The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-04-30
FRIDAY, APRIL 80, 1897.
Investigating Again.

tinue their Investigations, but uneX-
pectedly run up against snag in the
person of Clark Davis, representative
from Wilson county. Among other
things, we quote the following of Mr.,
Davis testimony, from the Kansas
City Journal:
asked by the attorney general
concerning the testimony given by
witnesses on the stand, linking his
name with some Doodle deals, the wit
ness said:
I'm regard to the evidence Of Speak
er Pro TEN Weilep, of Cherokee, that
| had told him that l had been offered
money by Bale Wagner to vote
against the Brown railroad bill, will
say that Mr.. Weilep was mistaken. L
never told him any such thing. l
was at Wagner's room, and, when l
left it, met Weilep in the corridor of
the hotel, and we talked for long
time over matters then pending in the
legislature. We were both Of the opin-
ion that we could get some money for
our votes on the railroad bill, but |
did not say that an offer had been
made me, nor was any"
"Were you offered any money for
your vote on any bill?
No sir
Did you tell DR.. Marks or Speaker
Street that money was offered you?'
Il did not.
Marks and Street testified that
Davis had made such statement to
them.
'Doyou know of any member who
was offered money for his vote or
influence in other directions?'
Il know absolutely of my own know
ledge that certain members were Of
fered money and some got it,
go ahead and tell what you know
'One member told me he was offered
$1,000 for his vote. Another told me
he had received money for his vote.
who were they?'
Il decline to give their names. |
know them, but to tell will do no good.
My name has been mixed up in this
investigation to my injury, but, not
withstanding this, l will not cast any
reflections on a single member of the
legislature by mentioning names. ]
do not refuse to testify because | will
incriminate myself, but because it
will do no good to anybody to throw a
lot of insinuations and charges out
against members.
Are you aware that we can compel
you to testify?' asked the attorney
general
mol am not, and 1 don't think you
can. If you can, why have you let
everybody else off who refused to give
names? 1t is not fair to me to ask
me to give information that you have
not compelled Others to give out.
Furthermore, | will not do it,
Chairman Outcault-'Mr. Davis,
this committee has the power to COM
pei witnesses to testify. We did not
know it when we started out l would
advise you to tell what you know and
avoid trouble
4 am not looking for trouble, but |
refuse to give the names you want.
BY the way, Mr.. Chairman, what are
the objects of this Investigations
ITO ferret out corruption in the last
legislature, replied Outcault.
well, it looks to me as though this
thing was a huge farce, broke in Da-
Wis. You seem to be furnishing the
newspapers with much gossip to the
injury of our party. have driven
over my county since last you met and
consulted with my constituents. They
claim you are hurting the populist
party all over the state, are injuring
the fair name of Kansas, and accom-
plishing no good whatever. Now you
had better find out what your powers
are. If you can't compel a witness to
testify, the sooner you find it out the
better, and pull this farce off. If you
have the power, then go ahead and
probe to the bottom. Establish your
authority first and then treat all alike.
l know that this thing is injuring our
party in my county and that is no ex-
ception to the rule as to the other
counties.
1t was decided to make test case
out of Mr.. Davis refusal to answer
questions. Consequently, he was
committed to Jail for contempt, in or
der that he might begin habeas Cor
pus proceedings for his liberty, and in
in this way get the power of the in
vestigating committee defined.