The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-06-20
That Bribery Case.

That Bribery Case.
II is not tile desire OF the SENTINEL to
unjustly attack any mans standing in
the community or to do him willful
injury, and as our structures upon Rep
resentative Munthc two weeks ago were
particularly harsh, we give below ON
explanation Of the affair clipped from
the Detroit Evening News which may
throw some additional light on the sub
ect and serve to form correct opinion
OF the conduct Of both Representatives
Doyle and Munthe.
We would say by way Of explanation
TINT our attention was called to this by
prominent democratic citizen OF this
village who felt agrieved that gentlemen
who had done such good work for the
Upper Peninsula in general and for this
section in particular Us had Mr.. Doyle
should be unjustly censured. While
this paper has never censured Mr.. Doyle
nor intimated TINT he was guilty of
corrupt practices, but on tho contrary
expressed the utmost confidence IN his
ability to prove his innocence, the nd
missions that have been made render
this explanation necessary.
While we concede this much That the
gentlemen did not receive money toinfiu-
ence legislation we t,ke this opportune
occ ,sion to denounce the bad practice of
using money in any way with reference
to legislation. 1t is not sufficient
excuse that the practice OF using money
about the capital is one OF long stand
ing. Legislators should be prohibited
By law from receiving gifts during their
incumbency. Bills that require money
to pass ought never to become laws. and
men who cannot afford the expense of n
term at Lansing ought to stay at home
until such time a, the state will pay
decent salary. The following is what
the Evening News says in explanation:
The gentleman from Ironwood who
IL thus accused Of official extortion is
Louis w. Munthe, q character in the
present house with many picturesque
qualities AMI tremendous muscular
strength, a Scandinavian by birth and
the only ole of that nativity in this leg
islature, and who is immensely popular
with bis fellow-ceuntrymen in the North
Michigan country. The colleague who
Is charged with profiting by his corrupt
practices is NJ. j. Doyle, of the Sault, a
bright, free.hearted young Irish. Ameri.
can, who has won the reputation q, one
Of the closest reasoners and NEST e,oqu.
emit speakers on the floor of the house
OF representatives. Munthe, while
man OF considerable native shrewdness,
has an imperfect command of the Eng.
lish language and was unfamiliar with
Legislative methods.
There had been, however, large
number of local bills of considerable
importance to the Upper Peninsula
committed to his care. In addition to
the Ironwood charter, Of which. being
. senate bill introduced by Mr.. Stevens
he had charge in the house, he introd-
uced the Ontonagon bridge bill, the
township school district bill, the L'Anse
charter bill, the bills authorizing Nc
MILAN to borrow money for. bridge,
and setting of new voting precincts IN
She township, and the Gogebic judicial
circuit bill. All these have now passed
and he still has pending the Baraga
charter and the bill making the mine
inspector elective by the people. With
the usual clannishness Of Upper Pe,liu-
sula men, his fellow democratic leeisla-
tor from the second, Mr.. Doyle, being
. lawyer, turned in to help him with
this large amount Of legislation. Very
early In the session Doyle had his seat.
changed from place near the front ON
the left Of the house to the chair in the
rear row Of seats on Mr.. Munthe's right.
whore he could conveniently extend at
al times his willing and judicious
advice. Whether as . result Of this
friendly Legislative copartnership which
has often been the subject Of pleasan.
comment around the state house or for
other reasons, Mr.. Munthe has BEEN
Sesy successful with his bills. His re-
lntions with Mr.. Doyle as cors