The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-20
BAILEY TELLS OF MANY, DEALS Texas Senator oE Wit
 ness stag< TEs1IFIEs N"N BEHALF He Review, $ Private and Public
 < Record. The Gibbs Ranch transaction, Connec- tiou With D. R. Francis and
 Pierce and the Worlds
 Fair Matter.

 day in his own behalf before the iegis- lative Investigating committee in re- ply to certain charges preferred against him by Representative Cooke.
 Senator Bailey reviewed his lifes history from the time he came to the State of Texas from Mississippi Tn lsso. He at once engaged in the practice or law. immediately taking part in the political life of the State; was elected to Congress in 1890, and took his seat the following year, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1901.
 As to his acquaintance with David k Francis, he said that he met MT. Fran els in 1891, when Roger Q. Mills was a candidate for Speaker of the House. He cultivated the acquaintance of Gov ernor Francis and his associates, among the members of the Missouri delega- ton, hoping thereby 10 advance MT. Millss interests.
 Bailey said he had formed very close friendship for Governor Francis and never passed through St Louis without stopping to see him. In reply to the charge that he (Baiiey) had been in a deal with brother of Governor Francis and other parties, Joseph Stb- ley among them, in the Gibbs ranch transaction, Senator Bailey said that he had first known MT. Sibley in 1892, and that he was then, as he Is now,
 
 Speaking of the Gibbs ranch deal, Senator Bailey said he had no inten- tion, at first, of purchasing it, but MT. Gibbs, a friend of his. had told him about the land, and said he wanted to sell a quarter to Governor Bob Taylor of Tennessee, Senator Charles A. Cui- 1 person or Texas and to himself tBai- leyD and keep quarter He told Mir. Gibbs that only Senator Culberson was l financially able to purchase the land, but, at MT Gibbs's solicitation, he went | to look at the land and was greatly pleased with it.
 He said he then thought he might | sell the land for MT. Gibbs, who was anxious to disppse of it to clear of some encumbrauces, or might get as- sistance in buying 1t himself He saw | Joe Gunter, who advised against II, and later had several conversations with Governor Francis about going in- 10 deal for its purchase. learned about MT. Francis's lands in Texas, and told him that he might be able to turn this land for him in the deal.
 Secured Option on Property. Senator Bailey said that he secured an option on the property, which in- cluded all the live stock tools. etc, and later closed the option with the under standing that the deal would not he consunlmated until after his campaign for Senator had closed. Later, Governor Francis transferred his Pecos County lands to MT. Gibbs. and the Gibbs property was transferred | to Governor Francis, who had furnish ed the greater part of the purchase price by putting in these lands. There l was due to Mir. Gibbs above his mort- agge and the Pecos County lands, about l $5,320, of which he paid S4,000 ob. | tained from the Red River National | anA hn hn a ftOa <, was paid to Mir. Gibbs out of the sale of the crops.
 | There was also a debt of $f0,00o on l tho cattle, and later he negotiated with | the help of Governor Francfs, loan of $15,000 from a St. Louis bank. with which he paid debts of $10,000 and S4.- 900 owed to Texas banks Senator Bal ley said that he wished also to state how he had settled the indebtedness for the purchase of the Gibbs ranch, ] cattle etc. He gave part of his testi- mony m 1901. and also explained how he had paid the St. Louis debt by sale of cattle.
 Senator Bailey explaine dthat after i if had been charged that he had re- ceived the Pecos County lands as fec
 from tho Waters Pierce oil Company, ] he had determined to relieve Governor Francis of any further embarraSsment l in the matter. so he went to MT. Glpos and the latter agreed 10 decd It bacK l to Francis IIc said Mir. Francis nei- | thcr made no rlost by the deal. senator Bailey said that he made about $30- 600 on the deaf. and would have made more could he have held the land, but not having the money. and the political differences arising, he preferred to sell. C,oIItIcs Interrupted Trade.
 Senator Bailey explained how several mort gages were paid by other morga-
 gcs and notes. c,,.,.z
 "Nr Gibbs transferred tho Gibbs
 property to me after the Pecos county | lands had been returned to him. ne
 said. I still have about 1,2S0 acres or
 the Gibbs land and the Texas Land and l unor4g rage company holds mortgage or
 S13.OOO on 1t. Francis would have made
 money had the trade as originally con
 tempiated not been interrupted by the 1 political controversy
 Senator Bailey said the cattle were
 moi very good and for that reason Gibbs had not made any money
 Senator Bailey explained how he had
 soId the portion of the Gibbs ranch he
 had parted with to different parties
 Senator Bailey said Governor trancls
 never discussed any Legislation wltn | him or sought his aid for any measure
 except the worlds Fair appropriation
 TIa had never known of any Legislation
 hefore congress in which Francis was
 interested directly or indirectly except
 as goou citizen or democrat. or con
 nected with or interested tp any Texas
 Ieoislation. He said Francis had nev-
 CT mentioned II. G. Pierce to him. ex-
 cent through the letter of introduction
 He f said the purchase of the Gibbs rancf
 and the World Fair legislation were
 two different propositions, and never
 thought of at the same time and h'
 couId not recall which came up before
 the other.
 He said Francis and man named
 WorId,s Trair appropriation and he tolC
 them they were wasting breath as h'
 ,yas unalterably opposed to appropriate
 ing public money for any such purpos'
 es. He said lie thought he had beer
 0OO, ,o0O appropriation came up, Wher
 inc appropriation came up the secont
 time ne was in the senate and he hac
 resisted it and almost defeated if, of ! ess I frin Fha huf