The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-18
Complaint Made Against District At
tOrney Summers, and His Re-
mOvaI Demanded.
DEVELOPMENTS AT OMAHA
POSTMASTER FISHER, THE ALLEGED
BRIBER, UNDER $1,000 BOND.
Basis Of the Charge-Grand Jury Said
to BE Considering other Cases
Against the Senator.

WASHINGTON, Nov. T.-Senator Diet
rich when asked tonight what course he
would pursue In view of the action of the
federal grand jury at Omaha made the
following statement: I'm view of what has
transpired in Omaha, where federal grand
jury has found an indictment against me
for the alleged acceptance of money for
my influence in securing an appointment
Of postmaster, 1 think 1t due to the peo-
pie of Nebraska that L make a statement
respecting the matter The charge that
had accepted, directly or indirectly, money
or anything Of value for my influence in
securing the appointment of Jacob Fisher
as postmaster at Hastings, Neb., is abso-
lutely false.
Il 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 es-
tablished. AT no time in my life has there
been any desire to shield those who have
been guilty of wrong doing For twenty
five years 1 have been a resident of Ne
braska. AS private citizen, as Governor
and senator my aim has been to devote my
fare of the people and the maintenance of
the good name of our State. Above all
things have abhorred dishonesty in public
office and the betrayal of public trust.
During a residence of a quarter of a
century in Adams county have repeatedly
been instrumental in keeping out of Office
and bringing to justice public officials who
were shown to be dishonest and corrupt.
The present attempt to attach a stigma to
my name Is because of my firm adherence
to this course. Bitter factional fights have
existed in my home county for many years,
and as result of these differences / have
naturally incurred many enemies not only
in politics, but in business.
MY refusal while Governor to pardon
Joseph BARLEY, defaulter to the State for
$6O0,0O0 incurred the displeasure of power
ful interests. and have since been antag-
onized by them. l incurred the inveterate
enemity of the former postmaster Of Hast
ings by the appointment of Mr.. Fisher, my
intimate friend for twenty years, and who
has been a stockholder and director of the
bank OF which L president for seven
teen years. / have also incurred the active
hostility of w. S. Summers, the United
my efforts to bring about his removal from
office, not because / favored another, but
because 1 believed, for many reasons, he
should have been removed long ago. and
been set in motion and cleverly directed to
injure me and continue himself in office.
In the privacy of a 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 hearing
Senator Dietrich, accompanied by Sena-
tor Hanna and Editor Rosewater, of the
Omaha Bee. called on Attorney General
Knox to-day and had a conference with
him regarding the case of District Attor-
ney Summers and the trial of the charge of
conspiracy and bribery against the senator
in connection with the appointment OF
Postmaster Fisher The senator said he in
tended to go to Nebraska to stand trial,
but felt that his case would be prejudiced If
District Attorney Summers has charge Of
the prosecution. AS a result of the talk
with the attorney general. the latter will
have consultation with the President
about the case and 1t is probable that Mr..
Summers will be relieved from the con-
duct OF the Dietrich prosecution and that
District Attorney Rush. of Nebraska, or
some attorney from the Department OF
Justice at Washington will be detailed to
manage the prosecution. The question OF
Summers's retention in office came up, but
ii cannot be learned that any promise was
made by the attorney general in the
matter.