The Lamar register., 1915-04-07
The LEGISLA-
TURE AND The
DENVER POST
Speaker Of the House OF Representa-
tlves Tells Facts in the
Controversy.
To The People of Colorado:

Colorado should clearly understand.
1t Is a public calamity under our sys-
tenn Of government when any impor-
tant department of 1t becomes a vic
tim OF distrust and suspicion.
We have Just passed through a per
iod OF years during which public men
and the departments Of public service
have been under the most merciless
and destructive attack. Courts. execu-
tive departments and the legislative
department have all had their turn to
the disadvantage of personal reputa-
tion and confidence in the honesty
and good faith OF these various de-
partments. Certain glaring evils have
been corrected though this drastic
process. but everyone familiar with
the history OF such matters in this
state knows perfectly well that an en-
tirely different situation has been
brought about A profound change is
manifest in the attitude now held by
public officials toward their duty and
responsibility.
Speaking for the present Legislature
and having in view an intimate &C
quaintance with the past six or eight
legislatures Of the state. am prepared
to say that there has not been pres
ent at the state capitol a cleaner or
more fairly disposed body of men
gathered there during the time men
toned. Corrupt Hobbies 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 active work on
the floor Of anyone whose purpose was
to exert influence In favor of any leg
islRtion. II is my firm belief that the
Rowland incident is a petty and sordid
one. the Importance Of which has been
grossly exaggerated; that he was an
untrustworthy and unfit member OF
the House goes without saying. 1t is
quite likely that behind his perjured
story there may be a scheme for Sc
curing his influence for or against
measures OF legislation. There is not
a particle OF evidence available to per
sistent effort by a grand jury, by &C
tive and persistent newspaper detec-
tive work or to the committee ap-
pointed to investigate this matter by
the House, which indicates that the
effort went farther than Rowland him
self
When the rumors about the en-
velope with the money. opened by
Rowland upon the floor Of the House,
first came to my attention l placed
detectives to watch him and made
every effort to secure any fact which
would enable US to bring TO light cor
ruption or any Legitimate 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
II 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 a story of perjury
confessed to by Rowland. and he is ex-
PEELED from membership in the House.
There is no evidence from any quar-
ter. as yet, that the amount Of money
involved exceeded SIS or that any sum
has been expended to influence legis
Iation, or that any member Of the
House, other than Rowland. had any
thing to do at any time with the trans
action.
On March 10, the Denver Post at
tackled the lower house of the Legisla-
ture in an editorial, in which appeared
the following statements, speaking OF
the Rowland investigation:
The tardy investigation was forced
upon that house by public clamor. Yet
the manner in which 1t was conducted
and wantonness with which important
witnesses were allowed to escape sum
monses constituted a malicious in
suit to the law-abiding element of the
state $50 The entire lower house-not
lust Rowland. but the whole body
has done this thing. Where the mem
bers should have acted at once they
jibed, jeered and procrastinated. Where
they should have fastened to protect
any remaining shred of self-respect,
they laughed, joked and frittered a
month. Where they should have pro
tected their own regulations and the
record of what should be an honest and
upright organization, they have truck
led. connived, and sacrificed their last
RAG of dacency"