Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-11-19
INDICTED SENATOR :
DIETRICH EXPLAINS
Tells What Iii. Course Of Ae.
ton Will Be in View of
Federal Court.
HE WILL STAND TRIAL
The Senator Says the Indictment Is tn,
Direct Result Of Personal Enmity
General Feeling of Sympathy
Among Associates.

Washington, d. c., Nov. 19.-The
leading topic of conversation of both
ends of the capitol was the indictment
Of Senator c. H. Dietrich by Ne
braska federal grand jury.
Senator Dietrich, Representative Kin
kaid, Senator Hanna and Editor Rose
of the president, had conference with
Attorney General Knox.
There is very general sympathy
among members of congress for Sen
ator Dietrich, who is believed to be the
victim of political malice.
Tho Nebraska delegation is a unit in
believing that Mr.. Summers the United
States district attorney. has gone too
far in using the machinery of the court
to bring about the indictment returned
yesterday by the federal grand jury
had with the attorney generay, Senator
Dietrich last evening issued formal
statement
Senator Dietrich, when asked what
his course Of action would be In view
of the action of the federal grand jury
made the following statement:
In view of what has transpired in Oma,
he, where a federal grand jury has found
an indictment against me for the alleged
acceptance of money for my influence IN
securing an appointment of postmaster,
think 1t due to the people of Nebraska
that 1 make a statement respecting the
matter
The charge that / had accepted. direct.
ly or Indirectly, money or anything of
value for my influence in securing the app
pointment of Jacob Fisher as postmaster
at Hastings. Neb:, is absolutely false
/ 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-
AT no time in my life has there been any
desire to shield those who have been guilty
of wrongdoing.
For twenty-five years have been res
ident of Nebraska as private citizen,
as governor and senator my aim has been
to devote my best energies TO the promo
ton of the welfare of the people and the
maintenance of the good government OF
our state. Among all things | have abb
betrayal of public trust.
During a residence of a quarter of q
century in Adams county have repeated
ly been instrumental in keeping out of
office and bringing to justice public of
ficials who We're shown to be dishonest and
corrupt.
The present attempt to attach stigma
to my name is because of my firm adher-
ence to this course.
my home county for many years, and, as
result of these differences, have nat
! urally incurred many enemies, not only In
politics, but in business.
My refusal while governor to pardon
Joseph Barley, defaulter to the state
for $6OO,0OO incurred the displeasure of
powerful interests, and l have since been
antagonzed by them.
/ incurred the inveterate enm.ty Of the
former postmaster of Hastings by the APP
pointment of Mr.. Fisher, my intimate
friend for twenty years, and who has
been stakeholder and director of the
bank of which 1 am president for seven
teen years.
have also incurred the active host,l-
ity of w. s. Summers. the United States
district attorney for Nebraska, by my Ell
forts to bring about his removal from Of
flee not because l favored another, but
because i believed for many reasons he
should have been removed long ago and
that the machinery of the federal court
has been set in motion and cieverly di-
rected to injure me and continue himself
in office
In the private of the jury room 1T is
easy to concoct and promote a scheme
that will not stand the test of an inyesti-
CATION where both sides have hearing.
Just what acton the attorney general
will take has not been determined. While
the department of justice feels that il
would be reflection upon 1t to suspend
Mr.. Summers at this time, 1t is known
that every expedlent is being considered
to bring about Mr.. Summers removal
His action has made him persona non
yrata with the department.