The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-29
IDENTITY OF AGENT TO coNDuc INVESTIGATION NOT KNOWN

seeming slight that had been put upon the
department by the publication of the
charges before the Secretary or the Presi-
dent had time to consider them in the for
NAL manner that is pract;sed in every
Government department.
During the last two or three days Sec
rotary Hitchcock has freely discussed the
situation with such of the newspaper writ
ers as have visited him. and he has ex-
planned the condition of things at length.
1t was from information gained at such
conversation. it is said, that the statement
of the scandal which appeared in the morn
ing papers was compiled, and 1t was never
intended to be given as an official and
formal statement from Secretary Hitch
cock.
Not the slightest intimation can be
CLEANED at the department as to the prob
able identity Of the person 10 be selected
by the Secretary to finish up the inyesti-
cation that was commenced by him In the
spring and to make such other inquiries
as might be found advisable under the con-
ditions that exist. The Secretary believes
that the inquiry he made at the time Of
his visit was Of searching character, but
he has not the time to devote to this mat
ter personally. nor does he believe that all
that lies under the surface can be brought
out by department official.
1t Is his desire to select q person who can
be depended upon to represent things as
they are, and his object in sending such a
disinterested man from private life to in
quire into conditions is to make the inves-
tigation still more searching. still more dis
interested, and to give the finding moro
credenca yvith the f,l1hlic large
sECRETARY's INSTRUCTIONS.
The Secretary's Instructions to this agent,
when secured, will be to go into all phases
of the question without fayoritism on the
one hand or fear of public clamor on the
other He takes the position that, while 1t
is necessary and right to protect the In
dams. 1t is neither necessary nor right to
punish innocent officials.
In this spirit until very recently he has
refrained from any especial inquiry into the
charges made against the members Of the
Dawes Commission. Two of them were alb
sent from the Indian Territory on their an
nual leaves when charges were made by the
Indian Rights Association, and they were
allowed to remain away for time.
The Secretary a.so speaks Of Indian In
spector Wright, who has been placed in es-
pecial authority in the Territory. as a man
who has been a trusted employee of the Gov
eminent for twenty years. but he. like all
others. will be expected to give his atten-
ton to the inquiry.
The Secretary realizes that. while there
may be shortcomings on the part Of some
Of the Government officials. there are, on
the other hand. many men not employed by
the Government who have grievances
against these same officials and are dis
posed to make all the trouble for them they
can. These men he desisnates as graft
ers," and the feeling in the department Is
that any Official who may oppose their de-
signs is certain to be made the subject Of
the harshest censcre by them. The Score.
tary announces lis determination to pro
tect officials who are doing their dut,
against the schemes Of all such people.