The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-04-10
CHARGES WARNER
WITH CONSPIRACY
Hon. Arthur Hill Makes Public
Open Letter to Governor.
Gives Detail History of Recent Cam
paign For United States Senator.

open letter to Governor +. Nj. warner:
To Governor Fred M. Warner, Exc
cutive Chamber, Lansing, Michigan:
Sir-I address you through this open
letter because of your invasion or my
rights as citizen, and to summon You
to the bar of public opinion to answer
for the wrong you have done me.
When the present legislature of the
State of Michigan met to elect a
United States senator, you presented
to it communication saying that you
were ''unalterably opposed" to my
election as United States senator, be-
cause of "rumors" of improper meth
DDS used by me to advance my candi-
dacy, and you asked the legislature
to adjourn for a week that these ru-
mors might be investigated.
AS you know, sir, / at once issued
to the public a statement, as follows,
bearing on your charge:
Il have used no improper methods,
and ! defy any man to prove to the
contrary"
The same day I offered the legisla-
ture a statement, in which l referred
again to your charge, and said speci-
ficially in regard to it that "as soon as
1 saw it 1 published a positive denial
of the charge imputed in it, and
proclaim that denial again here and
now"
Improper methods" must have been
methods illegal and corrupt to justi-
fly this halt of the business of the
state, this assault upon the honor of a
citizen, this imputation upon the integ.
rity of the legislature there assembled.
During the week of recess / tried TO
learn what your specific rumors were
in order to defend myself against
them. l publicly requested the attor-
ney general to ascertain what the
rumors were, asking him to give them
an investigation at once, thorough
searching and judicial" but I was jn-
formed by him in an official letter that
he had no authority to Investigate "in
the absence of definite informat'"n as
a basis therefor" He stated, how
ever, that, IF the governor and his
friends, any state officer, member Of
the legislature, or any other citizen,
Will disclose to me any tangible proof
OF corrupt methods in advancing the
ir ,erests of any candidate for United
States senator, will use ,uy author
ity to the fullest extent 70 investi-
gate the matter, and lay the result
before the legislature" This letter
was published throughout the state,
and ! appealed through the public
press for the filing of definite charges,
that l might defend myself against
them, bat nothing was done. When
the legislature reconvened, I stood be-
fore it under the shadow of a grave
charge, laid by the governor of the
state, remediless, and the result is
known.
While you held yourself at Farming
ton. YOU were sheltered behind the
wall of a well-bulletined illness, which
saved you from being called to per-
sonal account. You could intrigue
with your co-conspirators, you coud
give out statements for the press, but
you could not state what these ru-
mors were, and you could not find
strength until Jan. 18th to lift your
right hand and say 81 will" when you
were asked whether you would sup
aort the constitution OF the state and
OF the United States, taking then the
oath which you should have taken on
Jan. 1st.
On Jan. 18th United States SEN
ator had been chosen, and there was
no longer a reason for your refusing
to qualify. You were evidently hold
ing yourself open for the senatorship
mindful, meantime, of the provision
of our state constitution that a COVER
nor may not be elected to the United
States senate during the term Of his
office as governor, which term does
not begin until he takes his oath OF
office.
/ charge you now, therefore, before
the grand jury of the people of the
State of Michigan, wi III having entered
into a political conspiracy to secure
your election as United States SEN
ator, wherein, like a nihilist, you
hurled a bomb into the great council
of the state to shatter the reputation
Of a citizen and disrupt and dlshonor
that council in order that you might,
from the ruin, pave your way to place
and power.
/ proceed now to another event con-
necteG with the above-the summon.
ing and action of the grand jury of
Ingham county recently held at tne
county seat. The jury were directed
by Judge West to investigate the
charges which you made against me.
When the jury was called | was in
California, but Immediately I heard of
the proceedings, I felt, though the po-
litfcal proceedings had passed, I might
at least learn what unlawful and cor
rupt acts / had been charged with
doing.
You appeared before the grand Jury
to substantiate your charges came.