Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-08
A SWEEPING INQUIRY
Investigation of Indian Ter
ritory Officials.
INDIAN LANDSCANDALE
STATEMENT MADE BY UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY soPER.
Connected With One Company Of the
Kind Against Which Charges
Are Made.
INDIAN LANDSCANDALS


the northern district of the Indian terri
tory. in response to a request from the
Department of Justice for a statement
about the charge that he is interested in
companies engaged in leasing and releasing
Indian lands to the detriment and loss of
the Indians, has written admitting that he
is interested in at least one company OF the
kind that is said to be wrongly in opera
ton. but declaring that the company with
which he Is connected Is not in operation
in his own judicial district, but in the
southern district OF the territory. Mr..
Soper also admits a connection with other
concerns doing business in the territory. II
is understood. but declares that they are
legitimate business institutions. One Of
these is an oil company. it Is understood.
The Tribal Development Company.
Mr.. Soper tells the Department OF Justice
that he Is connected with the Tribal De-
veloFment Company of Tishimingo l. T.
and says, as already stated. that this COM
pany operates entirely In the southern judi
cial district Of the territory. So far as
known to him. Mr. Soper alleges, the COM
pany does perfectly legitimate business in
the handling of Indian lands. At least he
is not aware of anything to the contrary.
and would not continue his connection with
II If he considered that there was anything
improper in doing 80. Mr.. Soper points
out that the fact that the Tribal Develop
ment Company is entirely out OF his legal
sphere of action would demonstrate that
he Is not associated with a concern against
which he might be called upon to enter and
continue prosecution.
1t is stated that the department will take
no action at this time on the statement of
Mr.. Soper, but will merely refer the doou-
ment, together with all the other facts in
its possession, to the special agents who
are now in the Indian territory. Only one
cyoaf of ret anf ont hrlr not har nna
was added and 1t Is now stated that this
force will be further increased.
To Make Sweeping Investigation.
1t is the Intention of the department to
not stop at the cases OF Mr. Soper and
Benjamin H. Colbert, marshal OF the south
ern district, who Is charged with the same
offenses. but to make sweeping investi-
cation Of every officer In the territory who
is under the department. To do this Will
take much time. and the services OF num-
Der of shrewd men. The department de-
clines to give the names of the special
agents now in the territory OF of the addi-
tional ones to be sent there, but admits that
more men to be sent and that the in
vestigation will not stop at one or two or
even three or four men. The men mainly
interested in such sweeping investiga-
ton, therefore. are Phny L. Soper,
United States attorney of the north
ern district: William M. Mellette, at
torney Of the western district; John H. VIII
kins of the central district and William B.
Johnson Of the southern district; William
H. Darrough, marshal of the northern dis
trict and Leo e. Bennett Benjamin F.
Hackett and Benjamin H. colbert, marshals
of the western. central and southern dis
tricts, respectively. These eight men are
the leading republican politicians of their
state but this will not stop a thorough in
vestigation and a full report to the depart
ment which in turn will be submitted to
President Roosevelt.
A Former Rough Rider.
One Of the men involved was soldier
with President Roosevelt in the Rough
Riders, and is a personal friend of the
President. This is Benjamin H. Colbert.
marshal of the southern district. He was
a private in the Rough Riders and when
the President came into office and had an
opening in the territory he remembered
Colbert and put him in the best place at
his disposal. SO far the department has re-
ceived no statement from Colbert in
sponse to q request for Information from
him as to the accuracy of the charges
against him. He Is located in the district
in which the Tribal Development Company
| is said by Mr. Soper to do its business, and
1t is not known whether Mr.. Colbert is in
terested in this company or not.
Charges Against Marshal Bennett.
Charges have for some time been pending
in the department against Leo Bennett,
marshal Of the western district, alleging
that he and other officials divided the
profits from the feeding Of prisoners in his
district. The allegation Is that at times
this profit was large and that Mr.. Bennett
received his share. Similar charges have
also been intimated against other officials
in the state, and therefore the department
has it's hands full, and it's field will not be
confined to any particular class of charges.
1t must go over many different kinds OF
allegations. DR. Bennett has been a po-
litical power In the state for long time.
1t Is stated that SO far the developments
have not been of such character to
warrant the peremptory dismissal of any
official of the department in the Indian ter
ritory. This step would not be taken unless
the facts are received to warrant 1t. What
may develop hereafter Is an unknown guam
tity. When everything is in the papers viii
be submitted to the Attorney General, and
a recommendation for action submitted to
the President. in whose hands the dismissal
Of any of the eight men who have been
named will rest. All of the men are pres
tdential appointees and IL there are dismis-
sails they must be made by him.
Passengers on the Logan.
Acting Ad1utant General Steever is in