Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-24

UP TO THE GOVERNOR
lntroducer Of Resolution Declares That
Mr.. cumnins Must Make Good His
Charges Of Bribery "or Shut Up"-
Quarrel on Senate Floor.

Des Moines, Feb. 23.--The expected
sensation in the senate Of the Gilliland
resolution asking that the governor
give his authority for the charges made
in his address to the republicans Of
Iowa, occurred yesterday afternoon.
After the Warren educational bill was
passed, Senator Gilliland called up his
resolution.
Taking the floor, he read very tenn
perate speech on the question. He said
he had written it SO there might be no
question as to what he said and that
he might not be led to say anything
In the excitement Of the moment which
might be criticised. He said the gov
ernor should produce the proofs to
substantiate the charges he made In
regard to- the, Influences alleged to be
exerted by the railroads to defeat the
primary bill.
Brlbes Should be Made Known.
If any senators had accepted bribes
this fact should be made known and
the guilty parties expelled from the
senate. If the governor had any proof
that the railroads or any one repre-
senting them, had offered any bribes,
such person should be prosecuted by
the governor. II he had no proofs he
should withdraw the charges he had
made In order that the body of I the
legislature should not rest under the
limputations contained In his address to
the republicans Of Iowa.
I When he had taken his seat, Senator
Smith Of Mitchell took the floor. He
said he would support the resolution
|. though he did not admit the conclu'
sions Senator Gillaland had reached. He
1 said the senator had taken the COVER
!nor's address, and torn from their
proper places and from their proper
settings certain sentences with which
he is trying to make out his case"
Defends the Governor.
Continuing he said: "1n my opinion
and am not speaking for the govern
or, but am speaking from my judg
ment when say that do not believe
the governor made any charges re
fecting dishonor upon any member Of
the legislature, nor do believe there
was any such thought In his mind
when he penned his address to the re-
publicans Of Iowa"
The senator then turned his atten
/ tion to Senator Gilliland, and said he
proposed to read letter which had
been written to a constituent of the
senator from Mills. 1t was written by
a man who was we'll known, and who
represented railroad, but he did not
propose to state the name Of the writ
er or to whom it was written.
Senator Gilliland then asked that
the name be given. There was quite
a tangle over the matter, Senator
Smith persisting in his refusal to give
| the name.
GllliIand Protests Reading.
The president of the senate ruled he
had the right to read extracts from
the letter and Senator Gilliland asked
that his protest 60 on record against
the letter being read unless the names
were given.
| The letter spoke Of the primary Law
in terms Of derision, and referred te
the letters Senator Gi1liland had writ
ten to his constituents asking theil
opinion Of the bill, and added the re
quest that the person to whom the let
ence to have the Gilliland letters an
swered. It also spoke Of the primary
law as believed to be detrimental te
"us" and Mr.. Blythe.
Senator Smith said this lettel
showed that the railroads were trying
to beat the primary law.
Senator Gilliland sprang to his fee
and asked: do you mean to have
these people believe that had an ar
rangement with the railroads in regart
to the letters sent to my constitu
ents on this subject?