Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-05-03
monumental GRAFT
STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS FOR Big MlTT.
Nichols and Commissioner
SChively Are Already Convicted
BY Public Opinion. Friends Seek
to Induce Them to Resign in Order
to Avoid Criminal Prosecution.

~ t\VOuO NUbtuuudI PCOS(( UUIOUs
OLYMPIA, May In the case of
the legislature of Washington versus
S. Fl. Nichols and J. H. Schively,
public opinion at the state capital
has reached a verdict. 1t is Guilty
as charged" Even Senator A. S.
Ruth, president of the upper house,
who left the chair to oppose the
Paulhamus resolution and who voted
against the modified resolution un-
der which the present senatorial in
vestigation is conducted, has bowed
his head to the inevitable which
must follow upon the findings of the
legislative committee.
The senator avows in the face of
the evidence already brought out
against the former ex-officio insur-
ance commissioner, Mr.. Nichols, and
his deputy, Mr.. Schively, that his
confidence was shaken; that in the
legislative squabbles over the propos-
ed investigation he labored through
out under false advice. He is now
seriously asking his legislative COL
leagues how any member of the SEN
ate could vote against impeachment,
If the question were presented at
a special session. Personal friends
and fraternal influence have ceased
defending or condoning the offences
of Secretary Nichols and Insurance
Commissioner Schively. The most
charitable judgments passed on Sec
retary Nichols in view of the dread
full sequence of perjuries in which he
tangles himself on the witness
stand is mt creditable to the mental
condition of his old age. The most
embarrassing feature of the entire
situation is the Indifference of Secre-
tary Nichols to the criminal situa-
tion in which he has involved him.
self. Shortly after his examination
on Wednesday he remarked to
friend: II want it to go as light
on Jack (meaning schively) as
could.''
At the very same time the col.l-
mittee was considering the question
whether he had not dared to open
for himself the doors of the peniten-
tiary.
Should Resign at c1ce.
What you hear in Olympia today,
where the two accused men live, is:
They should resign at once and be-
fore the legislative committee can
bring them together on the witness
stand" 1t is the belief of friends
that If the gravity of the situation
can be impressed upon the two men
their formal designations from public
office will anticipate the furtehr pro-
ceedings of the committee. 1t is the
that in such event
neither Gov Hay, the committee nor
the attorney generals office will
prosecute Nichols and Schively for
conduct.
1t has leaked out here that Sena-
tors Ruth and Allen and a prominent
local banker held prolonged confer
ence last night, at which it was de-
cided that every possible influence
should be brought to bear to bring
about the voluntary resignation of
Nichols and Schively. This friendly
decision was the result, no doubt, of
the prevailing belief that it is Gov.
Hays intention to call a special ses.
sion of the legislature and the defin-
ate purpose of the attorney generals
department to prosecute the accused
men in the criminal courts. 1t was
thought that if the necessary expense
Of impeachment proceedings could be
saved the state on the one hand, and
the aged secretary could be shielded
from the penal possibilities of a
trial, this step was the wis.,
est to be pursued.
1t has been announced that when
the special legislative investigating
meets next week that the
work of making up the report to
be submitted to Governor M. E. Hay
will be started. The members of
the committee believe that there is
little use in piling up more evidence
against j. H. Schively, state insur-
ance commissioner and former depu-
ty under San H. Nichols, secretary
Of state and ex-officio insurance COM
missioner. The state is ready to
rest.
The defense will now be given a