Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-06-25
BRIBE OFFERED
SAYS LANSDON
Attempt to Influence Location OF
State Institution

BOISE, Idaho. Jane Declar-
Ing that he had been offered $1,000
to support BOise's claims to the per-
manent location OF the deaf. dumb
and blind school. and later modifying
his statment by saying that the sum
was offered TO silence his advo-
cacy OF Weiser, his home town, Sec
Rotary of State Lansdon caused a mo-
ment Of CONSERVATION in the ranks
Of the state board Of education. He
first declared the tender was made
by the Boise Commercial club, but
later avowed II came from A. e. Carl.
son. a well-known hardware dealer.
president OF the club. Lansdon
brought TO bear all that was dram
attic In his makeup In his recital. He
spoke In a loud tone and could be
plainly heard In an adjoining room,
where sat a newspaper man.
Miss 8. Belle Chamberlain. state
superintendent OF public instruction
and a member OF the board. warmly
resented the statement made by Lans-
don that the Boise club had offered
him $1,000 to locate the school in
Boise. She said she did not believe
the club would 30 degrade itself and
demanded the name OF the person
making the offer.
''It was Andy Carlson"
Lansdon said: "It was Andy Carl
SON." Miss Chamberlain replied that
that did not necessarily implIcate the
commercial club.
To a representative OF the press
Miss Chamberlain reluctantly verb
fed the foregoing abstract OF the In
eldent so far as she was concerned.
Her hesitancy about acknowledge
ing statement for publication was
due to fear that the resultant devel-
opment might be detrimental 10 what
she regards as the best interests OF
the deaf. dumb and blind school.
which, she declares. should be lOcat-
ed In Boise.
Governor Brady was In Caldwell
and was called up over the phone.
He confirmed the report OF Lansdon's
statement. but said that later on In
the meeting Lansdon had INDUCED In
so much squIrmIng and qualification
as to lead the governor. to believe
whatever tender had been made. ~
any. was In the nature OF Josh. .
brady scoas AZ Statement.
You may say for me-" said Gov
ernor Brady. that II shall have any
reason TO believe. which do not now.
that any such offer was seriously
made to a member OF the state board.
shall institute an investigation
with the view OF prosecuting offend
ers."
Attorney General McDougal was
asked: what kind OF board meet
Ing did you have. Mr. McDougal; pref
~ stormy session." mo. there was
nothing very dIsagreeable."
What was the nature OF the
charges made against Mr.. Carlson By
Mr.. Lansdon7" "You had better
talk TO Mr.. Lansdon: do not care
to discuss 1t.
A. Z. Carlson. president OF the
commercial club. said: cit does not
seem possible that he could have
made such an outrageous statement. "
Carlson Tells His Part.
Mr.. Carlson stated that on several
occasions he had talked with LansdOn
about the location OF the school. "He
said he favored weiser." Mr. Carlson
continued. land I said did not
blame him. / would too. under the
circumstances. told him squarely
that I would not ask him TO vote for
Boise. but that be might let so on
McDougal. IN all our talks no one
ever mentioned money.
There Is absolutely nothing to 1t.
Neither the commercial club nor any
one else ever asked me to Offer any
one money. and 30 far as the mem
bers Of the club are concerned they
have not the funds with which 70
make any such offer.
When Il became known the state
ment of LAnsdon might be pub
llsAeA. Mr.. LAnsdon vas greatly ex-