The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-01-10
BRIBERY CHARGEs'
AND. LIE PASSED
At CON-C0N
MOORE DECLARES BUNTING -
PRESENT AS LIQUOR BONDING
TRUST CO. AGENT; BOOZE" IN
rsREsrs OFFER sRleEsf
(Erom a Special correspondent.)


(From a Special correspondent.)
LANSING. Mich, Jan. 10.-The del
ogates cut loose and excitement reach
ed the boiling point In the eon-con' yes
terday. when the lie was passed and
specific charges OF bribery were mace
on the floor
During the serimmage, the main
body Of the convention Hooked OUT INTO
the cloak rooms To continue the nsnt
where personalities could be INDUCED
In. without fear OF reprimand from the
presiding officer. Meanwhile, such del
egates as were trying 10 make them
selves heard on the floor OF the con-
vention. gave Il UP for the time being
The rupture came about In the toi-
lowing manner: Delegate Thomas.
on the previous day, had asserted that
the opposition TO the initiative came
from the outside through the EFFORTS
OF agents of the liquor interests. IL
was alleged that these agents had
been taking delegates In detail 10 the
Hotel Downey and there laying
schemes TO defeat the initiative propo-
sition.
Later. when Delegate Knowles had
the floor. he made the emphatic state
ment that those charges were untrue.
Thomas then went 70 Knowles and
said that he himself was present at the
hotel and knew the facts. He request
ed Knowles to withdraw the statement
that Thomas had lied. which Knowles
promptly refused to do.
Climax In Moore's Speech.
The climax then came yesterday, In
the intense speech OF A. L. Moore, up
holding direct legislation. When near
the close of his remarks. Mr. Moore
made the specific charge that Rep.
Bunting was there az an agent OF the
liquor bonding trust company. He add
ed that, in a conversation with several
other delegates. he had heard Bunt'
ing ask Knowles IL he would not act
as attorney for the company, leaving
the inference that his opposition was
based on the hope of a fat job"
Asks Lobbyists Election.
Then. with burning. earnest lang
uage, Moore said that such men,
meaning these alleged paid lobbyists,
should be elected from the floor by
the sergeant-atarms and out OF the
capitol building.
After this speech, Knowles, white
with suppressed rage. arose to a ques-
ton OF personal privilege. and said:
Perhaps no accusation was per-
sonally intended against me. but 1t
looks that way"
Thar, ha aoEad Moore Cor N az nj a .,
alton, who. In turn. asked Knowles
referred to. Knowles responded that
there was such talk, but denied the
import OF IT,
Well" said Moore. Delegates Lii
lie, Thomas and others heard that
conversation" He added that he be-
lieved he had stated IL fairly and APP
pealed TO them for confirmation,
which was given.
At this Knowles left the room, fol-
lowed by most OF the delegates, and
for some time II looked as II the fists
might be used to- settle the matter.
Trembling with \ rage, Knowles
charged A. l.. Moore with unfairly put
ting him on record. but Moore was
cool and collected, saying he had only
stated the facts and all his remarks
we're aimed only at the outside lobby
influence, and II Knowles could show
O single word OF untruth he would
apologize ard correct on the floor. An
though the matter died out without
personal encounter. Knowles made
dire threats OF future exposure. which
ended the fracas for the present.
Moore,s speech "liummer.~
The speech OF A. L. Moore, who IL a
Pontiac lawyer, was one of the best
yet delivered He declared that he
considered the question OF the irit l,t
of-the state, and that the red flag OF
anarchy had been trailed down the
aIsles. prompted by corporate Inter,
that there bad been evident on the
part OF these interests untruth, In.
sincerity, deception and fraud and that
he could see no excuse a,,s, Tor such on
Continuing, Delegate Moore said
that he held the constitution as FOUND
ed on tina love OF liberty inherent In
ton OF constitutlonality. Mr.. Moore
went back to the records that gave u
birth. and reading from those records
article t 4. OF the federal constitution
proving that this amendment, or any
other proposed. was not a Judicial
question, but politicai ana oeiongine
exclusively to the body polite. Unde.
the language of Madison. he added. n
came distinctly under state rights, He
said he wondered that II. NJ Campbell
had overlooked these important mat
ters ia his argument OF the other day
Then he reiterated the point made by
snow, that these questions were onl,
for congress TO determine. He chat-
lenged Campbell TO disproye IL. Ht
declared that he abhorred the aspera-
tions cast npon the president OF the
nation by Jealous opponents Then hs
read a letter addressed TO him from
Atty Gen Bonaparte, on the Okla.
homa constitution, which said that In
strument had been carefully gone over
before II was signed and held consti-
tutional with the Initiative included
Moore closed with the words;
He who ignores his pledge 20 vote
for this. should throw away his 81
pieces OF silver and go out and hama
himself"