The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-04-05
Gives up Membership in
New York Senate
USEFULNESS IS GONE
Statement by ex-senator Aids Accuser
Makes Plain His Attitude in
rendering His Resig-
nation

Albauv. N. Y, April 5Rising to a
question Of personal privilege in the
Senate last night, Senator Benn Conger,
after reading a statement in which he
declared he fully realized that as a result
Of the Aids bribery charge his usefulness
As a legislator was az an end, handed
his resignation 70 Lieutenant Governor
White, duplicate Of which he later
filed with the secretary OF state
with ashpn face and trembling hand,
Senator lothian 2. Aids accuser read
from typewriter statement, giving
his reasons for seyering bis official con-
nection with the Senate while his fell
low senators listened with intense inter
est. When Ne had finished he sent his
resignation to the desk and quickly left
the chamber.
Conger's statement follows:
son January 4 last, in a private CON
ference where the qualifications Of ev-
Senator Aids for the position Of Repub
lican leader OF the Senate were being
considered by members of this body,
whose duty IL was 70 help make the Sc
lection, and after they had expressed
their views concerning his unfitness for
the place, | was asked to declare my
position. replied that I would not and
could not vote for him, because ] bad
personal knowledge that he was morally
unit for the place and that the interests
OF the people Of the state demanded the
selection Of some other man. | was
then asked to tell what ] personally
knew about him. / told them IN conf
dence what /, az a witness on the stand,
have since told you, namely, that
personally knew that in 1901, whom as
Republican leader in the assembly he
had held up and demanded Of the bridge
companies and had received from them
the sum Of one thousand dollars to infiu-
ence his official action, and that ] did
not propose by any act Of mine To place
Eem in position where he could levy
blackmail on the business interests Of
the state.
1T appears that this statement became
known TO Mr.. Aids on the following
morning. On January 10, on this floor
he denied the truth Of those statements
and demanded an investigation thereof
Thereupon, this body ordered an investi
CATION Of the matter and called Up me
to present the charge to the Senate and
to appear in person or BY counsel and
make good by proof, in public. the state
ments which I have made ia private.
$50 the alternative was presented to
me 81 becoming a liar and thereby re-.
naming a member Of this body 10 good
standing, or Of speaking the truth and
thereby greatly injuring myself financial
". politically and socially, and bringing
upon my family undesirable notoriety
and sorrow. ] determined that the only
thing / could do and retain my self
respect was 10 speak the truth. whatever
the cost. That I have done, and forty
of your number, BY your votes, have
certified thereto
II do not seek. to excuse, nor do ! ask
you or others to excuse the part which
] took in the transaction of 1901, which
you have had under investigation The
one great and sorrowfnl regret Of my
brother was that he had submitted to
the demand OF that. the worst gang
Of plunderers that ever infested tms or
any other capitol My wrong, and for
It | have always been ashamed and sin.
cerely sorry, was ia standing by and
permitting the thing to be done. instead
of then and there denouneing it.
q am informed that some Of your
number profess to feel that they cannot
remain ia the Senate If am to be here,
and yet some Of these same senators
have been members Of the legislature foi
years and as such had come to know
the reputation and true character Of the
senator who has but lately left us and to
know the workings Of the regime Of
which he was part, and knowing Of
the charge against him which has now,
BY your and their own votes. been de-
clared true, nevertheless took pleasure
on January 5, last, In voting to elevate
him to that high and honorable office Of