Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-07-02

Witnesses a Doodle Deal to
Insure the Carrying Out
of "PIans."

Insure the Carrying Out
of 'Plans."
This Doodle investigation under
Roadway in st. Louis is claiming
the attention of the honest body Of
the Democratic voters from one
end Of the State to the other. They
are interested in knowing who is
implicated. The following article
is from the st. Louis Republic:
Secretary of State Sam B.Cook,
in order to see that former Sena-
tor W. f. Lyons kept his promise
to kill the bill reducing the fees of
former Coal Oil Inspector r. B..
Speed of Nevada, was a witness to
the paying of $500 by Speed to Ly
Ons in the Planters Hotel in 1899.
To a friend in st. Louis Mr..
Cook said Thursday:
Il do not know on whose advice
Speed was so determined to pay
the money but after l was unable
to persuade him not
to do SO, l went with him to the
room occupied by Lyons and was
afraid that he would not keep
faith"
COOKS STATEMENT.
In jefferson City Mr.. Cook yes
erday made the following signed
statement as to his connection with
the Speed matter:
Mr.. Speed did entirely right in
giving Mr.. Folk the full facts
concerning his payment of $500 to
Lyons. He was under no obliga-
tions to furnish the Circuit AttOr-
ney the facts, but he properly pre-
ferred to follow the course prompt
ed by honest candor and to tell
the truth.
"When the demand was made
on Mr.. Speed for this $500, under
threat to pass an act taking prae-
tically all the prfit out of the Office
he was holding, he did what many
honest men have dOne-permitted
himself to be held mp" by a leg
islative sandbagger. When MIR.
Speed came to me with the infor-
nation that a demand was being
made Oh him for money, prompt
ly advised him not to pay a dol
lar. When, however, on the adj
vice of others, he decided to pay
the demand, ] still did what ]
could to protect him.
Mr.. Speed had been my unself-
ish personal friend for many years,
| l knew him to be an honest man
and a loyal friend. Besides, he
had been a generous contributor
to the Democratic State campaign
fund, and for many years much OF
his time had been unselfishly Civ
en- in behalf of his party.
when he was in trouble and
asked my assistance, l did what ]
would have done for any honest
friend who sought my aid, and un.
hesitatingly gave it,"
TO SUBPOENA LYONS,
1t is probable that Circuit At.
torney Folk will again subpoena
former Senator Lyons to tell all h
knows about the transaction.
Mr., Speed has said that he doe
5 not remember who advised him t,
pay the money, and it is though
5 that Lyons will be able to suppl.
. the missing party to the arrange
. ments.
When Lyons stood on his con
q stitutional right and refused Il
tell about the deal, he said that i
+ was all a trick of Speed and Cook
a Since that time, Lyons has evi
denced disposition to talk NOR
about the matter. He may not b
able to shed much additional ligh
+ on the transaction, but his rela
! lions with the organized lObb
, were such that if he chooses h
can assist in uncoVering muc
., Doodle work which will help brin
men not protected by the statut
! of limitations within the power Q
. the ST.. Louis Grand Jury.
: Hon. R. d. Rodgers of this cit
d has been unanimously endorsed b,