Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-19
TURN THE RASCALS OUT
Regular Republican Politics In
Indian Territory.
A VERY STRENUOUS 0. S. MARSHAL

Lets Prisoners Out TO Vote His Way
and ImprisOns Good Indians to
Keep Them From VOtinE-A Per-
sOnaI AppOintee of the President.
Dawes Commission Quiescent.
The scandals in the interior depart
ment have led to the arrest of Benja-
min II. Colbert, United States mar
shall for the Indian Territory. Benja-
min was q member of that immortal
squad OF rough riders and was the or
derby who attended the strenuous
movements of Colonel Roosevelt. The
name of Colbert would possibly never
have been otherwise enrolled on the
scroll of fame if Colonel Roosevelt had
not accidentally been promoted to be
president of the United States. The
president has an enormous patronage
to distribute, and as the politicians die
tate to him nearly all the appointments
in the states and as most of the ap-
pointees are VIGOROUSLY unfit and
many Of them corrupt and incompetent
the president took the bit in his mouth
when 1t came to making selections for
the territories. He wished to give the
politicians of his party an example of
the class of men he would select if he
were left untramme!ed by the Repub-
lican wire pullers. To do this Presi-
dent Roosevelt had to turn down Colo
mel John S. Hammer, who was the
United States marshal appointed by
President Mckinley, q Grand Army
man and Endorsed by all the leading
Republicans of the territory for APP
pointment.
But the personal seleOtion OF the pres
ident has turned out to be no better, if
not worse, than those of Senators
Hanna, Quay. Plat and the other Re
publican spoilsmen, for while the ma
jortty Of the appointees of those
worthless have so far succeeded in keep
ing out of the clutches of the law the
personal appointee of the president is
in limbo charged with many crimes
and misdemeanors. The New York
Post thus enumerates them:
This official is accused of using his
power for political purposes. Letting
r. ASCANAS WI VA jan lLlaL lLtI
vote was one of his pleasing pastimes,
Indians for not voting ac-
cOrding to his wishes was another"
But the strenuousness of Benjamin
is hardly to be wondered at His edu-
cation in Cuba and the Philippines has
together taught his III balanced mind
that Indians and Fiiipinos have no
rights that white man like Benjamin
Is bound to respect and that laws are
made but to be broken when it suits
the whim or policy of those in author
Ity. He had seen Colonel Roosevelt
and others sign a round robin in
Cuba which transgressed the articles of
war and would have been followed by
court martial If the politicians who
were responsible had cared to order an
General Alger at that
time was on too thin ice to be sure of
bis footing, and the round robin was
passed over with a reprimand.
Words are good when backed by
deeds and only So" and Benjamin was
trying to carry out this precept of his
0enefactor by interpreting it to suit
the strenuous times in Indian Terri
tory. Being evidently IN league with
The 'land ring" 1t was necessary to |
carry the election there at all cost The |
bad Indians in Jail he let out to vote
the way he wanted them to. The good |
indians, who were intent on voting to |
save their land, which. interfered with |
he purposes of the land robbers to |
steal it, were shut UP In prison to pre-
vent them from voting
What a distorted Wow nf tho iuCtinn |
If Uncle Sam the white and red in
labitants of the Indian Territory must |
nave when the United States marshal |
who is chief of police of the territory, |
he friend and personal appointee of |
he president. does such deeds as theseI |
And the Dawes commission looked
IN with their hands folded behind |
hem, ready to receive their share of
he reward. and they still hold office
~ the grace of President Roosevelt.
No wonder the cry goes up from the
indian Territory, Turn the rascals
,utv'