New Britain herald., 1915-01-20
HUMILITY TO TESTIFY
 AT SULLIVAN PROBE
Minister Promised Post to "DoQ
 Tray" of Beer.

James A. Hamlll Of New jersey, V. w. Beer of New York, and John G. Gray of Wilmington, Del, in procuring the appointment of James M. Sullivan as minister to the Dominican Repub- lie, were described yesterday at the investigation that is being conducted by Senator -elect Phelan of California into SuIlivan's fitness.
 w. c. McGunness of Washington, who described himself a personal friend of President Mckinley, Ire publican politician" and Beers dog Tray for twenty years" testified that Beer and Sullivan had promised him the place of director of posts in Santo Domingo in return for his assistance in promoting Sullivan's candidacy. The place was to be a "sinecure" said the witness He described meetings which he said were held between Beer, Hamill and Sullivan in Wash ington previous to Sullivan's appoint ment, the subject of which was ways and means to get the ear of Secretary of State Bryan. Beer, it has been brought out in previous testimony, was attorney for the Banco Nacional interests in Santo Domingo, who are charged with schemes to exploit pub lie works contracts with the aid of Sullivan.
 Beer Was Indignant.
 At one of these meetings Beer was very indignant, McGunness said, be- cause Manton Wyvell, MT. Bryan's secretary, had failed to deliver what Beer described as "the strongest sort of letter form ex-Governor Glynn of New York, presenting Beer to Secre- tary Bryan. It was decided to get the advice of Gray, who Beer had told him was Bryan's personal friend. Beer called him up on the telephone.
 "I don't know what Gray said" the witness testified, but Beer asked Hamill to see Bryan for them, which he did and got Beer and Sullivan in to see him.
 Some time after this, McGunness said, he was with Beer when Hamill came in and said: "I have just come from Joe Tumulty. Word has reached the White House that you (Beer) are a stockholder and director in the Banco Nacional."
 Right to Invest Money.
 Beers reply was, the witness said, that he had a right as an American citizen to invest his money where he wanted to.
 After Sullivan's appointment, the witness said, he was asked by Beer to get one Lon Owens, to use his intiu- ence iwth eSnator Burton of Ohio to vote for Sullivan's confirmation. This he didn't do, for by that time he had learned what was going on.'
 'I washed my hands of the busi- ness,'' said McGunness, but l decid- ed to trail along on the edge and see what was going on.'
 Saw Minister Sullivan.
 He said that he saw Sullivan in Washington while the minister was there on leave of absence, and asked him how things were going.
 They're going fine, Bill" Sullivan said, according to the witness. The big chief (Beers) will not only be financial agent of Santo Domingo but of Nicaragua, as well, as John Gray has got him next to Bryan, and Gray is the closest friend Bryan has"
 Meeting Beer a few minutes later the witness said he told him what Sullivan said and that Beer had replied: For Gods sake, keep quiet about that
 Disguised With Beer.
 Last summer McGunness said he saw Hamill and that the latter ap- peared to be "disgusted with Beer and his methods"
 Before MT. McGunness was called, Attorney Strong for the commissioner asked Lorenzo Semple, a New York lawyer, member of the firm of Cou- dert Brothers, to take the stand. Sem pie said he represented sugar inter- ests with a $10,000,000 investment in Santo Domingo and was familiar with affairs there. He had made inquiries, he asserted, into Minister Sullivan's conduct.
 The consensus among reputable business men in Santo Domingo said Semple, lis that he is an absolute detriment to American interests. His connection with the Bardos govern ment and the Banco Nacional made it impossible for him properly to rep resent this government
 Protested to Bryan.
 Semp1e said he had protested to Secretary Bryan against Sullivans continuing to occupy the post.
 MT Bryan asked me-" said the wit ness, If I had any specific evidence against Sullivan. I said no, but I went on his general reputation in New York and Santo Domingo
 Semple asserted that in New York | was known as a police court l lawyer without standing among | reputable members of the bar
 Tumulty to Testify.
 Commissioner Phelan announced 1 that Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to President Wilson, had asked and had been granted permission to testify.
 Tumulty has been mentioned in the testimony as being hostile to Walker