The Detroit times., 1910-09-14

gress of the United States, assuming
TO act as the tribunal itself. These
FIVE gentlemen continued their pro
| ceedlngs to the end, according TO the
worst methods OF ward politics and
after pretending 10 adopt a report OF
SO pages which they brought To the
meeting already prepared. and which
was never the subject OF considera'
/ ton or discussion. or even read in
committee, they gave 1t TO the news
papers, although the law required II
! lie rendered to congress-; and they
! completed their perverSion OF the pur'
pose OF the meeting by adjourning to
Dec. 3, so as TO foreclose. II possible,
any action or consideration or dis
/ cussion OF evidence by the committee
J i'm the meantime, and by solemn vote
they graciously extended to the ma
jority the leave to file a minority
report.
Proceedings illegal.
1T does not need to be said that
~uch action in both form and sub
| stance is wholly lawless, and 1t leaves
entirely unnecessary 70 ask wha
sort of justice any public servant
could look for whose character was
on trial in such proceeding in the
excitement OF political campaign.
II there Is any relation between law
less methods aud the character
/ he results which thew accomplish this
eo-called verdict condemns its au-
tNors rather than the official under
irveetigat'on.
This action CT the minority in no
way relieves us from our responsible
ity under the law The duties which
have devolved upon us by the law
were not at all Of our own seeking,
and they have proved laborious, and
we conceive that we are still bound
sometimes disagreeable duties. But
70 follow an orderly procedure and.
indeed. the only procedure that Is
onen under the law. 1t is incumbent
on lis to sift the great mass OF evil
denee and to attempt to reach and
render Just verdict.
Every effort was made to induce
the minority members TO agree to a
meeting on some early day at Min
neapolis or Chicago, as might suit
their convenience. but without avail.
The chairman called the present
meeting The members whose names
are hereto attached have spent the
day reviewing the case, but being
without a quorum. are p0werless TO
act. and have adjourned, subject to
the call Of the chairman.
Report Premature.
"rhe report OF the committee can
not be made until Dec. 5, when con-
gress meets. and the meeting called
for Sept. was for the purpose OF con-
sidering and discussing what the re-
port, to be made three months there
after, should be. There was there
fore. no haste or pressure for time.
The action of the Democratic minor
ity in taking temporary advantage of
the delay of some members In reach
ing the meeting was an effort TO sub
stitute a prearranged scheme for the
orderly deliberations and discussions
which the duty OF the committee re-
quires.
THE pretended adoption OF re-
port by a political minority and its
publication, as II II were the report
of a committee, exhibited a willing
ness to sacrifice the rights and injure
the reputation of the officers investi-
gated I'm order to obtain a supposed
party advantage in the pending politi-
cal campaign. We cannot reconcile
tice and OF our duty.
"KNUTE NELSON.
GEORGE SUTHERLAND.
"ELIHU ROOT.
SAMUEL w. MCCALL.
MARTIN E. OLMSTED.
EDWIN DENNY"