The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-16
WOULD NOT TAKE
STAND HEARING
Would-BeProbe IntoG. OPP.
Fund Expenditure Halls
RETURN TO SENATE
Committee To Seek lnstruc-
ton From That Law
Making Body
GEORGE N. BRIGGS, IN ST. PAUL
PIONEER PRESS

GEORGE N. BRIGGS, IN ST. PAUL
PIONEER PRESS
Senator James A. Carley, demo
crat or PlainvieV, refused to sus
tain mis- charges of corruption i'm the
republican party when called on to
do so by the senate investigating
committee "Wednesday night
Asked TO produce his evidence.
Senator Carey took the position
that he was not on trial. He de
clincd to submit TO cross eXamina.
ton, and the committee adjourned
without calling its witnesses. after
Senator Allen j. Furiow, democrat
OF Rochester had moved that the
committee go back 10 the senate for
further instructions. This motion
prevailed four 10 three, Senators
herman Schmechel and Henry Nor
in standing with Senator Carley.
Senator A. J. toekne demanded
that Senator Garlic, who made the
charges under investigation, give
the committee his evidence, and
when Senator CarIey refused Sena-
tor Rockne announced that he would
not sit as party to examination OF
Witnesses.
An, Not on Trial.
i am nos on trial, said Senator
.
APPOINTED 10 investigate me. | have
o~te Dofhing that calls for an in
- iiiesi do understand you refuse,
70 lake the stand. asked Senator
/ i low.
You heard me the first time"
Senator CAREY replied
Although Charles r. Adams, chair
man OF the republican state central
fl ntar
and Il. c. Lilly. treasurer of the
1929 fund. were on hand in response
TO subpoenaS served earlier in the
DAY. they were not called 10 testify
sgause Senator Carlcy refused to
produce the evidence on which he
based his charges and because Sen
ato- RoCkne. supported by other
members of the committee, declined
q proceed until he did.
"Unheard of Procedure"
The position taken by the Sena
tor from Wabasha is that the wit
nesses who are here tonight, ready
to,!spe questioned" said Senator
RockIe, should prove themselves
ifanocht of the charges he y has
mss4e This is an unheard OF pro-
.cedufe. 1t is absurd. 1t is anarch-
istic, and ] NAV as well state right
here that refuse to be party to
st"
Il am one of committee. appoint
ed by the same authority that made
YOU a member of the committee"
retorted Senator Carley, and ii is
not my position that am on trial or
.being investigated because ] dared
Ito suggest to this senate that 1t
ought to investigate charges that
are being heralded about"
But the charges you have made,
ror prfF1 NM I
in nature, and the one who has
made the charges should produce
1.-THE evidence to sustain them. Until
you do hold that you have no right
ito call witnesses against whom the
,, charges are directed. These wit.
nesses are innocent of any alleged
wrong doing until they are proven
guilty, and you, as a prosecuting at
torney, should know that as well as
any one Of us. If a layman, who was
not familiar with court procedure,
should come in here and take the
position you have taken. there might
be some excuse, but with you there
Is none.
"PIay to Gallery"
= Senator Carley is making pure
pIay TO the gallery" Senator Rockne
continued He has made charge
that 81 900 900 was spent in the re
publican campaign of 1920, and that
'more than the law allows was spent
In 1922. If these charges are true
they are criminal charges; they VIC
late the laws OF our state and should
be prosecuted And now the sena-
tor from Wabasha asks that the
men against whom ne makes the
charges take the stand and prove
that they are not true.
LET Senator Carley call in his
witnesses. Let the strong arm OF
this committee 60 out into the high
ways and bywayS and bring in the
witnesses who will bear out the
charges that Senator Carley has
made. but don't let us take the po-
sition that the witnesses who are
mere tonight must prove their limo
cerce, n procedure that is contrary
IN AL tho rules of cur courts. II
that 10 TO be our method. I'm
through"
Again Senator Carlev declared he
was not On trial--that he. as mem
her of the committee. had right to
prove his charges by witnesses,
Meat Of Issue Involved.
"wus there a. million dollars spent
IN 1920 or not?" Senator Rockne de-
manded to know. That is the meat
Of the cocoanu.. Was there or was
there not?"
At this point Senator F,Irlow step
moi into the harness
at refuse to be maInber Of a
committee that is going to be the
laughing stock Of the state" he said.
81 am z new member in the senate,
and I speak for other new members
!Continued or Page 81