The Detroit times., 1911-02-10
(From a stan Correspondent

(From Stan corresponden..)
LANSING, Mich, Feb. 10.--Testi-
moby OF several newspaper men. yes
terday afternoon, as TO their CONVEX
sations with Senator William III.
Bradley. after the attempted bribery
charges of Sherman NJ Townsend.
former assistant sergeant alarms, be
came public. let an element of
comedy TO the senatorial investiga-
ton, which has obtruded its serious
ness on the senate for a week.
The session at which the <sc.ibes
were called In was the last one for
taking testimony. The attorneys will
sum up this morning, and the testi-
mony will then be printed and sub
mitted to the senate with the findings
OF the committee.
What will be the action OF the SEN
ate Is a matter OF pure speculation.
Bradley has friends on the floor OF
the house, and IL Is probable that
there will be a division OF opinion,
which will last as long as the session.
Senators are comparing this to the
Lorimer case.
When the investigating committee
reconvened yesterday Afternoon, a
large delegation OF Ionians were pres
ent to testify to their high esteem for
Townsend, who Is a trustee OF the
lodge of Elks In that city. The dele
CATION was headed by Mayor Kidder,
and former Mayor John Bible. Four
were permitted to testify, Mai.
Loomis and Frank Montgomery hav-
ing previously given character testi-
mony. Those yesterday were Mayor
Kidder, T. b. Preston, A. M. Welsh
and w. c. Smell.
Sergeant-at.Arms r. ID. O'Keefe and
Chief Janitor James Murray OF the
senate. testified as to conversations
with Townsend. Then the newspaper
men were put on the stand, the reason
being. that Bradley had denied an in
teryiew which he gave to three OF
them Bradley had also puffed him
self up over the fact that some time
hack In his career he had been a
printers devil and risen to be fore
man OF an ONCE. and pointing over
at the reporters had declared that
they didn't know anything about the
real work OF getting out a paper. 1T
happened that at least four OF them
had served full time at the case, and
when the first OF them was sworn
and asked his occupation, he replied,
Reporter and practical printer" As
sistant Atty.-Gen. Chase entered into
the spirit OF the occasion and asked
him how long he had served at the
business, and he replied seven years
a. q printer and three and one-half
as. a reporter. Bradley joined In the
laugh. Otherwise, the appearance OF
both principals was depressing. Brad
ley. who usually 10 the life OF any
marty, loked as one might after long
try.. His face was as white as his
hair, and occasionally he breathed q
little sigh that expressed the amount
| the affair has cost him In the blight
| Ing Of his career, for no one In the
senate thinks that ne ever will be
| able to land another political ONCE,
whatever the verdict of his associates
| nay be on the direct matter at issue.
Townsend, ever since he finished his
| testimony, has occupied the Same
seat at the side OF the room, where
. ne presses the. back OF his head
| against the wall. draws down the cor
| ners of his mouth. closes his eyes,
End looks like the chief mourner at a
| tnneral.
Every one who has had anything to
| 60 with the hearing Is glad 1t Is over.
How the affair Is considered in
yownsend's home town, Is shown by
this clipping from the Ionia Daily
Standard:
whatever may be the outcome I'm
the finding OF the senatorial commit
tee as to the charges OF Sherman NJ.
Townsend against Senator Bradley,
there is no doubt in the minds OF
citizens of Ionia county, and there is
very little IL any elsewhere. so far as
can be ascertained, as TO the truth
Of the charge made by Mr.. Townsend.
who is known rs man OF truth. IL
Is difficult to conceive why he should
concoct a story of this kind, and II
IN hardly supposable that he would
do 80. On the contrary. the accused
has every motive to deny 1t. and
could not be expected TO do otherwise
so long as there was chance TO save
himself. The senator has been quite
prominent In Lansing this year. but
his activity has not contributed to
any general feeling of confidence In
the general integrity of his purposes,
a. ,Adrniration for his ideals In. poli-