The San Francisco call., 1905-01-31
CHARGES CAUSE
Of GREAT SHOCK
TO LEGISLATORS
COrbin Becomes an
ACCuSer Instead
Of Victim.
Continued from Page 1. Column s.


waged between public officials and pri-
vate enterprises, and will mark the de-
cisive defeat of one or the other of the
factions that have kept the Democracy
OF california divided force since the
nrst days OF Phelan's ascendency. On
the one side are arrayed Gavin McNab,
washington Dodge, Franklin K. Lane
and all the Bourbons that so battered
the aspirations of William r. Hearst
for unanimous Endorsement by the
santa Cruz convention for President
ofs the United States. Against them
are William R. Hearst and the frag-
ment Of the Democratic machine he
controls. For years these factions have
Deen battling, but the breach was not
deemed unbridgeable until Hearst
sought the support of California for
President. Then Gavin McNab turned
loose his orators, and when william
r Hearst did take instructions out of
Caiirornia to St. Louis it was an honor
emptier than are the hopes tonight of
some Of the accused Senators.
Since that day the battle has waged
In the Democratic camp and these are
the things all are talking of tonight.
That four Senator'S, three of them Re-.
publicans, should have lent themselves :
willingly to an investigation that in
volved passage through the very mael-
strom Of Democratic wrath is the sur
prising feature, and more surprising
than this is the fact that they should
lend themselves. If they have. to a deal
that inevitably would be exposed.
When the Senate called William
Corbin before the bar at noon to-day
every one expected that but little
would come of the affair; that Corbin
would be purged OF contempt, with d.
rections to appear before the commit
tee at Its convenience. It was whis-
oil
french and Bunkers were not anxious
to prosecute the contempt proceedings
to an issue
Frank d. Nicol, attorney and bank
president Of Stockton, was announced
as the legal representative of Corbin.
Nicol, after he had been granted the
privilege OF the floor, Immediately
launched into the law of contempt and
the power of the Legislature to pun
Ism Tor such offenses. Spellbound, the
auditors listened to this man. who
proved himself one Of the ablest orators
ever heard in this State. Every one
settled down to witness what they be-
lleved would prove an exceedingly COM
monplace proceeding. except for NicoPs
oratory, when. without word that
would give an inkIing of his purpose.
the attorney. in explanation of the rea-
son why his client had refused to obeys
the subpoena, read his affidavit of ac-
cuSatlon against Senators Emmons
French, Wright and Bunkers.
BOMB is EXPLODED.
Here was a bomb loaded with scandal.
and when it burst the Senate seemed
to reel with the shock The accused
men. unnerwed by the accusation. sat
for a moment looking from one to an
other Of their colleagues. The gallery
occupants rose and leaned far over the
rail that they might catch every word.
The storm had burst. The lie was
hurled at Corbin by those he had ac-
cused, and in words of anger they
pleaded for the confidence of their as
sociates. Corbin and his counsel sat
quietly watching the effect of the ex-
plosion, with satisfaction written
plainly on their faces. They had turned
the tables, and instead of the pursued
they were the pursuers. In a moment
the men that had been empowered to
investigate the Continental Building
and Loan Association were stripped of
their employment and were on the de-
fensive
Tonight the committee appointed to
determine the guilt or innocence of the
accused met, but the word came that
Senator Emmons was Frustrated and
that the witnesses had scattered. They
will be rounded up by tomorrow night.
however, and then will come in detail
the story of the men that say legis-
lative, corruption has been born ont or
the suspicion that it existed in a pri
vate firm.