The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-13
Rumor About Washington That
Investigator Already Has
Gone to Indian Territory.
HITCHCOCK IS RETICENT.
Secretary of the Interior Only
States That the Work is
Progressing Satisfac-
torily.
The Renuhlic Rnreau.


18th st. and Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, Sept. 12.-Secretary Hitch
cock has found the man who will investi-
gate the scandals that have been devel-
oped in the Indian Territory. His name,
however. has not been made public, and
there is no indication when II will be.
The Secretary's hunt for the proper per-
son to inquire into the affairs of the In
dams has been long and arduous. 1t WAS
e question of the office hunting the man
at every stage of the game. There was no
lack of applicants for the position. but
in this particular case the job is not given
TO the man who applies for It. Secretary
Hitchcock knew that the kind Of man he
wanted was not to be found among the
people who make a practice OF applying
for every position they see vacant, and
therefore he looked carefully over the men
OF his acquaintance whom he thought he
could prevail upon TO take the position.
While the salary of the office will be
large. more than a member of Congress
receives. the kind OF a man the Secretary
wanted to get is not the kind who would
take such a position for the salary alone.
To the man who was wanted the task
would be practically one Of a hankless
kind. The only satisfaction he would get
would be the fact that he had given some
service TO his country.
MAY BE kLREADY AT WORK.
There was one man. a newspaper CORE
spondent, whom the Secretary Thought
would take the position. He. however.
refused to go. He had Just returned from
A similar mission and he did not believe
ne could do justice to the investigation
about TO be started. Then the hunt began
and at last the man has been found- Sec
rotary Hitchcock will not discuss the
question in any form. He simply states
that the work Il progressing.
These acquainted with the situation be-
lleve that not only has Secretary Hitch
cock located his man, but that he has
peen at work on the Investigation for 4
week. at any rate. and that his name will
not be divuleed until he has made his re-
port. This is a common rumor about the
Interior Department. but it is only n ru-
NOR and cannot, of course, be verified.
1t would be in line with the policy of the
Secretary OF the Interior to act in Just his
manner, because he believes that whoever
goes to the indian Territory should go
there with the very best chance of OBJ
tanning the information he seeks. and 1t
is not believed that this chance would be
afforded a man whose name and station is
heralded throughout the country.
QUIET INVESTIGATION.
Such a proceeding on the part of the
Secretary would insure the presentation
OF a report that is impartial. and would
also afford the man making the investiga-
ton the best opportunity to observe con-
ditions as they exist, and not as they
would be presented to a representative OF
the department. who enters upon the work
with the blare OF trumpets and press no.
tices from the entire country.
The fact that an investigation of Okla
homa was made by a representative OF
the President and the Interior Depart
ment during the summer and in the most
quiet manner, would seem to give weight
to this rumor. But, as stated, Secretary
Hitchcock is r%eticent, and the only thing
that can be learned from his office is that
the proper person to conduct the ~investi-
cation has been found. Developments are
expected at an early date.
The mornings mail brought the Sec
rotary the usual number of applications
from persons In various sections of the
country for the position of investigator.