The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-16

X p. STONE,
Prosecuting Attorney of Cole County, Mis-
| souri,. who will take a prominent part II
the effort to probe the charges Of hood
| BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Jefferson City. Mo-. March 15-Wth a
House Investigating Committee at work on
corruption alleged to have taken place in
connection with the defeat of the textbook
| bill and a Grand Jury called to investigate
| charges Of bribery. in connection with this
session, legislative gossip has had enough
food for more than nine days sensation.
VIII any one be caught?' is the. question
which every one answers by scrutinizing
the character Of the Prosecuting Attorney,
R. P. Stone.
MUCH DEPENDS ON STONE
His position in the matter is admittedly
one Of great Importance and it is conceded
that he may make much or little out of it.
Mr.. Stone admits that he knows but very
few members of the Legislature or the per-
sons connected with it He says also that
he is not familiar with existing conditions.
These facts would be a serious handicap
wherein information first-hand counts for
SO much.
The Prosecuting Attorney is not commu-
NEGATIVE touching his plans or course Of &C
ton In reference to the investigation.
Il think it Is rather late to begin an in
veetigation now he said. 1.-The Legislature
will soon adjourn and it will mean a heavy
expense to bring witnesses here from a dis
lance. I have been 20 busy with the duties
of my Office that I have had no time to de-
vote to the Legislature 1 know very few
of the members and l scarcely ever attend
the sessions"
An assistant prosecuting attorney may be
hired by friends of Speaker Whitecotton to
help push the investigator before the-Gfand
Jury. -. go,
1t Is said that enough money has bean
pledged to pay the services Of such IA man
and that IL Prosecuting Attorney Stone
wishes help he can have 1t.
A close friend of Stone said this afternoon
that assistance would not be sought, as the
office would have to bear the credit or
blame for results in any instance.
This is Stones second term as prosecutor.
He was elected on the Democratic ticket
two years ago with a majority of S. Last
fall he received about 100 majority. By
trade he was a carpenter and drifted from
this into the practice Of the law. He is
married man, ~ years OF age.
AL G. Smith. Sheriff of Cole County, de-
clares he will get the best jury In the
country. He received an order from Judge
HAZEL to summon twelve men aud he says
he will take six from the country districts
and SIX from town. He is 46 years old and
a married man.
WHITECOTTONS VIEWS.
Said Speaker Whitecotton tonight:
Every effort will be given by me to probe
any corruption which exists in the House,
irrespective Of person or party. 1 know
enough to convince myself at least that II
the, House committee does its work thor
oughly the Grand Jury will have enough to
keep 1t busy for a while.
Personally. wish that the Grand Jury
had been called fer tomorrow instead of
Monday week. This thing will hasten the
adjournment of the Assembly. and, unless
miss my guess. the House will finish its
business by Saturday night
Chairman Davidson of the Democratic
caucus and the House Text Book Commit
tee has announced that he will fight an
until the Grand Jury has com.
pleted its labors.
What would the people say IL the AS
sembly adjourns before the Grand Jury be-
gins its investigation he said tonight.
Honest men of the House want this cor
ruption examined thoroughly. 1t cannot
be done If the members and employees scat
ter to the four corners of Missouri and
other States.
IF an effort is made to adjourn the House
before something Is Cleaned from the Grand
Jury, either afirmatively or negatively, 1
shall fight it on the floor and put every
man on record At that. some Of the menu
bers would rather go on record than before
the Grand Jury"
DISAPPOINTED BY DELAY.
That the friends Of the Speaker reel
greatly disappointed over the fact that the
Grand Jury will not convene until Mon
day week is apparent. If the House COM
mittee fails to develop anything. findings
by the Grand Jury would be a political
feather in the cap of Speaker Whitecotton
and Justify the extreme action which has
been taken.
The only. thing which is keeping the
Assembly from adjourning at the present
time is the appropriation bills which are
before the Senate committee II ia not
known whether the Senate can finish going
over the schedules this week After the
Senate has passed upon the different items
a conference committee will be appointed
and reports made to both branches. after
which agreements must be made. For the
past fortnight. it has been generally agreed
that adjournment would be taken March
q. the date Of the Grand Jury call.
Judge HAZEL arrived tonight from hi,
home in California and will leave early in
the morning for Miller County, where he
will hold court this week
THOIISA Div
George Ramsey, the tie dealer. who is
said to have exchanged $1,000 bill for bills
Of smaller denomination at the solicitation
Of a well-known man about the Capitol. re-
fused to discuss the matter tonight. IT do
not care to say anything for publication"
he replied in answer to questions CONCERN
Ing his part in the transaction.