Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-12
Reoites the Rumors REGARDING Grain and
State Journal Gases
PAPER HAS BEEN ROUNDS OF MEMBERS
Well Worn and Thumb Marked Before IL
Was Able to Find Father
GOOD FMTHoF THE SPONSOR QUESTIONED
Vote on Senator TO Come Tuesday ana
No Chance for a Report by that
Time-OnIy object to EN-
barrass His Candidacy.


From a Staff Correspondent
| LINCOLN, Jan. u.-(Special )--After try
ing in vain to get republican to introduce
the long prepared resolution to investigate
the record attorney general OF Norris
Brown, republican nominee for United
States senator, the corporate interests
which have so unsuccessfully fought him
for months, prevailed upon a democratic
member of the house to stand sponsor for
it. The name of Van Housen of Colfax
county is attached to IL as the author,
though the document has all the appearance
of having been the rounds of both houses.
being badly worn from numerous contacts
with the fingers of many members ap-
preached in its behalf
The resolution, which under the rules went
over for one day. sets out that the press has
accused Norris Brown with having made a
deal with the State Journal by which he az
attorney general did not do his duty by the
state in the suit instituted against the
Journal by the state for SS5,OO0 and that to
secure the support of the head of the Grain
| trust in his candidacy for United States
senator he did not prosecute this man GRIM
inally; that II had been reported that Ross
Hammond is stockholder in the grain
combine and withdrew from the senatorial
race and supported Brown for the same
reason. The resolution requests the speaker
to name committee of seven Of whom four
are to be republicans and three fusionists
to have power to summon witnesses, in
vestigate and to report a finding back to
the house. Rumors of the existence OF such
a resolution have been going the rounds for
I several days and 1t was known efforts were
being made to get a republican to father
It.
Text of Resolution.
| The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, Governor J. II. Mickey in his
message to the joint session of the legls-
lature felt called on In the interest of the
state to call attention to the $4,000 loss
pany; and the public press of the state
has commented on and called attention to
the manner in which the suit for collection
o. this sum OF money was conducted by
| the attorney general, and 1t has been re-
peatedly stated by the press Of this state
that the Hon. Norris Brown in the fur-
theriny of his candidacy for United States
senatos entered into a conspiracy with de-
PENDANTS in court whom he has sworn to
prosecute, whereby he exchanged unlawful
clemency, and failed and refused to prose-
cute criminally IN return for their sup
And it has been specifically charged that
on the 22d day Of February 1906, Attorney
General Brown clandestinely and secretly
met in conference at Fremont, Neb. the
president and head OF the Grain trust in
Nebraska and at the same meeting was also
present the general manager Of the North
western railroad and there and then mu-
tually agreed that Attorney General Norris
Brown was to have the support of the
Grain trust and presumably the support of
the said railroad company for United States
senator on condition that no criminal pros
ecution be brought against a member Of
said grain company. And there and then
Ross Hammond who was also a candidate
for United States senator who was reputed
to be a stockholder in the elevator combine
trust withdrew his candidacy and announced
his support OF Mr.. Brown.
1t has been also specifically charged that
Attorney General Brown appointed one ].
eral, when said Strobe was a member Of
the firm of Strobe e. Strobe, who are at
torneys of record, and hired to defend GER
tain defendants In the Lumber trust suit.
And that Attorney General Brown pur-
posely or negligently in drawing the pc
company. and by improper prosecutions, al
lowed the State Journal company to escape
from the payment of $4,000 which 1t owed
unlawful conversion and sale OF supreme
court reports in consideration OF the sup
port of the State Journal of his candidacy
for United States senator. And,
whereas, IN harmony with the general
STAND I. OF public opinion. led by President
sion of graft, the publication of politics
and the redemption of the government from
corrupt influences, no senatorial candidate
should rest under these charges. and no
guilty man should be elected to this or
any other office. If innocent, Mr.. Brown
can In no way be damaged by investlga-
ton, for he may then enter the senate
supported and backed by the mighty force
he is undeserving of such position, and his
election would not only place an obstacle
In the way Of reform, but would be a re-
Election on the integrity OF the citizens
OF this state.
Therefore ! move that committee of
speaker to forthwith make full fair and
free investigation Of these matters charged
in this resolution and that said COMMITTEES
be empowered to issue subpoenas summon
witnesses. administer oaths and take tes-
1imnnV which fpqtinnnV ha
served OF record, returned to the house
attached TO the report of the committee
and exercise such other powers shall
AFFORD It full free and ample authority in
the premises.
w. B. Rose. chairman OF the republican
state committee, issued the following state
ment regarding the resolution:
Statement by Rose.
The lying insinuations in the resolu-
| uons 70 investigate some or the suits
prosecuted by Norris Brown on behalf Of
the state came from the railroads and
are presented to the legislature for the
to induce some of the members to be-
tray their trust TO the people and to DO
the will OF the railroads. They will
neither deceive the people nor screen a
legislator.
Norris Brown, for the support OF the
| Journal company and the Northwestern
railroad, neglected the cases against the
Grain trust and the Journal company were
peddled over the state by both Clancy OF
the Union Pacific and by Milt Irwin of
the Burlington long before the state con-
vention and during the entire campaign.
! Other political hirelings of these corpora
tions, including a few newspapers, circu-
lated these falsehoods in every part OF
the state for the purpose OF debauching
the voters and preventing a republican
victory which would result In railroad
| regulation.
Looking for IRtrOducer.
AS soon as the legislature convened
| lobbyists and political agents OF these
railroads. by every device known TO men
! OF that character, sought 10 md a SEN
| ator who would Introduce the resolution.
One finally consented TO examine II, but
rejected II as unclean.
| The house was likewise canvassed for
! a republican member who would father a.
/ but no one could be found who would bear
! such odium. Democratic senators were
then tried and Indignantly refused 10 have
! anything TO do with an investigation based
4 on false charges trumped up by the rail-
roads. Democratic members of the house
thus became the last hope of the lobby
l istE' hunt for a member to intnOducs u