The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-05-13
TODD EXPLAINS
: SENATE PROBE
Committee Will Not Use
Whitewash Brush.
NO IMMUNITY ON TAP

Chairman OF lnqulsltorIal Body Do
nles Intention to Work In opposl.
tlor TO Grand Jury, and Expresses
Belief That II Members Of Assem-
bly, Are Guilty Of Bribery They
Should Be Punished - Innocent
Should Be Shielded.
Columbus, o., May 49, Senator
John E. Todd of Franklin county,
chairman OF the senate bribery inves.
tigation committee, has issued a
statement in which the attitude OF
the committee with reference to the
inquiry now being conducted by Pros
ecuting Attorney Edward l.. Turner
and the Franklin county grand jury,
is set forth.
After reviewing the events which
led up to the appointing of the com
mittee. its organization. the appoint
ment Of subcommittee and prepara.
tions for an exhaustive investigation
into all charges and rumors affecting
the integrity of the members OF the
general assembly, Senator Todd
makes the assertion that Immediately
following the naming OF the commit
tee an organized effort to effect its
disruption was set in motion by GER
tain friends Of tho members. who
urged them to resign. lie also AYERS
that "the columns of the daily papers
were filled with inslnuations that the
action Of the senate in appointing a
committee was for the purpose OF
'whitewashing' members of the gen
ersl assembly or giving them immu'
nifty from prosecution by calling
them to testify before the commit
tee"
Attempt to Block Inquiry.
Chairman Todd asserts that these
efforts to disrupt the committee and
20 discredit II in advance of it's actual
investigation and report was appar
emily to prevent any investigation by
the general assembly of the charges
made against the members. Mr.
Todd then says:
"The published statements that Il
Is the intention and purpose OF tho
committee TO grant Immunity Il
members OF the general assembly Il
wholly without foundation.
II lam authorized by the committee
20 say that II is not the intention ol
the committee to in any way inter
fere with or hamper the work of tht
grand, Jury 'of Franklin county. nor is
II the intention OF the committee .tC
permit ANY member Of the general as
sembiS to secure immunity whom Che
prosecuting attorney of Franklin
county believes he can indict anC
convict of wrongdoing.
"If there are any members of thu
general assembly guilty of the crime
OF bribery or soliciting bribes, th'
chairman Of the committee oertainl,
expresses his own sentiments and, h,
believes, the sentiments Of the entir,
committee, that such persons shoul'
be ascertained and fittiDgly punished
and so far as the chairman OF tn,
COMMITTEES can control its actions
nothing will be done that will in an,
way intetfere with the accomplish
ment of this result. There is, how
everf a. field OF inqury'in which, tn
committee can appropriately an
profitAblyr work without in any wa
interfering with the legitimate 'scop
OF the work of the grand jury. n'
Reflect on All Members, Z 'a
"The charges made reflect upon, a
members Of tbs general assembly, .th
innocent as well as the guilty. 1t
certainly Tho right AMI the duty Q
the general assembly, through ii
own actien. to acquit innocent mon
bers. OF that body from the unjust II
Situations and accusations that hav
been made against them.
ITO this work the committee wi
first address itself, uninhuenced b
fear orpfayor and undetcrrcd by mi
representations or popular clamc
aroused thereby
"If the investigation should di
close that any members of the gel
eral assembly have been guilty of in
proper conduct, It is not only th
right, but tho duty OF that body
purge itself of such unworthy men
bers. s.Fhis duty the chairman b
lieves tho committee will also fca
lessly. y.disehaigcl' fre1'