Rock Island Argus., 1913-10-18


phys the court of public opinion. /
appeal from Murphy's court of politi-
cal passion to the calmer judgment of
the future and to the sober reflection
of public opinion.
when l declined to obey the
orders OF the boss about patronage,
when | refused to call off Hennessy
and prevent further investigations OF
graft: and finally. when set in motion
the wheels of the machinery OF the
courts to bring criminals to justice
and TO stop the looting of the state,
then. and not until then, did Mr.. Muir
ply threaten me with degradation and
with removal from Office. From that
/ day to this, all that money, all that
powe., all that influence could do to
/ disgrace me has been done. II is a
long story, but it will all come out
sooner or later.
"Mr. Murphy and the special inter
est which l antagonized have won a
/ temporary victory, but the fight for
reform and for honest government
will go on. The farce of my trial will
: nave d EOOu cnSCl III lLC II mas
opened the eyes of the people to the
graft of millions of dollars annually
and it will hasten the adoption of the
I initiative and the referendum, bring
about the recall of public officials, in
cluding judges and judicial decisions
and write upon the statute books other
reforms, especially a direct primary
law, so that the voters instead of the
bosses will nominate as well as elect
all public officials.
The people now know that the pow
er to nominate public officials is the
power to control those Offices and that
we cannot have honesty in the state
of New York until the voters nominate
and control all public officials.
AS the governor, have been hon
est and faithful to my trust No in
fiuence could control me in the per
formaace of my duty but the dictates
of my conscience. | have lost my of
flee, but / have kept my self-respect
| would rather lose the governorshiI
than lose my soul; and no governor
can serve God and mammoq. the state
and the special interests, the people
and the boss. the visible and the in
visible government.
Let us indulge the hope that M
less of the governorship will be the
peoples gain. Misfortunes are ofte-
blessings in disguise. If my undoins
by an arrogant and corrupt and des
perate boss shall be the humblt
means of forever destroying 'bossism
in the state of New York, ! shall bt
content and feel that ! have not strug
gled in vain for better things.
when the court determined to ex
clude the evidence of Mr. Henness!
!. and thus prevented my establishing
facts which would dscredit the test
mcny of Mr. Peck and show his me
tive for telling an untruth. whicl
would also disclose what had been dis
covered in the way of crime and COZ
rupticn in the various departments 0
the state government and which wer
largely the causes in bringing abou
my Impeachment in order to proven
further disclosures and prosecutions
> became satisfied that it was useles
" DISSGuA ESCil dS a "1AItSo UttduS
the defense that | could make, whic
considered my best and most eff
cient means Of clearing my name
would not be Permitted to be told b
/, me in court
Let me say here that | wanted t
take the witness stand in my own b'
half-especially TO tell the story c
: my troubles with the boss and t
deny the Peck fabrication, the absur
story of Allan Ryan, and to explai
, the Morgenthau testimony
But l was finally persuaded not I
do so by those who have in view tn
. rear welfare of the state and becaus
. under the ruling of the court refusin
|, | TO accept the testimony of Mr.. Hel
messy and other witnesses in my b.
i, half it was apparent that my story {
I, the reasons Murphy ordered impeacl
. ment would also be ruled out as Il
! competent and inadmissible, and wa
further advised that as no eyidenC
, against me had been adduced of wi
q full and corrupt misconduct in Office
>. that therefore ! had committed no II
,. peachable offense as the governor
; the state and hence could not, on II
: evidence before the court be legally
Justly removed from Office.
Those familiar with the facts ca
, testify that Peck lied about me to sa1
his Job; that Morgenthau was fools
by the clever ruse of an unscrupulol
enemy; and that Allan Ryan was
Albany several days under the TUT
age OF astute counsel to aid the Pre-
ecution at the psychological nome
= in any way desired.
Suffice IL TO say that Allan Ry;
came TO see me; did not go to s.
him and / never asked him, or al
other man. to request Senator Root
Delaney Nicoll to see Mr.. Barnes
Mr.. Murphy. or any one else for tn
matter. to do aught for me regardil
the trial.
= These matters were afterthough
of the prosecution to injure my eau
with the public and prejudice my ca
with the court
iii, Another thing, every dollar Civ
me. which / deposited TO my person
account, was subsequently turned ov
by me TO the committee in my of
or to an agent Of Mr. Murphy. or