seted with the salvage
committee in Mr. Taylor's office. While we were waiting there they came
out of Mr. Taylor's office without their overcoats or hats on. They had
left them in the room where the salvage committee was in session. Mr.
Dunphy, Mr. Ranstead, and myself were then requested to enter the room
where the salvage committee was in session. Mr. Frank and Abe Harris
waited outside until we got through. The same members of the salvage
committee present at the morning session were present at this meeting,
including Mr. John Scullin, but Mr. Scullin only remained a few minutes
after we entered the room. There was another gentleman present, but I do
not know who he was. President Francis told me later that he was an
insurance agent and that he held insurance on all the buildings then. I
handed the bid, or rather Mr. Dunphy handed the bid to President
Francis, who in turn handed it to Mr. Kennard, who opened it and read it
aloud. The bid was for $101,000 for the buildings mentioned in the
specifications, the intramural stations, the fence around the grounds
(except the stadium fence), and the bridges. Mr. Francis held a
whispered conversation with Mr. Taylor, and then turned to us and said
that the committee had decided to let the contract that day, and that
they would not wait until Friday for the bid on the other material, that
is the rails and the copper wire, and that it would be necessary for me
to put in my bid that night, as they would be in session until 11 p. m.
I stated that I could not make an intelligent bid on such short notice,
unless I was furnished with figures showing amount of rail and wire
purchased by them. Mr. Taylor spoke up and asked me if I knew a man by
the name of Evans, of Chicago, who was in the wrecking business, I told
him that I did not know a Mr. Evans, of Chicago, who was engaged in the
wrecking business, and that I was well acquainted with all the prominent
wrecking concerns and contractors in Chicago but had never heard of or
met Mr. Evans, the gentleman referred to. Mr. Taylor asked me why I
could not get in a bid in the same time that Mr. Evans got his in, and
stated that Mr. Evans had submitted a bid on all the property from
Chicago by wire in three hours. I stood up then and spoke to President
Francis and said, "President Francis, how do you know but that this bid
of Mr. Evans may be a dummy?" President Francis arose from the table and
stood opposite me, and, scratching his head,