The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-11-20
INDICTED SENATOR
DIETRICH EXPLAINS
Tells What His Course Of Ac
ton Will Be in View of
Federal Court.
HE WILL STAND TRIAL
The Senator Says the Indictment Is thu
Direct Result of Personal Enmty
General Feeling of Sympathy
Among Associates.

Washington, D. c., Nov 19.-Thc
eading topic Of conversation of both
nds Of the capitol was the indictment
1f Senator c. H. Dietrich by a Ne
braska federal grand jury.
Senator Dietrich, Representative Kin"
kafd, Senator Hanna and Editor Rose
water of the Omaha Bee, at the request
Of the president, had q conference with
Attorney General Knox.
There is very general sympathy
among members of congress for Sen
ator Dietrich, who is believed to be the
victim Of political malice.
The Nebraska delegat ton is unit in
believing that Mr.. Summers, the United
States district attorney. has gone too
far In using the machinery Of the court
to bring about the Indictment returned
yesterday by the federal grand jury
sitting in Omaha. After a conference,
had with the attorney generay, Senator
Dietrich last evening issued a formal
statement
Senator Dietrich, when asked what
his course of action would be in view
of the action Of the federal grand jury
made the following statement:
In view Of what has transpired in Oma-
ma, where federal grand jury has found
an Indictment against me for the alleged
acceptance of money for my influence in
think 1t due to the people of Nebraska
that l make statement respecting the
matter.
The charge that I had accepted, direct
ly or indirectly, money or anything of
value for my influence in securing the ap-
pointment Of Jacob Fisher as postmaster
at Hastings, Neb., is absolutely false.
l shall waive the protection afforded a
senator by the constitution while congress
Is in session, and shall go to Nebraska and
insist on an immediate trial. with perfect
CONFIDENCE that my innocence will be cs-
tablished.
At no time in my life has there been any
desire to Shlea5 those who f2s.ve been guilty
of wrcm gdoing.
For twenty-five years have been res
ldent OF Nebraska. AS q private citizen,
as governor and senator my aim has been
TO devote my best energies to the promo
ton of the welfare of the people and the
our state. Among all things / have alb
horred dishonesty in public office and the
betrayal of public trust.
During residence of a quarter of a
century in Adams county I have repeated
~ been instrumental in keeping out of
office and bringing to justice public Of
corrupt
The present attempt to attach a stigma,
20 my name is because of my firm adher-
ence to this course.
Bitter factional fights have existed IN
my nome county for many years. and, as
a result of these differences, l have nat
urally incurred many enemies, not only in
politics, but in business
My refusal while governor to pardon
Joseph BARLEY, a defaulter to the state
for 5000, 900, incurred the dspleasure of
powerful interests, and I have since been
antagonized by them.
l incurred the inveterate enmity of the
former postmaster of Hastings by the ap-
pofntment Of Mr.. Fisher, my intimate
friend for twenty years. and who has
been a stockholder and director of the
bank Of which 1 am president for seven
teen years.
have also incurred the active hostil-
ity of w. s. Summers, the United Sta tes
district attorney for Nebraska, by my eff
forts to bring about his removal from Of
flee not because 1 favored another, but
because I believed for many reasons he
should have been semoved long ago and
that the machinery of the federal court
has been set in motion and ceverly di-
rected to injure me and continue himself
in office -
In the bfivate Of the jury room it is
easy to concoct and promote a scheme
that will not stand the test of an investi-
cation where both sides have hearing.
Just what acton the attorney general
will take has not been determined. While
the department of justice feels that it
would be reflection upon it to suspend
Mr.. Summers at this time, it is known
that every expedient is being considered
to bring about Mr.. Summers removal.
His action has made him persona non
yrata with the department.