The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-05
SOLONS OFFER
TO TELL ALL
Are Turned Down By Turner
and Hogan
GOVERNOR BEFORE GRAND JURY


Worst He Ever Tackled-operated
In Gangs and Made Speciality OF
Jackpots--All but One Member Of
Steering Committee Resigns.
Columbus, o., May 3.-Several as
eemblymen went to Prosecutor Tur-
per and Attorney General Hogan and
offered to tell the grand jury about
bribery methods In the house
and senate, but their offers were
not accepted. These proposals were
taken as indication of panic among
the solons and a desire on the part
of some to get in early for an inn
munity bath.
Before the grand jury there ap-
peared number of prominent Off
cials, including Governor Harmon.
The witness room was crowded with
detectives, lobbyists and corporation
representatives. The latter purpose
to tell how they were held up or how
efforts were made to have them fork
over" money to get bills through
committees and then PASSED or to
have the reverse process brought
about.
Judge Blair of Portsmouth, who
conducted the recent campaign which
resulted in the disfranchisement Of
1900 voters in Adams county for
election frauds, was another witness.
A bill is pending in the assembly to
legislate Blair out of his present ju-
dicial district and out of a place on
the bench. Rumors have been cur
rent of wrongdoing in connection
with the measure.
In the house every member OF the
calendar committee, against which
much suspicion has been directed, re-
signed except DR.. George B. Nye, who
Saturday had detectives arrested for
Offering him bribes.
The members who resigned were
Langdon, Russell, Evans of Stark, Cal
vey, Irving of Preble and Gusweiler.
Burns Appears OF Scene.
Detective Burns, head of the organ
ization which has ferreied out the
| COIIupllOu, Wdp dt LuS COul IiouoC ioi
some time. This is the most corrupt
assembly he has ever been called
upon to investigate, he told reporters.
1t developed when Governor Har-
mon opened an envelope supposed to
contain the bribe money which Nye
| says he received, that the bills were
not the marked ones which the detec-
tives say they paid to Nyc. The
amount, $200, was correct, however,
It also has developed that while Nye
received the money about three
weeks ago, he did not turn it over to
4 Speaker Vining until last Thursday.
A significant indication Of the un-
rest in the assembly came when the
senate, which has been reactionary
and has blocked almost every effort
of Governor Harmon to secure pro-
gressive legislation, put through two
of Harmon's pet bills-the measure
for a central board of control for
state institutions and the bill provid-
ing for the direct nomination of Unit
ed States senators according to the
Oregon plan The reactionary sena-
tors are betraying sudden anxiety
20 be good.
Evidence to be submitted to the
grand jury this week will show that
certain members of the legislature
were organized into gangs or groups
anG that jackpots were the popular
thing with them.
AS far as can be learned now, the
Doodle gangs contained anywhere
from three to eight members, who CO.
operated with one another in solicit
| ing and securing bribes from corpo-
rations and men who were trying to
influence legislation.
The Doodle gangs were bipartisan.
| In getting the Doodle in exchange for
votes no distinction was made be-
tween Democrats and Republicans,
because their votes all looked alike.
Prosecutor Turner has stenographic
records of conversation that occur
red in Detective Harrison's room in
the Chittenden hotel relative to the
exchange of business" between
house and senate crooks. A senator
was telling Harrison how they work
ed with certain house members, and
the Burns dietagraph transmitted all
he said to Prosecutor Turner's stem
ographer.
"That fellow is perfectly safe" said
the senator to Detective Harrison,
referring to house member. "He
works with us all the time and looks
after matters for us in the house, and
we look after things for him in the
senate" The senator is a Republi-
ran and the house member Demo
Irat.
Another senator, whom Harrison
says he paid 5000 to for working for
certain bill, spoke as follows into
the dictagraph
Soiclts For Friends.
"There's a couple of other members
who always work and vote with me
on ali bills, and we split three ways
all money we receive. I'd like to get
some money from you for them"