The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Indian Territory GTafteTS.
Their Attitude the Same That Machen's
Once Was.


Times" says:
The charges against United States Marshal
Colbert, Of the Indian Territory. were presented
today to Acting Attorney General McRcynoldS
although they have been in the department
since the latter part OF July Publicity may
have aided in jarring them loose.
In giving these charges publicity
we had in view the good of the pub
lie service, and that only. The Times
does not consider the fact that an of
fetal may have a pull or "bacll-
ing" or may, forsooth, be a paying
tenant, or that publicity of his wrong
doings may involve "others higher
up" than himself. That is not the
mission of a true newspaper, as we
conceive it.
The Daily Ardmorite," published
at Ardmore, Indian Territory, has
this TO say:
II is said charges have been filed with the
Department Of Justice against United States
Marshal Colbert, Of this district, alleging nu
mcrous acts Of malfeasance in office. The
scandal po, is surely boiling over at the
present time in Indian Territory, but the most
Of il may prove TO be foam.
Whether the foam" viii be on tie
boiling scandal pot" or on the
charges, is not clear. A much more
potential authority than the DAILY
Ardmorite" characterized the charges
against Machen and other postoffice
grafters and looters as ''hot air" and
wind" but the grand jury took quite
a different view.
In an interview with IAN Ardmor-
ite representative" Colbert Is report
ed as having said that "the filing OF
the charges was the direct result Of
personal enmity arising over Indian
politics" Il am an Indian" said the
marshal, ''and its only natural that |
should have been interested in the
campaign for governor ore year ago.
I was Governor Johnston's private
secretary. held the office of national
secretary, and also served the admin
istration as tribal collector"
We do not know what the particu-
lar functions of a ''tribal collector"
may be, unless to collect moneys from
tribal Indians.
With reference to his connection
with the Tribal Development Com
pany, Colbert IS reported as saying
that ''he was absent at the organiza-
ton, and that some cf bis friends
who had gore into the company re-
ceived some stock for him, and that
four weeks after the organization h.
surrendered his stock" Yet. in the
face of this reported statement. the
list Of directors Of the Tribal Devel-
opment Company, printed and pub
hshed In the DAILY Ardmorite' as
late as August 26. 1903, gives the fol
lowing named Federal officials as di-
Iectors: p. L. Soper, l. S. Attorney,
northern district. vice president; Guy
=. Cobb, L. s. revenue Inspector.
treasurer and general manager; B. II.
Colbert, L. S. marshal, southern dis
trict. If these officials are not in the
concern, and if, as alleged, Colbert
Surrendered his stock" four weeks
after the organization, the Develop
ment Company is perpetrating a
gross fraud by publishing them as
stockholders.
1t is further stated that "Mr. Col
bert does not take the matter serious
| ly" Neither did Machen take the
matter" against him seriously, and
Beavers, who IS still at large, regards
the case against him IS unworthy of
his personal attention.
The plea that 4 am an Indian and
| is only natural that l should have
been interested in the Indian cam
raign" viii not suffice. The Govern
lment does not employ and pay It's OF
! ficials to go into jobs, iand-grabbing
or money-getting schemes, political
lows and sQuabbles within or without
the Indian Territory. If II be mat
uraI' for any Of them to be "iuter-
ested" in this sort of business, 1t is
Just as natural and logical, too, that
the public service should be nd OF
them.
There are many kinds Of official
wrongdoing, and many kinds OF
graft. As the kentucky statesmen
said about the various brands OF
whisky, "the only difference Is that
some are worse than others"