Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-03
AGAIN HEARD FROM
Governor Deneen Repeats De-
nunciation of State Chari-
ties Investigation.
RkPs JOHN J. MCLAUGHLIN
Intimates Member Of Legislative
Committee Has Been Feather
ing His Own Nest.

Springfield, ILL.,, March 3.-Governor
Deneen yesterday returned to his de-
fense of the state charitable iustitu-
| lions in a long statement, in which
| he, showed his determination. to get
his side of the controversy before the
public.
The governor abandons afcnsive
tactics and takes the aggressive i'll
vigorous attack upon John j. Nc
| Laughlin, who, besides being a mem
Der of the legislative investigation
committee. is also a member of the
Mclaughlin Building Material COM
pany, Ia La Sale street, Chicago.
| The inference is plain that Mr.. Nc
Laughlin stands accused of taking ad-
vantage of his position as an investi-
gator and member of the appropria-
ton committee TO get contracts 1or
fis concern 10 furnish materials to the
state, contrary to the law affecting
the privileges of the states lawmak-
ers. Getting contracts by coercion
and the use of the big stick is openly
lhinted.
/ Charges Bias and Unfairness
The governors letter to the public
is a reply to the structures of the
metropolitan press.
He severely criticises the methods
of the investigating committee which
has heen making tour of the state
institutions, charging unfairness and
bias, and a determination to present
to view only the sinister side of the
shield, all at the expense of truth and
justice.
In confirmation of his own state
, ments he quotes figures which he in
Inmates the Investigators will not pub
lish because they persist ilI violating
all the rules of law and evidence by
declining or neglecting to furnish op-
pQrtunity for cross examination.
The governor is particularly severe
> on the character of TIE witnesses
summoned by the investigating COM
mittee, showing animus and vindictive-
ness.
Picks Up Vagrant Stories.
Il Mr.. Deneen says:
THE Investigating committee has
, resolved itself into a peripatetic COM
mission, wandering about from iusti-
tuition to institution, to pick up vagrant
stories and rumors, without complet-
ing it's investigation of any one insti-
, tuition. In this way, any statement,
no matter how false, is given currency
: and an air of credibility because no
opportunity is afforded to contradict it.
I'm the conduct of its inquiries, the
committee has seen fit to abandon
every rule and precedent which the
courts, high or low, in all Anglo Saxon
countries have found to be necessary
3 to the ascertainment of truth. 1t has
denied the right of cross examination
and thus has given to the witnesses
called full license to tell any story
no matter how baseless, because they
are aware that they are not to be sub
jected to cross examination. This is
L the more astonishing in view of the
fact that some of the members of the
investigating committee are lawyers
and familiar with the decent require.
u ments of such a proceeding as this
The Investigations of the committee
: have led so uniformly to the publica
tion of false and exaggerated state
ments that it is suggestive of a uni
{ form endeavor to secure such state
: ments for publication purposes will
view to the defamation. rather thar
the investigation, of our state institu
tions.
Does Not Seek Most Competent.
: at is perfectly manifest that tn.
! committee is seeking not for person.
most competent to tell it of the con
. ditions of the institution but for any
= body who is willing to tell it anythin,
defamatory concerning them. Dis
gruntled ex-trustees, discharged EN-
- not one of these was found too mucl
an enemy Of our public institutions O
of the truth to make good witnes
for the purposes of the investigating
VI lcOmmittee.
"The correction of defects in the ad
lie ministration of our state institutions
whatever they may be, win not b
to aided in the slightest degree by th
)y retailing of false stories of cruelty G
ne misconduct, or of the false coal figure
xt furnished to the committee and by tn
committee to the press-igures so oil
" viously false and intended to mislea
Ia that no committee, even though go
On erned by political consideration
ay could give them to the public witho,
oui a consciousness of disqualification