New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-28
BAILEY EXONERATED.
Lozcer House Acts Without Calling
for Evidence.

Austin. Tex. Feb. 27.-By vote Of 20 to 40
ont Of a possibe lbs votes eighteen members
being absent United States Senator Joseph w
Bailey. on recommendation of the majority Of an
investigation committee. was eXonerated by the
lower house of the Texas Legislature tonight
of any charges Of irregular acts in public life,
as alleged by Representative Cooke. Of the lower
house on January IA. Action which resulted
In this generation was brought on this even
ing after three days of private consultation
among House members and friends OF Senator
Bailey. and ends some six weeks Of investigation
that has required Senator BaiIey's presence in
Austin.
The Senate exonerated Senator Bailey on Mon
day by a vote of l. 10 II. without waiting to
hear the report OF the investigating committee,
and tonight the House took like action 10 the
extent Of acting on the recommendation OF the
majority of the investigating committee for COM
plete generation without the submission OF the
evidence.
The opponents of Senator Bailey pleaded to
have the evidence submitted before voting. but
the Bailey forces forced a vote and won.
The scene attendant upon Senator Bailey's
entrance into the House tonight after his vindi-
cation dramatic. His friends rushed in.
shouting and shrieSing, and carried the Senator
to the Speakers stand. Senator Bailey. while
nounced that he was going TO continue as United
States Senator from Texas for at least three
terms. He said in part:
The cOnspirators have learned lesson Never
again will they attempt IL within this genera
ton. I wish l had words of hate with which TO
criticise them. They have lied about me. Their
martyr is Hearst, who led his fight against
Texas Hearst has his emissares and agents in
the Texas Legislature to-day. This Hearst
campaign means that they want to eliminate
men like me and John SHARPE Williams and
place men like John Duncan.
If live. not one of these men shall ever hold
Office In Texas again.
United States Senator Joseph W Bailey has been
under fire from section of his party since a period
antedatng his first election the Senate. Charges
against him for using his official influence 10 OBJ
tain the readmssion of the Naters-Pierce Oil Com
pany TO do business in Texas in 1900 and of re-
Ceiying a fee for his services. were at that time
investigated by the Texas Legislature. Mr.. Bailey
testified that be had never received any fee
remuneration FOR his services for the Waters-PierCe
Oil Company. and that his action had been prompt
ed solely by his friendship for Ex-Governor Fran
els, of Missouri. who had requested him to come
To Austin and to lend assistance to II. Clay Pierce
In his time of trouble with the Texas state auhor
ties. Mr.. Bailey also declared that the Waters
Pierce oil Company not trust and that 1t
had connection with the Standard oil Com
pany. UpeQ hearing Mr.. Bailey's testimony.
and without any proof to the contrary. the legis-
lattVe investigating committee brought in a repor.
generating him from any wrongdoing Shortly
afterward the same Legislature elected Mr.. Bailey
the Senate.
That settled the question for the time being.
Mr. Bailey had almost ended his first term
Senator; his name had gone before the people for
reelection and had received unanimous indorSe-
ment at the Democratic primaries their action
had been affirmed by the Democratic State Con-
vention on August Il. and there appeared to be
shadow of opposition TO him On September p
however the testimony OF H. Clay Pierce. In the
Missouri custer proceedings against the Waters
Pierce Oil Company. that he had turned over TO
Senator Bailey quantities of securities OF the Ten
nessee Central Railroad Company 10 do with as he
pleased. caused considerable excitement among
certain Texas Democrats; kurther testimony IN
Pierce OIL Company had never been divorced from
the Standard OIL Company, and that the transfer
of stock which had led TO the readmlsslon or the
company to do business In Texas was bogus
transaction. made TO hoodwink the authorities OF
Deposition to Senator Baey's reelection then
broke forth all over the state and the Senator hur
ried to Texas and started extended campaign
ing tour. making a great many speeches, or which
the burden a general denial OF the charges.
Attorney General Davidson OF Texas thefeupon
brought suit against the Waters Pierce OIL Com
pany to Gust II from that state and TO recover
100000 in penalties alleging that political iniu-
company's readmsSion in 1900. This brought
lively correspondence between the Senator and the
Attorney General. well further action by Mr..
Davidson, seeking to mplicate Senator Bailey
directly in financial relations with Mr. Pierce and
the Waters-Pierce Oil Company. When the case
UP for trial the Attorney General sought 10
money that he asserted had been paid 10 Senator
Bailey. The Senator declared that If any such
vouchers existed they were forgeries. He also
charged Attorney General Davidson with being