The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-06-28
LAWSON TIE MUCKRAKER

of all the ''muckrahers m TINS
country. Thomas ". lawson oil
observation-disclosures hc easily claSSed
rs the Champion lie has been a'-
cnsed of loldiug cNtrcmcNicwS and"l
b.ino unnecessarily har-hm his criti-
cism oi those hc has attacked, but
to him. moro than any other agent
i due he wholesome reforms. which
have been brought about i'm the con
duet of the biz lille insurance com
plnics. and thcconScquenteNp oSureS
al contributions 10y these companies
and corporations and trusts gencr-
allvto national political campaign
funds Some months ago MIR Law
son turned his batteries ON the
Massachusetts, legislature and
charged that I, de with all kinds OF
corruptiou. hut especially with
bribery i'm connection witha bill. the
object of which wa~ to abolish the
bucket shop in tine State. In tie
July Issue of ENcrybody'~ Magazine
Mr.. Lawson gives "a graphic account
a. the methods by which thc legiSla-
tire che.kmatcd the efforts OF the
District Attorney To prosecute the
bribe takers as we'll as the brides. 10y
ordering ana Investigation before 90
committee of the legislature, persons
t,,tifving before such "a committee
b,ng rendered immune from prose
cntion for amy ofleu~e connected
with the INVESTIGATION. 10y 81 special
Massachusetts, statute by this en-
renious method the corruptionlStS
in the legislature felt that they had
made themselves secure. MIR. Law
son. however. closed his article with
a prediction that the thieves would
fall out. because of the excitement oc-
casioned by thechargcs. and that be
fore many moons Somcwould squeal
The prediction has come true.
Frank J. Gethro "a member OF the
Massachusetts, legislature, who had
been indicted 10y grand jury prior
to the Institution of the legislative
investigation. which would have rem
dered him immune. seems 10 have
been made "a Scapegoat 10y Inc inveS-
tigating committee. and has been
expelled from the legislature This
gentleman i'm am open statement now
admits his own guilt and incrimi-
mates others. Referring to the anti
bucket bill. the measure in which he
was personally interested. Gcthro
says:
II agreed To tuy E.publiranyote~. got
the contract. and hought thp votes. W
gOtiatiug for certain votes. was refused
refused because Was given To- under
stand did not offer the full price. To
force me 10 raise the offers some ui those
interested began II talk The matter
got To the grand jury and was indicted
Then the Investigating committee Wa
APPOINTED | was told that 70 stood
firm the committee would ~ee mr through
unframed
when. however. | sat on the floor of
the house on Thursday afternoon. saw
myself held up iu -c0rn and heard my
punishment demanded. not by that hand
fui of men Whose names are above Re-
proach. but boy . mohoi dastarily hypn-
critics. who had been Offered and taken
ten brides to my one swore then and
there TO aveHge my expulsion.
For whatever wrong have done To
Massachusetts. shall atone ~ best
may, but inmy degradation am huuyed
by the knowledg. that ! shall have done
the State some service il. in my ruin, th"
structure of iniauly headed 10y those men
shall fall.
This condition of affairs looks
pretty bad for the great state oil
Massachusetts,. but when the matter
ends it is SIZE To say that there will
be few bribe-takcrs or bride givers in
the Legislature OF that State. and
the credit for the reform will be due
Thomas W. Lawson.