Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-07-21
POLITICS, VETO ARE
BLAMED BY SMALL
FOR INDICTMENTS
bRuNpAGE ARRAlGNE0 IN GOV
ERNoR's FIRST PUBLlc STATE.
MENT AFTER JURY RETURNED
TRUE eiLLs NAMING HIM, sTER.
LING AND CHICAGO BANKER.

A
Springfield, H., July Ex-Governor
Small last night issued the following
statement on the indictments return
ed against him yesterday;
To the People OF Illinois: You, who
elected me your governor by the great
est vote ever given chief executive
In Illinois. are entitled at this time 10
frank statement from me concern
ing the indictment returned against
me today by the Sangamon county
grand jury,
4. For the present, may not ask you
TO accept from me, with the same con
ideAce which you accepted my cam
didacy Cor governor. assurance to you
that | am absolutely innocent Of any
charges which the public may con
slider brought against me by the grand
Jury, after a one sided hearing in
which personal and political enemies
were heard and ! had no voice.
Attorney General Brundage, leader
of the conspiracy, has succeeded III
obtaining this indictment, simply be-
cause OF the personal fury | arouse !!
in him because | refused TO permit
him to take from the taxpayers pock
cts $1,50Q.000 for the upkeep OF his
personal political machine
Il promised tho people Of Illinois
that would attempt to secure for
them a dollars worth of service for
every dollar spent In carefully ex-
amining the appropriation bills !
found s7,OOO,000 in appropriations
which the needs and welfare OF the
state of Illinois did not require, and
was able through the power Of my
veto to save that amount in taxes to-
the people OF our state.
II found it necessary in thus redut-
ing the burdens OF taxation TO cut Mr.
Brundage's appropriations $1,000
As | explained to you at that time,
had no, hesitancy in doing this, be-
cause Mr. BruGdage had been usin5
your money, not for the enforcement
of the law, or for the welfare OF the
state, but purely for his cwn selfish
political desires,
Evidence of that fact 10 available.
81 MI. hOl OilIs utSiNu
my political assassination, but he pro.
ceeded with the machinery at his
hands to accomplish that fact. The
Chicago Tribune, spokesman for all
the interests, gladly lent the aid Of its
powerful press to the spreading broad
cast of Mr.. Brundage's propaganda.
The Chicago Daily News. owned
and edited by Mr.. Victor Lawson, not
only tax dcdger OF record himself,
but spokesman for the millionaire tax
dodgers CT Chicago who refuse TOT
bear their Just proportion of taxes,
rushed to the aid Of Mr.. Brundage ana
the Tribune.
The public utility interests, offend |
cd because | have kept my pledge for |
home rule, and the abolition of their
former tool, the public utilities com
mission, gave what support they We're
able to give to Mr.. Brundage's effort |
to besmirch my name and my record.
The traction interests of Chicago, |
who know that the present governor |
Of Illinois will reduce street car fares |
from. 3 and Toe to Sc if it is human
y possible, gladly joined with NJ.
Brundage and the other interests to |
annihilate me-.
so Mr.. Brundage came to Sanga |
mon county, the only county in the !
state where he had any hopes Of Sc
curing an Indictment against me,
While ii may seem amazing that any
grand Jury could do this thing, still
am not surprised that Il Sangam0n
county grand jury, dominated by on
organization protecting the most vi
eious criminals and brazen law vio-
lators to be found in the state OF Hi.
Bois, has taken this action
Il am absolutely innocent of every
charge they make. They, better than
any one else, know ] am innocent and
that they can never prove the charges,
which are simply brought for the pu
pose OF character assassination /
through the public press OF Illinois.
And / believe the other parties IN
dieted are equally innocent.
The people of the state OF Illinois
elected me Gu the pledge that | would |
honestly serve them. | have served !
tl.em to the best OF my ability, resard /
les of consequences, saving them /.
many millions of dollars | will con
tinue to honestly and faithfully serve /
them with every particle of strength /.
and ability | pusseys.
And | am not afraid Of the final |.
verdict which will come from you, the |.
sreat people of Illinois,
LEN SMALL, Governor"