The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-02
DOUGLAS is REMOVED.
Sec. Hitchcock Begins Work of
Official housekeeping.

Washington, July q Secretary
Hitchcock has removed Clarence B.
Douglas from the position of clerk in
the office of Agent Schoenfeldt at Mus
kogee. This action by the secretary
is the result of charges of irpegulari-
ties in connection with the Creek allot-
ments filed at the interior department
by A. P. Murphy, attorney for the
Creek nation Agent SchOenLeldt IS
also implicated. although the allega-
lions in his case are not so specific or
so serious as those made against
Douglas Schoenfeldt will have an OPP
pOrtunity to answer the charges against
him, as Secretary Hitchcock has de-
cided to give him a hearing. The re-
mOvai of Douglas has caused a row in
the Creek nation, as Chief Pleasant
Porter, who is friendly to Douglas, re-
sents MurphyS action in fighting the
charges. kilograms were received at
the interior department today from
Porter and others influential in the
councils Of the Creeks asking that
Douglas be given a hearing.
Murphy and George Wright, agent for
thae Indian Territory, reached Washing
ton last Saturday morning. They had
an interview that lasted more than an
hour with Secretary Hitchcock Satur-
day afternoon and again yesterday they
were at the secretary's Office They also
had a talk with Commissioner Jones of
the indian bureau No one at the in
terror department or at Mr.. Jones' Office
would discuss the business that brought
them A0 Washington. 1t was learned to-
day, however, that Murphy had pre-
ferred nhe charges and that Wright had
practically substantiated them.
They are voluminous, consisting of
nearly twenty typewriter pages.
Murphy charges Schoenfeldt and Doug
las with supplying outside persons in
terested in the allotment of the Creek
lands with advance information; with
refusing to remove intruders and with
generally dis regarding the orders of the
secretary of the interior. Murphy filed
the charges as the representative of the
Creek nation.
Upon receivi ng a report from Inspec-
tor Wright, confirming Murphy 5
charges. SecretS' ry Hitchcock telegraph
ed Agent Schoanfeldt to dismiss Doug
las Immediately. In his telegram the
secretary notihe ed Schoenfeldt that
charges had also been preferred against
him. and that he would be given an OPP
portunity to dispfove them.
Although the secretary gave no inti-
nation as to who had filed the charges,
Pleasant Porter and the other ofhclaIs
of the Creek nation evidently conclud-
ed that Murphy was their author, for
shortly after the secretary's message
was sent Porter wired Murphy notify
ing him of the Creek officials disap-
prevail of his course, and that they con-
sidered it a breach of official courtesy
Porter and other influential Creeks also
wired Secretary Hitchcock, regulating
Murphy, and asking him to suspend
Judgment and give Douglas an oppor-
tunity to be heard.
This Mr. Hitchcock refused to do.
Murphy, as attorney for the Creeks, has
a contract by which he receives a sal
ary of $1,000 year He left for Mus
cogee today Wright will remain in
Washington for several days
1t is understood that Douglas is infiu-
entail in Indian Territory politics. He is
editor of the Muscogee Phoenix, Re
publican newspaper. and has been
prominently mentioned for the position
of Republican national committeeman
for the territory.