The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-03-06
THE BOWEL CASE
Some More Lake County Linen
Wash d Out In
Pierre

Pierre, March 6.-By a viva voce
vote in which there were few responses
but no objection the senate voted to
exonerate Senator Bowel of Lake
county Of the charge of seeking money
in consideration for his actions as a
senator. The matter was considered
Ia an executive session after hearing
the report of the senate members of
the Anderson committee in which
was given the testimony of f. f.
offered to drop a resolution calling
for IN investigation Of the land de-
partment if Brinker would pay him
$3.50 for expenses which he claims TO
have encurred in the campaign last
summer when BIinker fought him.
The report showed that Drinkers testi-
mony was corroborated by two other
witnesses before the committee.
AS soon as the report of the commit
tee had been read Senator McMasteI
moved that Bowel be given a chance
to tell his side of the case and then
retire so that the senators could dis
cuss the matter more freely. Obiec-
ton was made tic this and Parks
moved that Bowel be %excrnerated and
the motion carried.
Broad charges that the newspaper
correspondents, and particularly one
member of the profession were trying
to blackmsil him were made by SEN
stor b. b. Bowel of Lake county in
referring to the statements made by F.
f. Brinker, deposed land commission
er, before the Anderson Investigating
committee. where it was asserted that
Bowel had sought a bribe for drop
ping a resolution calling for investi-
CATION of Drinkers office.
The evidence however, shows that
newspaper correspondents were merely
giving the public a correct statement
of testimony presented to the senate
Thursday will fully ~substsntiate the
statements made.
The Sioux Falls Press was the first
paper to publish the story Of Brink
er's testimony regarding Bowel, and
when the paper reached Pierre the
Lake county senator rose to a ques-
ton of personal privilege, read the
article and demanded an investigation
of his relations with Brinker. The
senate members of the Anderson com
mittee were appointed to investigate
and will report Thursday. Whether
they will merely lay the evidence be
fore that body or will make any recon-
mendations has not been decided yet.
Dennis O'Leary is the correspondent
directly referred to by Bowel and the
following extract from O'Lealy's testi-
mony before the Anderson committee
in regard to Bowel gives the CORE
spondent's side of the case:
SAT the opening of the session Sena-
tor Bowel gave out to various CORE
spondents. and others, hat he intend
ed to promote a legislative investiga.
tion against the Office of f. f. Brink
ar. discussed the case a number of
times with Senator Bowel, in addition
to making inquiries at the office rs to
alleged irregularities. Brinker was in
Washington for about three weeks
during the opening of the session.
"In the course of a conversation in
which Bowel indicated a desire to
wait.. Brinker's return before starting
action he made illusions that gave me
the impression he might be figuring on
trying to make Brinker put up some
money. / told my suspicious in this
respect to Attorney General johnson
and to Odean Hsreid of the Sioux
Falls Press. a fellow correspondent.
In q general way we reached the con-
clusion to keep close to the game to
learn what night be pending.
"Senator Bowel finally told me that
Brinker had caused him about $3.50 ex-
ira expense in the campaign last fall
because of his (Brinker's) activities,
but that II Brinker would give him
e75 he would drop the proposed ~investi.
cation resolution. He further justified
this offer by declaring his belief that
he had no material evidence against
Brinker.
Eve concluded that his settlement