The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-18
SULzER IS BITTER
Issues Statement DenOuncing
His Trial as a Farce.
He Brands the Proceedings as
a "Political Lynching."
HIGH COURT OF INFAMY
Is the Way He Characterizes
the Impeachment Tribunal.
Says Tammany Boss Controlled
the State Assembly.

which had removed him as Murphy
high court of infamy.'
The statement follows:
I'm response to requests from
friends throughout the state, for some
expression from me, can only say at
this time that l am glad that my trial
is over.
by virtue of power, beyond the
present control of our electorate,
now hand back to the people the COM
mission they gave me and l mana II
back to communicated ana unSul-
lied.
MY lips have been sealed for weeks,
during which time I have patiently
submitted in science to abuse and vii
LITIGATION.
"Of course, when I issued the late
statement on September IA 1 did not
think Senator Wagner, Senator FraW-
lev Senator Rampsberger, Senator |
Sanner, Senator Brown, Senator Blau-
Welt and Senator Thompson would act
as my jurors and judges. as they were |
either interested personally in the out
come of my trial or had acted as my |
prosecutors and condemned me before |
trial or account of personal grew !
ances had expressed an opinion as to |
my guilt. The improperly of the |
senators voting for my conviction |
must be apparent and violates the
judgment, because had they refused |
have induced them to do would not
have been convicted on any one of |
the articles of impeachment.
Trial a Farce.
MY trial from beginning to end
so far as the Tammanyized part OF
the court was concerned, was a farce .
"a political lynching-the conSum-
nation of deep laid political con-
spiracy to Dust me from office. l am
glad it is all over. I am tired of being
illuminated, tired of being hunted
and bounded; tired of trying to do my
duty and being traduced.
THE court ruled against me in ev-
erything and ruled out everything in
my favor. The we'll settled rules of
evidence were thrown to the winds.
A horse thief in frontier days would
have received a squarer deal.
Mr.. Murphy controlled the assem-
bly, and ordered the impeachment.
He controlled most of the members of
the court and dictated its procedure
and wrote the judgment. He was the
judge and the jury, the prosecutor
and the bailiff.
The meetings of the court were in
secret and behind closed doors. 1t
was a star chamber proceeding where
the enemies of the state could work
for my conviction undiscovered
They called it the high court of
impeachment but history will call it
'Murphy's high court of infamy.
The trial was human shamble, q
libel on law; a fragrant abuse of con-
stitutional rights, disgrace to our
civilization and the verdict overturned
cedents of three centuries. The Judg-
ment will not stand the test of time.
The future historian will do me justice !
and posterity will reverse the findings
of the court.
There is a higher court than Muir
phy's-the court of public opinion. I
appeal from Murphy's court of politi-
cal passion to the calmer judgment of
the future and sober reflection of pub
lie opinion.
Refused to Obey Boss.
when I declined to obey the orders
of the boss about patronage, when 1
refused to call off Hennessy and pre-
vent further Investigations of graft; |
and finally when 1 set in motion the
wheels of the machinery of the courts
to bring the criminals to justice and |
stop the looting of the state, then, not
until then, did Mr.. Murphy threaten
me with degradation and with remov
al from office. From that day to this
all that money, all that power, ali
influence can do to disgrace me and
destroy me has been done. 1t is
long story. but it will all come out
sooner or later.
Mr. Murphy and the special inter-
ests which 1 antagonized have won
Temporary victory but the fight for re- |
form and for honest government will
go on. The farce of my trial Will have
a good effect in the end. 1t has opened
the ewes of the people to the graft of
millions of dollars annually, and it will
hasten the adoption of the initial tive
and the referendum, bring about the
recall of public officials, including
Judges and judicial decisions and write
upon the statute books other reforms,
especially direct primary law SO that
the voters instead of the bosses, Will
nominate as we'll as elect all of the
public officials.
1.-The people now know that the
power to nominate public officials is
DOver RI control those Officerc
that We cannot have hone sly in the
state of New York until the voters
nominate and control public officials.
LAS the governor, have been honest
and faithful to my trust No influence
could control me in the performance of
my duty. but the dictates of my con-
science 1 have lost my office. but I
have kept my self respect. I would
rather lose the governorship than lose
nv soul and no governor can serve
special interests; the people and the |
boss; the visible and the invisible gov
eminent.
Useless to Testify.
When the court determined to ex-
clude the evidence of Mr. Hennessv |
and thus prevented my esta blishing
facts which would discredit the testi-
mony of Mr.. Peck and show his mo-
tive for telling an untruth. which
would also disclose what had been dis
covered in the way of crime and cor
ruption in the various departments of
the state government and which were |
largely the inducing causes in bringing |
a bout my Impeachment in order to |
prevent further disclosures and prose-
cutfOns, 1 became satisfied that it was |
useless to present myself as witness |
because the defense that could make |
which I considered my best and most |
efficient means of clearing my name !