Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-03
SHOCKING BRIBERY
At list D|VU[G[D
Charles Kelley Confesses to
Methods of st. Louis Doodle
Combine
FoLF FINALLY ROUTED THEM
"Never Expected to Pass Any Bill I'm
less Paid for IT," Says Kelly - Had
Strict Caucus Organization - Divid-
ed $1,000 at Birthday Party Prom
inent Financiers With Them.

st. Louis. Oct. BIN a written con-
fession today Charles f. Kelly, speak
er of the house of delegates during the
period in the life of the Doodle COM
bine, relates the story of that combine.
He declared that Edward Butler, a
prominent local politician promised
himself and others implicated that the
next circuit attorney would be All
riehs" and promised that if they would
remain firm he would secure for them
either continuances until the new cir
cult attorney took office or pardons
afterward He declares this politician
said the new circuit attornsy, Tor
which office nominations aye TO be
made by the democrats TO-DAY, would
be his man." Kelly declares he re-
fused this offer, and makes this confess
sion to satisfy an accusing conscience,
to obey the requests of his wife. and
to do what he can to make atonement
TO the public and prevent other young
men from following the path which he
declares has led him to ruin.
Kelly detailed the story of the city
lighting deal, for which a Doodle fund
Of s47,5OO was divided between nine
teen members of the combine at Julius
1,ehmann,s birthday party. He de-
,clares the politician gave him Doodle
fund, that he took 1t to Lehmann
house and divided it.
In the course of the confession. kei-
" said: "I know from my own know-
10, ,fcsy do fn rloe>
bp those on the inside that bribery has
bsen going on in the municipal es-
.ssmbly of st. Louis for the past twenty
FIVE years. Hardly a bill passed thas
body in the last quarter of a century
unless it was paid for. We did not
fear exposure and punishment, be-
cause we believed no one would dare
do it. In case of attack we knew
most of the politicians and many large
financiers of st. Louis would be with
us. A former prosecutor showed some
signs of starting after us, but he was
bluffed OUT
when the prosecutor commenced
war on us we tried to intimidate him
by threats of assassination When this
had no effect we laid all sorts of traps
for him without success. Then it was
decided the best plan would be to start
a newspaper and libel him so fercely
as to draw his fire by taking UP his
time in libel prosecutions. Altho we
could find nothing after a thorough
search to make the attack on, 1ibels
were deliberately made up for the pur-
pose of effecting public sentiment.
This plan was participated in, not
only by members of the house of dele
gates under indictment for boodling,
but by prominent financiers of ST.
Louis, who feared exposure, and by
those Who gave us money.
..The combine never thought of pass
ing a bill out of which any money
could be obtained, unless we were paid
for our votes.
I'VE went about it in a business like
way and had combine meetings at
stated times, and fixed the bribe prices
which we were to receive for our votes,
by a majority vote of the combine.
Then we would select one of the COM
bine in whose honesty we had conf
dence to go out and get the money.
These agents would rarely ever be-
tray US. Among ourselves we had a
high code of morals, and it was consid-
cred extremely dishonest for a mem
ber of the combine to accept bribe
money without dividing it amongst his
fellows