The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-18
DIETRICH'S DEFENSE
Senator VIII Waive Legal Pro.
lection and Face Charges.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 17.-Sen-
ator Dietrich, of Nebraska, when asked
tonight what his course would be in view
OF the federal grand jury at Omaha, made
the following statement:
The charge that 1 accepted, directly
or indirectly, money or anything of value
for my influence for securing the an
pointment of Jacob Fisher as postmas-
ter 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 upon an immediate trial, with per-
1ect confidence that my innocence will be
established. AS a private citizen gov
ernor and senator my aim has been to de-
vote my best energies to the promotion
of the welfare of the people and the main
tenance of the good name of our state
Above all things I have abhorred dis
honesty in public office and the betrayal
Of public trust.
During a residence of a quarter Of a.
century in Adams county I have repeated
ly been instrumental in keeping out of
office and bringing to justice public Off
Gals who were shown to be dishonest and
corrupt. The present attempt to attach
stigma to my name is because of my
firm adherence to this course. Bitter
fractional fights have existed in my home
l have naturally incurred many enmities,
not only in politics, but in business My
refusal, while governor, to pardon Joseph
BARLEY, defaulter to the state for
100000 incurred the displeasure of pow
erful interests and 1 have since been
antagonized by them.
Il incurred the inveterate enmity of
the former postmaster of Hastings by the
appointment of Mr.. Fisher, my intimate
friend for twenty years, and who has
been a stakeholder and director of the
bank of which have been president sew
enteen years. I have also incurred the
active hostility Of w. S. Summers, the
United States district attorney for Ne
braska, by my efforts to bring about his
removal from office, not because I ia
vored another, but because I believed,
for many reasons, he should have been
removed long ago, and the machinery of
the federal court has been set in motion
and cleverly directed to injure me and
continue himself in office. In the privacy
of grand jury room 1t is easy to concoct
and promote a scheme that will not stand
the test of an investigation where both
sides have a hearing"
Senator Dietrich accompanied by Sen
atOr Hanna and Editor RoSeWater, of the
Omaha Bee, called on Attorney General
Knox today and had a conference with
him regarding the case of District Attor-
ney Summers and the trial of the charges
of conspiracy and bribery against the
senator. The senator said he intended to
go to Nebraska to stand trial, but felt
that his case would be prejudiced if
District Attorney Summers had charge
of the prosecution. The attorney general
will have a consultation with the presi-
dent and it is probable that Mr. Summers
will be relieved of the conduct Of the
Dietrich case and that Assistant District
Attorney Rush, of Nebraska, or some at
torney from the department of justice
will be detailed to manage the prosecu-
ton. The question of Mr.. Summers re-
tention in office also came UP, but 1t can
not be learned if any promise was made
by the attorney general in the matter.
OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 17.-District Attor-
ney Summers refuses to discuss the indict-
ments against Senator Dietrich and Post
master Fisher, beyond that his action in
bringing the postmastership transactions
before the grand jury was incidental to
the general policy he has pursued dur
ing his incumbency in Office. Mr.. Sum-
mers denied that political differences
against Senator Dietrich had anything to
do with matter or that the matter had
been brought before the grand jury as
means to compel the president to reap
point him (Summers).
Postmaster Fisher appeared in court
today and furnished bonds in the sum of
81 900 on each indictment. He was down.
cast, but denied that he had had any
transactions with Senator Dietrich of a
cOmnrOmiSing character