The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-28
JOE BAILEY EXONERATED Makes Bitter Speech to
 House. ATTACK ON VIM. R. HEARST Says He Will Ever Remember
 Friends and Foes. Announces That He Intended to Retire After Coming Term, But Now
 He wili Serve Twelve
 More Years.
ATTACK ON VIM. R. HEARST

of TO to 40, out offa possible 12s votes. eighteen members being absent, U. S. Senator Joseph W. Bailey was exoner- ated 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 14 last.
 Action which resulted in this action was precipitated at 5:30 o'clock this af- ternoon after three. days of private consultation between House members and friends of Senator Bailey and cons ciudes some six weeks of investiga- ton that has occasioned Senator Bai- ley's constant attendance in this city. On Monday by vote of IS to Il tRe Senate exonerated Senator Bailey with out waiting to hear the report of the Investigating committee and tonight the House took like action to the ex- tent of acting on the recommendation of majority of the Investigating com mittee for complete exoneration with out the submission of the evidence.
 The opponents of Senator Bailey pleaded to have the evidence submitted before being asked to vote, but the Bailey forces, slightly in the majority. forced vote, and won out as outlined above.
 The galleries of the House had been crowded with spectators. many ladies being present since early afternoon aawlting the dramatic event and once Senator Bailey's exoneration was as- sured by the adoption of the majority report declaring that there was noth- ing in the evidence in any way reflect- ing upon him, the climax was reached when Senator Bailey appeared and ad~ dressed the House.
 Bailey Delivers Philipic.
 He gave every evidence of faboring under the suppressed excitement of the past few. days, especially with it's intense mental strain and delivered himself of a speech decidedly critical ing those who have seen At to oppose him during the investigation.
 The scene attendant upon Senator Bailey's entrance Into the House to- night after his vindication by that body was most dramatic Ills friends rush. ed in, shouting and shrieking down Jne center aisle and carried him to the Speakers stand
 senator Bailey, while bitterly abus- ing those who opposed him. announced that he was going to continue as united States Senator from Texas for at least three terms. He said in part:
 you have just concluded the most remarkable campaign ever witnessed in any State of the American Union. and be it said to your honor that you have
 
 will of the sovereign people.
 .sThe conspirators have been given, a wholesome lesson. Never again will they attempt it in this genera ton; never agin will they wear the honors of Texas democracy in tnelr ire: Such men would betray republic II Hessians were for hire. The leader of the contest was a man who mas gam- bIed with negroes and if he attempts to deny it. will prove 1t on him.
 Charges Against Opponents.
 'tOne of them was convicted of em- bezzlement and yet he Is here drawing his cloak about him saying that he cannot keep the democratic command ments. .eThese are hard words and intend them to be. I wish had words of nate with which to criticize them. See what they have done. They have lied about me, Their master is Hearst who has led this fight against Texas. The leader in this fight l. the man who had this telegram published lying on the legislature, claiming that 1t was cor rupted by wine, women and song. Hearst has his emassaries and agents in the Texas legislature today. This Hearst campaign means that they want to eliminate men like me and John Shrap Williams and place men like John Duncan.
 'If live, not one of these men shall ever hold office in Texas again as I shall devote my time to see that they don't get in. The crowd voted today as they did upon the first ballot against me.
 How many of these men were like Hearst who risked his office on his conviction and he lost it. If these oth- CTS had the convictions and courage of Hawkins there would not have been a single vote against my vindication here today.
 They seek to destroy my usefulness. but thank God. I am too far above them for them to hurt 1t.
 No Reelection On Him.
 ''Not sentence in the whole record reflects against my personal or pollt- teal integrity. And vet they still vote against me Out of the-forty men who Voted against my exoneration not more Nthan four will be back here next ses- sion Not one half of them will be in the democratic ranks. at that time. They will go back to the populist par ty where they belong.
 "I will never rest until see the election laws so fixed that no man can have his name put on the ticket as candidate for the Legislature unless he records a solemn oath that he will respect the peoples instructions This Iegislature ought not to adjourn un- til Section l24 is so amended that no man shall hold the peoples office un- less they shall support the peoples nominee
 ~ had intended at the end of this Senatorial term to retire for, at the end of this Senatorial term I will have served the people of Texas twenty-two wears but now this war has made me change my purpose. l will have to make no canvass at the end of this | term These men who have fought me have made this unnecessary. They have already won my campaign for me. They have made their grave and we will proceed gently to lay them in their new-made graves and place over their tombs the inscription; We know not whence they came, put we know whither they have gone
 T waat to say to my friends that the night will never he too dark nor the road too lonely for me to come when you call. twill fight for you as gou have fought for me, knowing you