The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-31
|HICkAM is
WAITING AT
LONG RANGE
At the Baltimore Hotel in KAN
sas City He Lingers.
ON TO WASHINGTON
Will Help to Investigate in the
Interior Department.

| Kansas City, Mo-, March Ex-senator
John P. Hickam of Oklahoma, who be-
| gan a picturesque onslaught upon the
boodlers who were lowering about the
| legislature at Guthrie this winter, is at
| the Baltimore. 1t was reported in the
press dispatches that he had left Okla
| homa to avoid testifying before the grand
| jury now in session at Guthrie as re-
suit of the investigation begun by the
committee of which he was chairman.
In starting the investigation by advo-
eating a resolution for that purpose, Sem
ator Hiskam made the mast sensational
speech of the session. He promised that
If the resolution were passed he would
place before the committee evidence that
would convict more than few Of the
men who were, he said, using money to
influence legislation and who were ac-
cepting money for their votes. The reSo-
luton was passed and Senator Hickam
was given the chairmanship OF the COM
mittee. Several days were consumed in
accommodating $50 pages of testimony. This
evidence was presented TO the county at
torney of Logan county and grand jury
was convened to take up the work of
returning bills.
Many witnesses were examined but
many were not called who were supposed
to know a great deal amout some infiu-
enced votes" said Mr.. Hickam
Il noticed in the newspapers that am
wanted in Guthrie before the grand jury,
said Mr.. Hickam last night, Ito testify
in the charges Of boodling. l will be
there next Wednesday. l have never
been subpoenaed before the grand jury.
Nf1f., of I
ty asked be before the legislature ad-
journed if 1 would return and testify
without process. / answered that l
would. / did return at the time men
toned but was informed by the county
attorney that he would want me at some
future date. In few days he telephoned
me to come up to Guthrie, which | did |
the next day. Then j met the county |
attorney and for the first time told what |
/ would testify. 1t was arranged that 1 |
should appear before the grand jury in !
the afternoon, but before the hour set /
the grand jury adjourned and within /
three hours every lobbyist in the city |
was fully informed of the testimony l |
would offer, and l received twenty-five
or thirty telephone calls from as many
men who wanted to see me on important |
business. The calls were from as far |
away as Kansas Cinty. 1 became tired
calls and-retired to my room.
II am sure that Chief Justice Burford, |
the presiding judge in Logan county,
wants me before the grand jury, and
wants the boodlers convicted. l am not
so certain that any other officer of his
court is as earnest in his zeal.
Il notice that there is an attachment
in the hands of Sheriff Hesser Of my
for me- That is strange. when
&c since rha and ilrV !
has been in session / have spent three
days in Guthrie. Two of these days
were spent in that city for the sole pur-
pose of testifying before the grand jury
and known to the county attorney as the |
object of my presence there.
I'm my opinion County Attorney Nc
CURE is making superhuman effort not
to convict the boodlers and grafters of
the last legislature, and If it were not for
honest Judge Burford the investigation
would have long since been discontinued
with the announcement that there were
no indictments. But Judge Burford is
the wall that the boodlers are not able
to scale.
There is no doubt about the ability of
the grand jury to secure bills and evil
dence enough to convict if the right ef-
fort be made. The evidence placed in
their hands by my committee is of the
most complete and damaging character
as to the heads of the various Hobbies
and their hired men as well. 1t is my
hope and desire to have the work of the
investigating committee result in the re-
tirement of the professional lobbyist from
that territory. The $50 pages of testi-
mony taken by my committee is the
implement that may be made TO accom-
plish this if the prosecution so desires.
when / left Oklahoma it was with the
conviction that there was no chance for
me to tell TO the grand jury what
knew l had started TO Washington and 4
intended to later visit my mother in Ten
nessee. In Chicago L received a tele-
gram from Guthrie telling me of the at
tachment that had been issued for m6
after it was known that / had gone east.
at once changed my plans and started
back to Guthrie. 1 will be there We'd
nesday, the day to which the grand jury
has been adjourned. and viii place in
their possession facts that will make
things happen. / want 10 do this. / am
anxious to do it, and have stood for sup
preston of the lobby since the day
the senate.
Il am going to Washington later. IN
any event. and will there be able 10 help
the interior department somewhat in any
investigation il may desire 10 make into
Oklahoma affairs
Asked about the Oklahoma sanitarium
conditions as expressed in the subcommit-
tee report which he did not sign. Mr..
Hickam said:
The report drawn by Judge Strang
was descriptive of conditions on the ex-
cold and uncomfortable day
upon which cur visit was made. ] did
not sign the report for the reason that |
thought the conditions might be In part
the result Of the-iay. b. not signing the
report l had no intention ot iadorsing
the conditions there. They are bad.
They should be improved. and hey could
be. bat the dividends might not be 50
close to 100 per cent year. as they are
az this time"