Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-29

A WORD WITH GOVERNOR MICKEY
Governor Mickey has sent to The
Bee the following statement, asking
that it be given publication, with which
request cheerfully comply:
Governor Mickey seems to be spending
most OF his time nowadays considering ap-
plications for the liberation OF penitentary
| convicts. The boarders at the state prison
must have had notice TO hurry up while
the bars are down.-Bee, December "A.
The Bee is wrong in both Of its conelu.
sions. The bars are not down, neither have
the boarders at the state prison had notice
to hurry up. These unfortunates and their
friends have the same interest in the ex-
ecutive's power of clemency that the young
editor Of The Bee had about month ago
when he sent me two urgent kilograms
from New York City. pleading that requisi-
ton papers be refused in the case of a
friend of his who stood charged with a
felony 1t seems to make difference
whose OK is gored.
Governor Mickey, like some of his
predecessors, when driven into an un-
comfortable corner follows the plan of
Aesop's fable about the wolf accusing
the lamb of rolling the water. The
governor when requested refused to
give out the messages to which he re-
fers, although they should be part of
the public records in his Office. Inas-
much as he is covering them up be-
cause they brand him as a falsifer, It
impels me to make them public myself
When l was in New York recently
l received a letter from an estimable
woman in Baltimore, under date of
November 26, as follows:
Pardon me for taking the liberty OF beg
glng your assistance in n case which is
appealing to the hearts of many of Balti-
mores best citizens. Enclosed you will
find some clippings which will explain to
you the case, and l want to add that Mr.
Winaker is a fine man, good character,
main support of an aged, crippled mother
but a man ignorant of the laws of Ne
braska, and who, thinking he was doing
a good act to the boy, listened to his plead
ing and hoped to be Of some good to him.
knowing your great influence, 1 beg of
you to intercede with the governor of Ne
braska so that the requisitlon papers do
not arrive in Baltimore. 1 hope you will
give this your earliest attention, as II is
very urgent, and earn the thanks Of many
sympathetic co-workers and of myself in
this sad case
Acting on the information contained
in this letter and its enclosures, wired
Governor Mickey as follows:
NEW YORK CITY, Nov. q, 1906.
Hon. John H. Mickey, Governor,
Lincoln, Neb.
1 ask you to investigate thoroughly be-
fore fssuinp raouisItfop Ny{nalar Of poIti-
more, charged with kidnapping Man stands
well at his home and claims only char
! liable purpose. Please advise me by wire
to Baltimore what action you take If any in
matter. VICTOR ROSEwATER.
In reply to this l received the fol-
lowing telegram:
LINCOLN. Neb., Nov. q, 1906.
Hon. Victor Rosewater,
Baltimore, Md
Requisition papers recalled. Hearing Sat
urday 1890 a. m. JOHN H. MICKEY.
Although word had been received in
Baltimore that the proceedings in this
case were to be dropped, to make sure
that the requisition papers should not
again be issued without investigation
l wired Governor Mickey the following
FRIDAY SUBSTANTIALLY repetition or my
first telegram, with the added state
ment that after further inquiry l did
not believe the actions of Winaker con-
stituted a violation of the Nebraska
law. My copy of this telegram has
been mislaid, but Governor Mickey is
at liberty to make it public.
/ submit that my record is perfectly
clear in this case. that l asked for
nothing in the shape of executive elem
ency, but only for full investigation
and impartial justice. If Governor
Mickey's record in his numerous par
dons and paroles were as clear as this
he would not be under suspicion.
VICTOR ROSEWATER.