Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-09-24
DOODLE REVELATIONS AT JET.
FERSoN CITY.

At the last session Of the General
Assembly a bitter controversy oc.
cured over the effort to pass the
Davidson text book bill providing for
the re-letting Of the contract for
furnishing school books. During the
progress of this controversy a num-
ber Of Democrats refused to act with
the Democratic caucus, and 1t was
alleged were acting with the Repub-
lican minority. This engendered
much feeling. and some suspicion.
Finally, the speaker-Mr, whitecot-
ton-openly charged that corrupt
methods were being employed. This
led TO an investigation by a commit,
tee OF the House, and finally to the
converting OF a special Grand Jury in
Cole county. by a Democratic Circuit
Judge, James f. Hazel. This action
| understand was requested by Gov
ernor Dockery. In any event II
stands as a fact that the Governor
had been earnestly endeayoring TO
secure tangible evidence OF the al
legged corruption. AS soon as the
Grand Jury was called, the Cover
nor directed the Attorney General
to assist In the investigation. This
request of the Governor was con
Cured in by the Democratic Prose
cutting Attorney of Cole County. AS
soon as these steps had been taken
John A. Lee-the Lieutenant Cover
nor, made a confession TO Attorney
General Edward c. Grow. And 1t IL
upon this confession that all of the
indietments thereafter found against
State Senators. except that against
Senator Sullivan, are based.
1t is plain then that the credit
for what has been accomplished II
ferreting out corruption at the Cap
itol must be given to the Democratic
officials at Jefferson City. AS a re
suit Of their labors, indictments hav,
been returned against four Stat
Senators. What Lees confession con
tanned, or what other evidence wa
adduced before the Grand Jury o
Cole County, is very largely a mat
ter of inference, because the Attor
ney General and the Prosecuting AT
torney of Cole County have yer.
! properly refused to make public tn
proceedings of the Grand Jury.
What we do know is that on
, Democratic Senator, and three Re
publican Senators, have been In
dicted. And that Of the latter, Ser
ator Sullivan, has been tried an
! convicted of soliciting a bride.
! Following, or coincident with thes
--~-.,Alf.. kha GroaI Ttfrr ne O.
! Louis began investigating matter
connected with State legislation. Tn
! public. through the press, have bee
served daily with accounts purport
ing to give the complete proceeding
OF the Grand Jury. Whether tru
/, or otherwise we cannot well tell sine
: each grand Juror makes solemn oat
: "the counsel Of the State, my fe
: lows and my own to truly keep" an
. the witnesses also make oath not Z
directly or indirectly divulge tn
testimony they may give, % eve
; the subject matter under considers
: ton by the Grand jury" We assum
that these oaths have been observe
l. and hence conclude that much tina
: has been said may be rumor.
! The Grand Jury at st. Louis, as III
! result of its iabors, returned two Ii
4 dictments, both against Senator Fai
+ ris, who had been previously indicte
in Cole County. The people Of th
State have every reason TO confden
b ly expect that fair and impartii
T trials will be promptly had.
Briefly, nineteen members Of tn
o Ziegenhein regime in st. Louis hay
e been convicted of corruption OF pc
jury, thirteen of whom are Repul
licaus and six Democrats. There az
n four State Senators Indicted, thre
s Republicans and Democrat
Upon this state of the csse we VI
gravely told that the Issue is Go