Semi-weekly herald., 1915-03-25

duty and responsibility.
Speaking for the present legisla-
ture, and having in view an intimate
acquaintance with the past six or
eight legislatures of the state, | am
prepared to say that there has not
been present at the state capitol a
cleaner or more fairly disposed body |
of men gathered there during the
time mentioned. Corrupt lobbies in
the way heretofore at times known |
have been entirely absent. So far as
the house is concerned, determined |
effort has been made to prevent ac-
tive work on the floor of anyone
whose purpose was to exert influence
in favor of any legislation. 1t is my
firm belief that the Rowland incident
is a petty and sordid one, the I'M
portance of which has been grossly
exaggerated that he was an untrust-
worthy and unfit member of the house
goes without saying. 1t is quite like
ly that behind his perjured story there
may be scheme for securing his in
fluence for or against measures Of
legislation. There is not particle
of evidence available to persistent eff
fort by grand jury, by active and
persistent newspaper detective work,
or to the committee appointed to in
vestigate this mattera by the house,
| IL
farther than Howland himself
When the rumors about the en-
velope with the money, opened by
Rowland upon the floor of the house,
first come to my attention | placed
detectives to watch him and made ey-
cry effort to secure any fact which
would enable us to bring to light cor
ruption or any illegitimate influence
at work. / was loath to permit the
good character of the house to be
smirched by the sordidness of an in
consequential individual unless a sure
and substantial result could be at
tanned. The time came, however, when
it seemed desirable to clear the facts
by an investigating committee of the
house. This committee was made up
Of Republicans and Democrats and
consisted of members, each one OF
whom has the full confidence of the
house. Cooperating with the grand
Jury we uncovered story of perjury
confessed to by Rowland, and he is
expelled from membership in the
house. There is no evidence from any
quarter as yet that the amount of
money involved exceeded fifteen dol
lars, or that any sum has been ex-
pended to influence legislation, or
that any member of the house, other
thar HowlaNd, had unvthing to do at
any ama w.,h III -ass.tion.
| On March 10th the Denver Post
attacked the lower house of the leg
islature in an editorial in which ap-
peared the following statements,
speaking of the Howland investiga-
ton:
"The tardy investigation was fore
ed upon that house by public clamor,
Yet the manner in which it was con-
Quoted and the wantonness with which
important witnesses were allowed to
escape summonses constituted ma
licious insult to the law-abiding ele-
ment of the state. The en-
tire lower house-not just Rowland,
but the whole body-has done this
thing. Where the members should
have acted at once they jibed, jeered
and procrastinated. Where they
should have protected their own repu-
tations and the record of what should
be an honest and upright organiza-
ton, they have truckled, connived and
sacrificed their last rag of decency."
Again, upon the 11th, there ap-
peared this editorial:
"rhe twentieth general assembly is
ending its days in disrepute and dis
honor. 1t is serious busi
ness to deal with legislature more
depraved than the robber seventh and
more shameless than the debauched
fifteenth"
On the morning of the 11th the
Investigation committee of the house,
which had been giving a part of its
time since its appointment of the in
vestigation of Howland, was inter
rupted in its deliberations by Mr..
Mitchell, reporting for the Denver
Post at the house. Mr.. Mitchell de-
sired information which the commit
tee did not feel that he should have.
He thereupon made the threat to
them that if they did not come
through, he would get the whole com
mittee. and in addition he made in