a great injustice to Stewart
and the state Of New York For hay
nig requested the canal board to de-
fer action in the matter, Murphy
summoned him. Sulzer said, and told
Elm he was Quitting in where he did
not belong" and that he was mot be-
ginning right as governor"
when Sulzer resented this and told
Tie Tamany chief he intended to be
h's own governor he swore that Muir
ply rcplled'
"Iike hell You will. I'll see whore
ycull end up damned quick"
Sulzer indicated this interview
marked his first clash with Murphy
Sulzer said that when he became
governor he agreed with Attorney
General Carmody member of the
canal board, that Stewart ought to get
the contract and had sought to "get
hin, Justice" Other members Of the
board. however, outvoted the attorney
general six to one.
After parley with the district at
torney Sulzer signed a waiver OF i'm
munily and took the stand shortly
after 3 o'clock.
"a hive no information that I care
u conceal and will answer any ques
ton you care to ask" said the former
governor.
Mr.. Whitman inquired about tele-
gram Sulzer sent to the state canal
Doa vi in December, 1912, asking it
l., defer action on the matter Of
ava riding contract to James c.
ST. wart.
Su ger said that shortly before this
he received a telegram from Geo. II.
licCnre which stated that if Stew
arts lid was rejected 1t would be a
great injury to Stewart and the peo
pie C the state.
'lJcGuire said that Stewards bid
was thousands OF dollars lower than
any other, and | thought 1t was my
dutv" said the witness, "as governor !
elect to request the board to defer |
lCdon.
He sent the telegram on December |
10, and the next day, he said, John II. /
Delaney. now commissioner of the |
bureau Of efficiency at Albany, came |
to see him at his office
"He seemed very much perturbed"
continued sulzer. HE said, My God |
what have you done? You have
spilled the beans. The chief Is al, |
worked up about it."
81 said, what have I done He |
said, You sent a telegram yesterday |
and It has angered the chief. I'm
afraid it's all off between you. Now
he wants to see you"
81 said, Why John, that's the
simplest thing in the world and |
showed him this telegram from Nc
Guire | told him that ] did not sec
why Mr. Murphy should get mad at
thing IKE that" Sulzer said that az
Delaney's request he called upon /
Murphy and the latter asked him to
come to see him. He said he saw
Murphy at Delmonicos that after
noon.
Mr.. Murphy took me into a small
ruCnI," said SulZer. "IIe looked NJ
me and could see he was perturbed
He said: Why did you send that tele-
gram to the canal boz I'd ?''
81 said that's very simple" and |
showed him that telegram from Nc
Guire.
"He said, You've made great
mistake; you don't wsnt to bull into
things that don't concern you. I'll
attend to this"
4 /
wanted to know IL Senator O'Gorman
had not asked me to send this tele
gram.
81 said, no. I'd never seen O'Gorman.
Then he said Keep your hands off