Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-01

The Boston Post publishes the full
text Of a remarkable letter from for
mer Governor Eugene n. Foss to Dis
trict Attorney Pelletier demanding IN
vestigation of charges which he Gov.
Foss) makes. He declares that Den
mis- ]. Driscoll, who was penal COM
missioner of Boston under Mayor FItz-
gerald, is in the pay Of the liquor IN
terests, and claims that one OF the
highest executive officers in the state
shares $4,000 a year from the nquor
men. Driscoll is now secretary OF
the so-called Trades Union Liberty
League" the purpose of which, MI
Foss declares. is to defeat Foss and
national prohibition.
The Post says: Charges Of attempts
to bribe him when he was Governor
and that one of the very highest eA-
ecutiye officers of the Commonwealth
shares in a yearly retainer from the
Wholesale liquor dealers Of the state,
are made in letter from Ex-Governor
Eugene y. F'oss last night to District
Attorney Pelletier in which he de-
mands grand jury investigation OF
the activities of the liquor interests in
the campaign in this state which, he
alleges, are in violation OF the corrupt
practices laws.
The names Of Dennis j. DriscoN,
who was penal commissioner of Bos-
ton under Mayor Fitzgerald, and now
is secretary of the Trades Unions
Liberty League, and of former Mayor
John +. Fitzgerald figure largely in
FCss' .etter He declares that in 1913,
when he was Governor there were
three strikes called at plants in which
he was interested Shortly after this
a proposal was made TO him, he al
leges first by DTiscol and later by
Fitzgerald, that if he would appoint
Driscoll as chairman of the State
Prison Commission all three strikes
would be c..lled Of.
Conspiracy Charged.
Strikes TOW exist at two of the
plants in hich he is interested, he
rays and he charges that again it is
not through organized labor. but
through an attempt to defeat him for
office and to defelte the national pro-
hihition amendment.
His charge in brief, he continues. is
that certain persons and CORPORATIONS
have combined in a conspiracy against
him. ard that by such action they not
only have violated the corrupt prac-
tees acts, but are guilty as we'll of
malicious mischief. disturbance of the
peace and a criminal conspiracy de-
signed to ruin manufacturers, business
men, workmen and industries. to de-
stroy The commercial, industrial and
social prestise Of the Commonwealth
and to diminish the welfare of the
people.
Former Mayor Fitzgerald last night
was said al MS home to be in New
York, while efforts 70 reach District
ATTORNEY Pelletier by telephone failed,
The Foss Letter. which closes with a
demand for grand jury investigation
Of the charges made, reads as follows:
Boston Mass, Aug. 80, 1915.
Hon. joseph c. Pelletier, District At
torney of Suffolk County, Boston
Dear Sir-As citizen of Massa-
o. this county. and candidate for
public Office, | beg 70 bring before You
for your official consideration a state
Of facts which, in my opinion, calls for
the action of the prosecuting officer
and the grand jury of Suffolk county,
Aimed Against Him.
MY charge, in brief, is that certain
persons and corporations. individually
and combined in conspiracy, with the
object of preventing me from running
for office, from being nominated and
elected, and from advocating such
public measures as l feel called upon
to advocate and with the object of
preventing the people Of Massachu-
sets and of other states from voting
in favor of the submission to them OF
a proposed amendment to the Consu-
tuition Of the United States prohibiting
the traffic in alcoholic liquors, are not
only acting in violation of the criminal
sections of the corrupt practices act
but are engaged in a campaign, every
act in which constitutes malicious
mischief. a disturbance of the peace,
and criminal conspiracy designed to
ruin manufacturers, business men.
workmen and industries, to destroy
the commercial, industrial and social
prestige of the Commonwealth, and to
diminish the welfare Of the people.
II shall be glad personally to sub
nit to you such information as l can.
but, inasmuch as all the elements Of
these crimes and conspiracies are mat
ters of common knowledge and are