The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-14

thought IL was the 1911 session When
he talked to the journal clerk.
While this controversy was in prog
ress. the eargeant-at-arms was in
search of Makepeace and Representa-
tive Cassin, whose testimony will be
taken after Leahy leaves the stand.
In resolutions offered on the floor OF
the senate this morning by ]. H. Stew
art, of Sedgwick county, David Leahy,
secretary to Governor Stubs, is order
ed to appear before the open senate at
O'Clock this afternoon and reply to
charges of legislative graft which the
newspaper correspondent made in a
Wichita paper The arrest of the
governors private secretary by the
sergeant-at- arms is ordered and ma
chinery was set in motion for the sub
poena of witnesses and taking of testi-
mony.
Leahy, in his newspaper interview,
makes specific charges Of crookedness
and graft in the present session of the
legislature md an investigation of these
charges will be held at the afternoon
session The secretary's article was
aimed at the standpats and the allega-
ton of the pork barrel was one of the
minor details of the story In a sweep
ing swing, he gathered Senator Stew
art in the gang of alleged crooked leg
islative manipulators: and declared
that members of the two houses We're
]
thev might be filled with the spoils of
political treachery.
Late Monday evening a number OF
the members prepared the resolutions,
which were presented this morning by
the Wichita member. The examination
will be conducted by Senators Brew
ster and Price and a record will oe
made of the hearing.
The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, in the Wichita Sunday
Eagle of February 12, 1911, in an ar
tieie purporting to have been written
bv one David Leahy concerning legis-
lative matters, especially in the SEN
ate of the state of Kansas. now in ses-
sion. appeared the following, referring
to the senate and the house:
"'Political crookedness is rampant
know of one man who was boldly
approached a few days ago to falsify
a legislative record in the interest of
a public utility graft and l have it
first hand that the man was three
times at least offered a bribc to juggle
with sacred legislative documents. The
daring of political crooks about the
capitol is more reckless than it was in
the palrny days of the long ago.
"And whereas, said article is a re-
fection upon the honesty and integrity
| of the members of the legislature of
the state of Kansas and its officers and
| employees; and whereas, if the charges
are true the person or persons guilty
| thereof should be speedily punished;
! and whereas. in order tnat necessary
steps may be taken to bring the Of
| tenders, if any, to justice, 1t is neces-
sary that a thorough investigation be
had; and whereas, the said David
Leahy is according to said article, in
possession of material information re-
garding the alleged attempts at public
corruption of the officers and. mem berS
of the legislature of the state of kan
in nd n a n m
vestigation may be set on foot that
will enable the guilty parties to be de-
tected, it will be neceSS ary for the SEN
ate to have in its possession the in
formation now in the knowledge of
the said David Leahy; therefore be it
@Resolved, By the senate of the state
of Kansas, that the said David Leahy'
be commanded to appear before the bar
of the senate, to testify under oath
| touching his knowledge Of the alleged
corruption with reference to legisla-
| tive matters, either in the legislative
executive or judicial departments of the
state and to give under oath all infor-
nation which he may have in his pos
! session +Nat will lead to the detection
| of the . on or persons guilty of such
misconduct. and to give such other in
! formation as he may have in his pos
session, to the end that all unfaithful
| employees be discharged and promptly
| punished and all bribe giverS or bribe
| takers prosecuted, anu all sen
| atorS expelled from this body, and that
the senate may thoroughly investigate
the charges in said article contained
And be it further
| Resolved, That said investigation be
made a special order for the 18th day
| of February, 1911, at o'clock p. m
| And be it further
| Resolved, That such other witnesses
may be subpoenaed as will be necessary
in order to obtain full knowledge OF
the truth or falsity of the charges con-
| tained in such article.
And the sergeant-at-arms is hereby
| ordered and directed to We the said
| David Leahy, before the bar of the
senate at the time herein set and fixec
by this resolution; and it is further
Resolved, That a full record be kept
| of all -~oceedings had under this res
olution; that the testimony be take1
down, reduced to writing, spread upor
the journal and such publication made
as the senate may her fter ORDER
Leahy Treats 1t as joke
Leahy was visited in the governors
office a few minutes after the resolu-
ton was read in the senate.
We'll, what about the resolution?'
he was asked.
What resolution do you mean? %
asked the private secretary to the chief
executive.
When told that the senate had just
passed resolutions citing him to ap-
pear before the bar of that body this
afternoon, Leahy leaned his Ions
gaunt body over an office chair and
laughed. Then he Strengthened himself
to his full six feet two and roared:
We'll, what do you think of that?"
What do you think?" persisted the
visitor
Leahy's face assumed a troubled
look. Back in the next room Governor
Stubbs was talking to some visitors
They heard the conversation in th'
loud tone used by the private 'secre
tary. Stubbs stepped toward the divid
1n.; door, but did not speak. A mo
ment later he returned and resumed
the visit with his guests.
We'll. now I will just tell you,'' saif
Leahy, when the time comes, I will
tell my story. But, those fellows il
the senate went off half cooked. The,
are little hasty. Really I don't thinl
Z they studied that article very careful
) ly. 1 don't think I made any state
I 1fc I,,,k- l.