The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-03
(snecial aforementioned

Washington Dec. 29.-The recent war
department order directing the return of
Captain William H. Beck to his regi-
ment at Fort Assinaboine continues 10 be
the subject of discussion here. There is
no doubt that the captain owes his abrupt
dismissal from the Indian service to poll
tics. He is admitted to have been an
excellent officer. and it is also conceded
that his removal or relief" as it was
phrased in the army orders, was due to
the intervention OF John N. Thurston.
senator from Nebraska. During the last
campaign, and for some time prior there
to, Captain Beck was in charge OF the
Winnebago reservation in Nebraska. Or
dered from that reservation at the lncom-
ing of the new administration, he was
sent to the Uncompahgre reservation In
Utah, where he pilOted the Indians sue
cessfully through the tolls of allotment
negotiations. At the Indian office Beck S
work among the UncompahgreS is warmly
praised.
given circulation to the hint that the
removal was due TO a suspicion that the
captain had succeeded in organizing a big
syndicate to manipulate asphalt lands
during and after the allotment. But this
report utterly lacks verification.
A BRYAN PARTISAN.
It seems to be plain that Becks removal
was due to the influence of rhurston and
the assistant secretary of war, also
from Nebraska, who claimed that he had
been an offensive Bryan partisan in 1896.
The only tangible evidence against Beck
was that he had prominent Democrat
for cousin. His kinship to Congressman
w. H. HinrichSen, the celebrated Demo-
cratic leader from Illinois, was used as
evidence that he was inclined to Bryan.
The election returns from the senator
name-county Of ThurSton We're pointed
90 as Offering indubitable evidence Of
Beck'S work for Bryan. 1t was claimed
that he did everything possible 20 aid
the Democratic candidate, and that he
exercised a powerful influence among the
Indians living in seVeralty. 1t should be
explained that the reservation IS largely,
If not wholly, in Thurston county
Yes, Beck played strong hand for
Bryan" said a close friend of Senator
Thurston to The Herald correspondent
today. I have no doubt that had Bryan
been successful he would have come in
for fat promotion. As it is he can go
back to his regiment and work.!
Captain Beck was recently here with
the delegation of visiting Ute chiefs. and
made q fine impression on the officials
with whom he came in contact. It is an
interesting fact that all his recommends
lions regarding the Indians and their al
lotments were approved by the Indian
office and interior department. IhiS IS
ample demonstration that he was not
relieved for incompetency. His friends
here say that it is equally untrue that his
transfer is due to q genuine belief that
he aided Bryan. They assert that some
time ago Thurston, Meikeljohn-then a
member OF congressman some other
representatives and senators visited The
Winnebag go reservation. They did not so
as q congressional committee. but as
individual visitors, and took serious Of
tense when told by the agent that they
must not interfere in any way with the
Indians under charge.
And the woman is in it again. One of
the reasons for Senator Thurston'S OPP
position is stated by the friend before
quoted, TO have been that MRS. Back
never invited the distinguished Visitors
INTO the mouse, out mace IhSIn DOH their
coffee and prepare the meal for the party
out under a treei'
THE SHINING PREACHER. /
The Illinois senators have united in a
strong recommendation of Rev. David
Leppert for the post of chaplain Of the
army. Leppert is now located at Cen
tralia, Ills, but is widely known in the
mountain states OF the west, which were
formerly his field CT labor. He has done
important evangelical work in Denver,
Salt Lake, Cheyenne and Evanston He
is known as The Singing Preacher and
it is being urged in his behalf that he
will make things very interesting at any
army post to which he may be assigned.
y MINERAL LAND BILL
Representative McRae of Arkansas.
public lands. viii press a bill which he
has introduced for the sale of United
States lands chiefly valuable for certain
special mineral substances. His bill
enumerates among these, building stone
limestone. sandstone, granite, marble, ,
slate and lands containing gypsum. mica
and asDhaltunl Except those in the IN |
cOmpahgre reservation, boraX, fire-clay, !
kaOlin, petroleum, salt and chalk. II is |
provided by Mr.. McRae that any person |
may have the right to enter such lands |
in lots of not more than $50 acres for |
each person. upon satisfactory proof of |
the character of the land, and payment |
of 81; so to s. per acre 1t is further pro |
Vided that any person who has or shall |
have developed any such lands shall have |
q preference right of entry. All claims |
must be presented to the register of the !
proper land district within so days after |
the date of actual possession and the |
commencement of improvements. The bin |
provides that none of its provisions shall /
impair any rights which may have at |
tached prior to Its passage, or to au-
thorize the sale of lands valuable for |
mines of gold. silver. cinnabar, coal, tin, |
copper and other metalliferous minerals.
HANNA'S CAMPAIGN.
The opinion is expressed by the leaders
of both parties here that nothing will |
come of the Foraker and Bushnell effort
10 defeat Hanna There are believed to /
be from eight to dozen Republican mem
bers of the Ohio legislature who will vote
against Hanna in caucus but if there are
any who viii vote against him in the leg
islature itself they are not yet in evil
dence- Even If there were enough of
these to defeat Hanna, by uniting with
the Democrats. il does not seem proba-
BILE that there could be any agreement on
q union candidate.
In fact, ii is an open secret that many
Democrats believe the reelection of |
Hanna would be the best thing that could
happen for the cause Of silver. They say
that Hanna S leadership is obnoxious TO |
the party throughout the country, and
that its continuance would rebound to the
benefit of the Democratic party and all
friends of silver. These leaders do not
look with favor on any possible combi-
nation against Hanna.
Congressman Hartman of Montana,
who IS the Silver Republican leader in
the house, is one of those who oppose
any ATTEMPT TO defeat Hanna by combi-
nation. Why" he said to The Herald
''Hanna's bossism and
Doodle methods are our best cards If
the Republicans can afford to elect a
man senator who ran so far behind his
ticket. why should we do anything to
If my advice We're asked by
any Ohio Silver Republicans / should
certainly tell them that it would helm
IS ali over the United States to have
Boss Hanna returned to the senate
CHANDLER'S OUTBURSTS.
The effort of Senator Chandler to nose
IS a leader of the element of alleged BIZ
netaliists that pretend to see in the Re
publican party the future savior of the
silver cause. does not find much favor
among eastern Republicans These men |
more honest and less theatrical than
frankly admit that the Repub-
lean party is committed to the gold
standard, and that they expect it to re- {
main So Congressman Sulloway of New {
amDshire-Chandler's own states one
II those who see no merit in tho soma tor,o | =