The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-05
Legislators Given
Clean Bill of Health
From Charge of
Drunkenness

made in the Manatee River Journal.
admittedly from a letter sent by
Rel resentative A. NJ. Wilson, of
Man tee, dated April 10, was not
sustained by the committee appoint
ed under House Resolutions GO; and
the mebers of the house were given
a clean bill of health by tn follow
ing report of the committee:
Hon. Cary A. Hardee, Speaker of
House of Representatives: Sir:
our committee appointed under and
by virtue of House Resolution No.
60, introduced by Mr. Goldstein. of
Nassau, requiring said committee TO
have Mr. A. NJ. Wilson, of Manatec,
appear before it and ascertain from
him the name or names of any MEM
Der or members of this house that
has been drunk since the opening of
this session and to make such other
recommendation TO this house as to
them seems best, beg leave TO submit
the following;
Your committee had a meeting on
Monday morning, May 3. at 10
O'Clock with all its members present,
and also with Mr. A. " Wilson be-
fore it, who being duly examined by
the committee with reference to
certain letter written by him on the
18th day of April to the Manatee
River Journal, published at Braden-
town. Manatee county. Florida, in
which the following statement ap-
peared. THE shame and disgrace
of drunken lawmakers at a critical
time like this is rcproach upon the
good people of the state But this
will be an eye opener to decent peo>
pie over Florida and such shak.
Ing of the dry bones has not been
seen in Florida as we shall witness
during the next general primary
election.
Testified as follows
II am the weekly correspondent
of the Manatee River Journal, !
wrote the letter from which the
aforementioned statement has been
taken by number of the papers of
the state. | have not copy of the
letter. In the statement made by
me. had no reference to any mem
Der of the house of representatives,
and 1t was not my intention to re-
fleet upon the house of representa-
tives or any member of the house.
This is my second term as
member of the house of representa-
tives and ! wish to say further that
the members who compose this
house are sober and industrious
body of men, and ! know of no men,
Der of the house who had been drunk
or under the influence of whiskey
since the opening of the session.
admit that the statement made by
me was too broad and comprehen-
sive, and | regret that the same has
been given the publicity it has, and
] am glad of this opportunity to
correct the misconstructiOn thereof.
and ! stand ready and willing to ex-
onerate any member of the house of
representatives from the charge of |
drunkenness or undue indulgence by |
them in intoxicating liquors that
has arisen or that has been attempt
ed to be made by several of the pa
pers of the state by reason of the
statement as quoted from the above
letter written by me-"
Your committee finds from inyes-
ligation. and from the testimony
given by Mr.. Wilson, that the charge
IF drunken lawmakers" as made in
lis letter of the 10Th of April, to
he Manatee River Journal, so far
Is the same refers to the house of
representatives or any member.
II, is without foundation in fact;
md no reference to the house of rep
esentatives nor to any member
hereof was intended by Mr.. Will
on. That, while the statement 1
obtained in said letter was very un- g
ortunate and indiscreet, and too
eneral in it's terms, yet, upon the I
on the part of Mr.. Wilson
hat no reflection was intended up
n the house of representatives, nor
pom any member thereof, your COM
,ittee recommends that no further i
elton be taken with refererce to {
latter.
Your committee, having carried G
ut its instructions as embodied in |
aid resolution, and proceeded with
s investigation, as far as it's au- q
hority would permit, and no speci- {
C charge of drunkenness having
cen made before by Mr.. Wilson of
lanatee, nor by any other person,
egs to be discharged from the fur
her consideration of the matter.
Respectfully submitted, il
HARRY GOLDSTEIN,
Chairman. u
THEO T. TURNBULL,
S. S. GRIFFIN,