The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-11-23
REsoRTING TO PERJURY
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he insurance investigation, next to the dis
closures regarding campaign contributions wal
the charge of blackmail brought by James Hazel
Hyde against former Governor Odell OF New
York and e. II. Hartman the railway magnate
Edward H. Hartman, Benjamin B. Odell,
Jr Chauncey M. Depew and James Hazen
Hyde have added their sworn testimony to
that Of the McCurdy, Mccall, Perkins, Hege-
man and the rest All this testimony Is con-
Trajectory Their statements cannot be recon-
ced Necessarily some Of these dis
tinguished witnesses have lied under oath.
That is perjury Who is the perjurer2 Out
of the mass and maze of the many questions
and answers stand the salient contradictions.
The general charge was that Governor Odell
extorted $4,000 by threats OF hostile legis-
lation conveyed through Hartman to Hyde.
Hyde makes the charge. Odel and Hartman
deny 1t. The more this testimony is analysed
the more striking Is the perjury. Hyde
sWears when asked whether any bill had been
introduced to repeal the Mercantile charter,
IT don't remember" Odell swears Hyde and
he talked about the Amber bill at their first
meeting Hartman swears he never heard OF
It, Odell swears that he and Hartman had
only one interview about the ship-building
suit Hartman testifes to several inter-
views with Ode Hyde says his lawyer was
present. Odel says that both Hyde and his
lawyer were there. Why not call the lawyer?
His name is cambridge Colby. And what a
picture Of political rottenness in New York
all this testimony presents! These delect-
able gentlement even tried to involve the
president of the United States in their
schemes. Hyde, Odell, Hartman, Depew,
all Of them agree whatever their other differ
ences, as to the plan to induce Mr.. Roose-
welt to make Hyde ambassador to France.
Hyde says it was to get him out of the way.
Anyway, the diplomatic service Of the United
States was not to be prostituted to the base
uses of a coterie of politicians and financiers.
Is there an honest man in New York who
is not Inundated by the states disgrace and
by this reproach to democratic government?
New York World.
The Chicago Journal welcomes the action
of the New York Life Insurance company in
seeking to fight in the courts the order Of the
Missouri authorities excluding 1t from doing
business in that state. The Chicago paper
views with pleasure the prospect of such a
legal contest, because it will be possible to
use it to supplement the inquiry of the legis-
1ative committee in New York. to the public
advantage of still further exposing to the
pocyholders the misdeeds of those in charge
of their interests The Chicago Journal de-
cares that such prospect should embolden
the insurance boards of Illinois and of every
western state to take similar action by driv-
ing out every company which does not freely
purge itself of wasteful and graspng off,
Gals" Such is the temper of the country.
No compromises with the old arrangements,
no refundng of moneys improperly expended.
however large, will mitigate the popular
wrath. Only the retirement of the McCaiis
and the McCurdys and the full returning OF
ill-gotten gains, together with the wedding
out of an army Of favorltes will serve in this
very important matter. Those who believe
that the demand for reform will stop short
of this are surely mistaken. Springfield Re-
publican.
President Mccall was peremptorly told
10 produce Hamilton and he promised re-
luctanty 10 urge him 10 return. though OF
course he cannot compel him TO do SO. Ho
will do the urging because he knows that
IIamllton's failure 10 return viii put him In
the closest box he has yet been In. lilo
realizes that. and vet with the same sort OF
philosophy which he has all along employed
TO Justify his conduct or misconduct. he makes
his appeal To the almighty dollar II Mr.
-