Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-03-10
CHARGES CONSIDERED.
Michigan A. S. |. Finds Supt. Morrow
Free Of Wrong intent.

Free OF Wrong Intent.
The following letter from Rev. G. w.
Morrow OF Detroit, Mich, relative to the
charge OF bis colonizing voters in favor Ct
local option was read by Rev. Fraser Metz
ger in Bethany church Sunday morn
ing:-
ave. the undersigned, members OF the
headquarters committee CT the Michigan
Anti-Saloon League. assembled in special
session for the purpose OF investigating
certain newspaper statements which have
been made regarding letter written by
Superintendent Morrow to one E. j.
Brewer, OF Grand Rapids. After a most
careful examination OF the correspond
ence bearing in any way upon the matter
in question and listening to the statements
OF all persons whose presence it was posi-
BILE to secure who had any knowledge OF
the transaction, find as follows:
ssFirst-That upon or about March 10,
1909, a representative OF the jackson
county local option committee called up
on Superintendent Morrow and requested
assistance to ferret out wEat appeared to
be an attempt on the part OF the liquor
men to colonize voters OF Jackson city
for the purpose of defeating local option.
"Second--In response to such request,
the superintendent arranged with one Will
liam B. Harkins to go Immediately to
jackson and render such assistance to the
local committee as might seem necessary
and proper for the purpose Of determining
whether such an effort for colonization
Was actually being planned.
"Third The superintendent further
communicated with one e. j. Brewer, OF
Grand Rapids, and letter was dictated
by Mr.. Morrow in the evening on the
graphophone and addressed to Mr.. Brow
er. On the following day, while Mr.. Nor
row was absent from the city, the letter
was transcribed by stenographer in the
office and Mr.. Morrow's signature affixed
With a rubber stamp without his seeing
the lettcr after it was Transcribed.
"Fourth-Shortly after this letter was
mailed, said Brewer called at the office OF
the assistant SUPERINTENDENT in Grand
Rapids. aud asked what the letter meant.
The assistant superintendent, Mr.. Hol-
saple, had no knowledge OF the matter
prior to Mr.. Brewers call and said that
in bis opinion there WAS some mistake in
he letter. Mr.. Holsapie called Mr.. Brow
eris attention to the fact that the letter
was signed with stamp, and stated that
he would telephone Mr.. Morrow at once
and ascertain what the letter meant.
HFiith-Mr. Holsaple did telephone
and Mr.. Morrow stated that word had
been received that an attempt was being
made by the liquor element to COLOMBO
jackson county, and that what be had in
tended to say was that he wanted Brewer
to 90 over there and ascertain whether an
attempt was being made to import men
for the purpose OF colonization. Mr.. Nor
row further instructed Mr.. Holsaple to
have Mr., Brewer come at once to the
Detroit Office. Mr.. Brow r did come and
was there informed Of the purpose for
which his services we're desired, and Mr..
Brewer did then go at once to jackson.
ssSixth-After having carefully consid-
cred the matter, this committee Is fully
persuaded that the letter in question is
without meaning, save as it had to do
with Mr.. Morrow's response to the re-
quest OF the jackson county local option
committee TO furnish them the secret serv-
ice work to circumvent the efforts which
they believed were to be made by the liz
uor interest to COLOMBO that county. The
instructions of these detectives before and
after their investigation show clearly that
no thought was entertained to endeavor
to colonize the city OF Jackson or any
other place in the interest OF local option.
Included in the report Of Mr.. Brewer to
Superintendent Morrow, is list of over
one hundred voters of Flint, who, &C.
cording to his report, it was expected
that the liquor men would import into
jackson, and that many illegal voters
hose names were thus secured were pre-
vented from voting through challenges
made by tue local option workers at the
polls in Jackson. number OF these men
refused to vote wien the camera OF a snap
shot photographer was snapped on them,
thereby showing who did the colonial
ton iTF Jackson county. Unfortunately
worded as was the letter, the fact is it |
was only small part OF a change OF pro- |
cedure which really did prevent the colo
nization of voters by the LIQUOR men on
as large scale as they intended.
stSeventh The committee is fully con- |
WINGED by the foregoing reports, together
v it'll other correspondence and statements |
from persons having knowledge OF the
entire transaction, that Mr.. Morrow had
nc intention at any time to propose any |
to COLOMBO Jackson county, and |
/ hat the letter written by MIR. Morrow to
Mr.. Brewer did not express the idea that
Mr.. Morrow intended to convey, OF which /
fact Mr.. Brewer was Immediately in
formed BY Mr.. Morrow We therefore
assert our full and firm confidence in the
and uncorruptible honor OF Su.
Morrow.
tEighth-This committee feels, how
ever, that Mr.. Morrow is subjected to Sc
we're criticism for PERMITTING letter OF