The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-04
MIR HIICHCOCK'S
NARROW ESCAPE
President Nearly Demanded His Res
ignation Because Of Importantly
Of Western Senator
They Acted, It is Said, In Behalf Of
Official Grafters in the
Department.
The President Was Told This and So
Refused to Acknowledgements
Expected.
New York Sun Special Service.

Chicago, Sept. 4.--Walter wellman, in
a Washington special to the Record Her
aid, says:
Sensational developments are expected
soon in the land scandals in Indian Terri
tory and the maladministration Of Indian
affairs in Oklahoma. Only a part of the
story can be told now, for to disclose all
Of it would defeat the ends Of justice.
The scandal is divided into two parts.
One is the purchase Of Indian lands in
the territory by rings which fixed up
schemes to make competitive bidding at
sales u mere farce, presumably with the
collision Of government officials who are
stockholders or directors in land COM
panies and trust companies formed for the
purpose Of specializing in Indian lands
The other is thieving from the Indians on
| the reservations in Oklahoma by means
of fraudulent allotments Of cash due the
natives under the agreements which the
United States has with the tribes. All
that can properly be said at this time is
| that proof Of frauds exist, especially in
| Oklahoma; that these frauds extend by
| collus1on or negligence, into the interior
department here; that rigid investiga-
ton is now under way, and that in the
end number Of arrests Of suspected Of
Gals may be looked for. g.
| "Graft" in offIclaIiom.
Involved in the story is a most inter-
| esting chapter of American politics, of
| graft in official positions, of an effort
to secure protection" thru. the influence
of senators and others in high public life,
and of an impudent and nearly success
| full attempt to get the scalp Of a mem
| Der OF the cabinet who was too honest q
man for the comfort Of the ringsters.,
Shortly after Mr.. Roosevelt became
| president it was matter of common COS
| sip in Washington that the days of Mr.
| Iitrho0~L -
were numbered A number Of western
| senators wanted him removed, and one
| after another went to the White House
and complained that they could not get
any satisfaction from the secretary when
they called on business for their constitu.
| ents. The secretary of the interior was
not called upon to resign because one Of
the presidents oldest friends, a man not
in public life, a journalist, in fact, who
mad long been ffmtliar with affairs in the
interior department, particularly those
| which concerned the Indians, finally Wen
to the president and said to him:
Why They Attacked Hitchcock.
! For heavens sake, Mr.. President, dt
not make the mistake of permitting tn,
western senator's to induce you to dismis!
Mr.. Hitchcock. They are after him be-
cause he stands in the way Of theil
Friends, who are engaged in robbing the
Indians, - $1
But Mr.: Hitchcock is to slow,
answered the president. II can't ge
anything done. 7 send for him yto ash
about a case and he has forgotten whether
or not. the case is before the department
| I want results" -'e---" .'.' -. III. r.
Never mind that" replied the presi
dents friend, s'the first and most i'm
u portant thing is that Mr.. Hitchcock il
honest aggressively, uncompromisingl,
honest. The gangs can't do anything
with him. I admit he Is slow. He Il
stubborn as a mule. He Is rash in snub
bling senators and other big-wigs who g,
. to see him for their honest constituents
But give him time. Give him a good Law
| officer to sit al his elbow, a, good assist
ant. to keep his work in order and let hi
honesty and his fearlessness work out
If you do, you will never regret it, Mr.
Hitchcock does not know that am her
speaking for him. But I speak becaus
I know the Indian service is filled witt
graft and that you need just such a NAL
as Hitchcock at the head of the interio
department" ....... ...-.. ... .a ,...
The Secretary Trlumphs.
! His eyes thus opened to the characte
OF the fight that was being made on Sec
rotary Hitchcock and the true inwardnes
Of the running to him of this senator an
that senator suggesting that they coul
not get along with the head of the interio
l department., President Roosevelt con
cluded to keep the secretary he had in
; herited from the Mckinley administra
ton and brave the discomfort of the west
ern senators for the sake Of having at tn
head Of that department a man upo
whose integrity and courage he could rely
Sixty days ago President Roosevelt sal
to his friend, who had urged him to re
tain Secretary Hitchcock: II want t
thank you for what you told me last yea
about the interior department and ii
: chief. If you never gave me good advic
: about any other matter, you certainly di
: that time. Hitchcock is trump. He
k a terror to all the grafters.''