The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-12-20

count OF the Weekly's charges:
Gov. Ernest Lister can't go to
tho bottom OF the Industrial inEur
ance commission scandal. lie vol
unfairly tied his own hands-com.
promised himself. and IL powerlesa
TO act.
1T will be necessary for tho
state auditor and the bureau OF
accountauey TO investigate the gov.
ernor's department II the truth Ii
To be brought TO Highland the
people are demanding to know all
OF the facts.
THE charges that have been III
ed against Gillies have failed To
unravel the mystery. The people
want TO know how much money
was stolen. and who got IL.
should Discharge loafers
The first official act OF the gov.
ernor should have been to dismiss
the members Of the commission re-.
sponsihle FOR the lazy methods that
permitted the state. trust funds 10
be looted. In fact. these men would
not have been permitted To loaf on
the job two months II Gov. Lister
had kept his election pledges. and
remained at Olympia. looking aft.
or the administration of the depart.
ments under his direction.
Gov. Lister knows that the
members OF the commission utterly
failed TO carry out the responsible
ties entrusted TO them. but he "a
rowerless TO take the action that
the circumstances demand lie 10
under financial obligations To his
appointees. and they must continue
TO draw pay from the state. no mat
ter how Incompetent or lazy they
may be.
Says He Borrowed Money
During his campaign for govern.
or. Ernest Lister borrowed 10000
from a Portland bank on a note
Endorsed by a man with large In
terests In Oregon and Washington.
Some time after he became COY.
ornor. Lister had a political split
with this suau. aud when the note
became due Gov. Lister was called
upon 10 meet the obligation. He
was unable to do 80 and suit WAS
threatened.
Gov. Lister then called for help.
and conference was held at Oiym.
pin. between the governor and Ger
tain OF his democratic friends Asl
the result OF this conference. each
department head under the govern.
or vas assessed month's salary
aud the money collected and ap
piled on the note.
Employees Rescue Governor
This money cleaned up all Of
the loan. with the exception Of
about 81 100. and certain we'll.
known democrats obligated them
selves 10 pay tho balance
How can the governor he ca.
pected 10 remove men from offie.
under such conditions7
This mess in tho industrial in.
surance department can't be hush. |
ed ap. All tho facts must be gn.
covered. The people are entitled 10
know the truth. M matter whom II
involves. The governor has placed
himself In a position where he can.
not conduct fair and impartial In |
luiry.
Ask investigation
The only proper solution Il 20
have the probe OF the bureau Of &C.
countaney turned on this affair and
let tho Investigation be fun and
complete The people OF the state
have confidence in State Auditor
Clausen and want the Investigation
made under hts direction"
Al Olympia. F1ph Commissioner
Darwin took hand I'm the case OF
the looting Of the industrial insur
ance fund by seizing the boat Lucky |
and three smaller craft. belonging |
TO Frank Stone. alias the Portland |
Kid.
Stone and J r. Gillies. former
claim agent for the commission, |
who IN in jail awaiting trial in con.
nection with the shortage. are part
neTs.
II is alleged Stone may be the
man who cashed the forged war.
rants.
Stone has disappeared. Three
fishermen working for him we're ar.
rested BY Darwin for violations OF
various fishing laws.
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