The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-02
R. B. C0MsTOCK
answers ATTY.
Gen.: GREEh0UeH

Replying to Atty. Gen. Greenough, Rich
ard B. Comstock says:
II hope the attorney general did not
think from my delay in replying to his
recent letter that l intended to neglect
the opportunity thus given me OF publicly
testifying TO the high personal regard 1
have for him. He is a good man and a
fair man. He has also given the facts In
regard TO our interview which occurred
soon after the election of last year. But
our conversation related only to the North
Providence cases, and on the same day
the conversation took place / was in
formed that the North Providence cases
were in the hands of Mr. Theodore r.
Green, who, l knew, could handle them
much better than myself and i so In
formed the attorney general. / will leave
IL to Mr.. Green to say whether the office
OF the attorney general hindered or as
sisted In the efforts to convict the men
who fraudulently voted I'm North Provi-
dence, of which town Mr.. Greenough's S
assistant was then solicitor, and OF which
town this assistant then claimed to be a
resident.
/ do not think 1 knew at that time that
the attempt to vote fraudulently was not
within the Jurisdiction OF the grand jury.
as | am not we'll informed on criminal
law. But / did believe and do now believe
that a conspiracy to cast fraudulently
hundreds of votes is a matter which de-
mands the attention of the attorney gen
eral and the grand jury. did believe and
do now believe that the allegations of
wholesale bribery Of voters In this state
which are so prevalent before every elec-
ton and confirmed by statements after
every election demand the attention OF
the attorney general and the grand jury.
/ know that Mr.. Greenough will say. as
he has often said before, that he has no
appropriation or means OF conducting an
investigation into these matters.
"As this seems to be q campaign OF in
terrogation, would like TO ask Mr.. At
torney General II he has ever asked for
appropriations so as TO make proper in
vestigations into matters OF this kind? IL
he has not asked for an appropriation |
ask him, IL elected, will he next year ask
for an appropriation. and II he obtains n
will he use that appropriation and all the
means In his power TO investigate any al
legation of bribery and corruption which
may be brought to him. whether the same
is Republican or Democratic?
"Mr. Greenough asked for and obtained
an additional assistant in his office and
succeeded in getting through an approprl-
alton 60 pay the salary OF this assistant.
why not ask for what Is needed to make
his office what II should be and what the
office OF every attorney general except the
office OF the attorney general OF Rhode
Island is? Mr.. Greenough seems perfectly
willing 10 conduct the office as Il was
conducted 80 and 10 years ago. and does
not realize that changed conditions re-
auire different methods. The Office needs
energy; willingness TO call the attention
60 lSaA rrff In
let Mr.. Grecnough make a report 10
ths ssDssal assembly stating ~hAt he has
done what changes In the laws are need
ed. and what appropriation he needs In
other words. let Mr.. Greenough awake 10
the present conditions and not be satisfied
with Just a perfinctory performance OF
his duties As to fraudulent voting, Mr.
Collins. his assistant, would seem TO be
a better authority"