The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-16
SHONTS ENGAGES FIRM.
1nterboro Counsel Explains
Retention Was Asked by
Vanderbilt.
BURKE CREATES A STIR
Tells Investigators Lockport
Man Wanted $4,000 Loan
to Make UP Shortage.
special DespafeA TO Tt. sus.

ALBANY, April 15.-Former Gov.
Charies 5. Whitman and James l..
Quackenbush. chief counsel for the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company,
were the principal witnesses to-day
before the Judiciary Committee of the
Senate, which Is investigating Senator
George F. Thompson's story Of a $780,
900 slush fund formed to procure the
passage Of the Carlson Martin traction
tare bill. Mr.. Whitman said the state
ments made about him by Senator
Thompson were not true, and Mr..
Quackenbush declared that the slush
fund existed only In the brilliant i'm
agination Of the Senator who talked
about it,
Mr.. Whitman went into great detail
about his meeting with Senator
Thompson at the st. Regis Hotel
March 20, and said that not only did
he not seek the interview, but that
during their conversation Senator
Whitman law Arm, and failing in that
asked Mr.. whitman to get him into
the law business with John B. Stanch-
field.
During the conversation" said Mr..
Whitman. Senator Thompson remarked
that down here. meaning New York city,
they open the barrel and buy everybody;
hut when they come up into the country
they expect to buy US cheap
ye Drinks at the Lunch.
Mr.. Whitman -then told the Senatorial
Committee about the Senator's request TO
nave him use his influence to get sena-
tor Thompson into the Stanchfield law
firm.
II told him." said Mr.. whitman, that
would as soon recommend a wife to
man as a law partner"
Mr.. Whitman said that Senator
Thompson had lunch with him at the St
Regis. but that they had nothing to
drink, because the Senator was the
leader of the dry element in the State
and It would look bad to have drinks
Senator Thompson told me-" said the
former Governor. that he had deter
mined to come to New York and prac-
tee law, as he was tired of the political
game. He said they were all crooks in
Albany. and made this remark; I'm
going TO come to New York il have to
break in with nn axe"
Mr.. Whitman also said Senator
Thompson told him he was tired Of the
awful pressure to do things that you
don't want TO do" The former Gov
ernor said he thereupon asked the Sen
ator II he had ever heard of the famous
remark made by Senator Grady that
only people looking for pressure find
it," and that other remark by Patrick
McCarren that he "had been looking for
pressure for years and couldn't find it."
Mentions "Charles the Baptist"
Thompson told me-" said Mr. Whit
man, that they had bought Hughes
they had given him $4,000 TO come to
Albany for the bill' and after We had
discussed the possibility of the amount
having been enlarged by talk. Senator
Thompson remarked, They gave Charles
the Baptist the money because he could
influence Davenport. They are both piouS
men"
The former Governor said that Thomp-
son suggested the traction bill might be
amended so ''he could save mis- face" and
ked for a copy Of H. This copy was
procured by Mr.. Whitman from his law
Office, sent to the St. Regis and from
there mailed to the Senator at the Re
publican Club. The envelope in which
the bill was sent was produced and
identified by Mr.. Whitman. who said he
addressed II himself.
During the entire conversation" said
Mr.. Whitman. "nothing was said about
$500. 900 being offered or about the Sem
ator earning $50 900 a year In New
York lie said he had political am
bitions and ! said l had a few myself |
He did say he thought the candidate for
Governor should come from upstate, but |
don't recall that he said he was |
candidate. never suggested or thought |
of such thing"
Did you tell him he was the only up |
State man who could be nominated?" |
asked a member of the committee.
II did not"
Denies Urging by shonts.
Mr.. whitman said that Thompson did !
not say he did not want to be Governor |
and he denied that he had told the Sem |
ator he had been asked by Mr.. Shonts to |
see the Senator about the bill.
You did not tell him you wanted him |
TO vote for itT' asked Senator.
''Not unless you can distort my state |
ment that said would vote for It IL |
! were a Senator" said Mr.. Whitman.
The former Governor insisted Il was
Senator Thompson who suggested that !
the traction bill might be amended SO
that he could vote for II and still save
his face" rtt,
ibid you arrange the meeting with
Senator Thom 1son?. asked Senator.
That's hard question to answer" |