The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-24
BRIBERY COMMON IN
IBl!lf STATE, He SAYS
Scores Of Legislators Accused in
Remarkable Confession of
Gethro.
Special to The journal.

Special to The journal.
Boston, June 23.-Frank J.. Gethro,
who was expelled from the Massachu-
sets house Of representatives Thurs
day night for attempted bribery of his
fellow members in the defeat of the
bucket shop bill, tonight, over his sig
nature, made most remarkable state
ment. He gives full information of the
corruption long suspected to exist in
the Massachusetts, legislature, admits
that he gave and received brides, and
condemns all but a handful Of the men,
bers of the legislature Of this year as
being as guilty as he, many OF them
more so. .r' '.'' ri = - -sF+e 4
He gives no names in his statement,
but these he gave to District Attorney
Moran yesterday, when he turned
states evidence against his accusers.
Mr.. Moran will lay the matter before
the July grand jury and has said of
the evidence in his possession that the
convictions Of large batch Of legisla-
tors is certain. Gethro's statement, in
part, follows:
Admits His Wrongs. !.
seThe people of Massachusetts have
heard much in the past weeks Of the
viciousness of bribery-when the .bri-
berry is detected. The duty Of calling
the attention Of the people Of Massa-
chusettts to more culpable wrongs
undetected bribery and undeteeted per-
jury-fallsr now upon my unfortunate
"What was my establishment then
discovered IN the very infandy Of my
term with my fellowmen, whose adj
dress and experience I envied, and
leaders whose standing and talents I
respected, openly and eagerly in the
corridors and in the house, and senate
itself, sold their, votes and their in
auenoe TO pass Of TO kin this and that
ure was or what way 1t affected their
constituents.
"I learned soon that no representa-
or his interests unless he bowed to the
leaders Or was a N to ths wishes
e hs l4}6byst the a egRss Of na a' gs
che actions of. the legislature but the
elections Of the majority of their mem
bsrs. ~ It was not matter Of choice,
therefore, that 7 was driven to decide
shat unless I, too, were willing to sell
my vote, I would remain cipher In the
house, without standing or power
ttScar cely measure came before the
house but came with it money offers for
my vote from representatives, senasors
and lobbyists. So common WIS the
practice, 90 unreserved the motives, that
when the Logan anti bucket shop bill
was put ON the counter the question
was and I admit it now In shame, my
quety was among the, chorus mot
not whom the bill would hurt or whom
In It. s''7S~ So So W.T.. !,
Il; Agreed to Buy Votes.
at consulted with those interested
and determined to try and get for my
Of votes against the bill. : =,
''I agreed to buy republican votes,
got the contract and bought the votes.
In negotiating for certain votes which
KNEW had been bought For other meas
given to understand I did not offer the
full price. Mill =
"To force me to raise the offer some
Of these who refused me began to talk:
The matter got to the grand jury, and
was indicted.
"The republican leaders told ME that
if would not divulge the names of
those who had accepted, or agreed to
accept my offers for their votes,
freed. Then the Investigating commit
tee was appointed. I was told AGAR
that: if I stood firm the committee
would see me thru unframed. Again
stood firm.
His Fatal Error.
+ st'This was my fatal error. Refec
proper course should have been to have
complied in the beginning with the dis
tFict attorneys demand for the facts
But the thought Of informing Of my
fellow members, my friends, even 4
they were more, guilty than I, was 81
repugnant that I determined to b,
silent. or if I must speak,, to lie, no
only for myself, but for those whom
when, however, I sat on the foo
Of the house on Thursday Afternoon
saw myself held up in scorn and hear
my punishment demanded, not by tina
handful of men whose names are aboy
reproaeh, but by mob of dastardl
hypocrites who had taken ten brides t
MY one, swore then and there t
svenge my expulsion and ruin soon an
massachusetts, legislature would a brfb
be taken, offered OF mentioned. :.
Therefore, in doing my plain dut
ia laying before the proper author
ties the evidence which will convict tn
bribe-takers and bribe-givers in tn
Massachusetts, Legislature, I ask fai
men to Judge me justly. Let them It
member that weeks, ago, faithful to m
promise to. the leaders, refused $1,000
In cash If I would give up that il
formation which I now give Of my ow
free will. -. :
For whatever wrong 7 have done t
Massachusetts T shall atone as best
may, but in my degradation I a.
buoYed up by the knowledge that
shall have done the state some servie
1f In my ruin the structure Of infam
1earad nv thasa men shall fall ,, -.