Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1904-12-02
THEIR EFFORTS ARE VAIN

The croakers Of evil who have been
trying 50 persistently to connect Con-
gresham Hermann with the Oregon
land frauds and thus drag into the
mire the honorable name Of man
who has faithfully served his state
and country for twenty Five years have
50 far been doomed to disappointment.
Not one word Of evidence connecting
Mr.. Hermann with these frauds has
been brought out at the trial, nor will
there be. Mr. Hermann has been on
the stand, and his story Of his actions
as Commissioner of the General Land
Office when the patents to the lands in
question were issued was told in
simple and straightforward manner,
and showed plainly that there was
nothing fraudulent or dishonest in
anything that he had done. When
Governor Richards, the present Com
missioner, was called from Washing
ton to testify, these croakers we're in
high glee. Knowing that Governor
Richards was not particularly friend
ly toward Mr.. Hermann, they pre-
dicted that his testimony would prove
all the dark and ugly things they had
been limiting against the veteran con-
gresham. But again they were
doomed to disappointment Commits
sioner Richards testimony was un-
important further than the clearing
up of few minor details concerning
the issuance Of the patents, and con-
tanned not one word that in any way
reflected on the integrity or good
name Of Mr.. Hermann. The people
Of Oregon are becoming heartily sick |
and tired of these unwarranted at |
tacks on a faithful officer, and the |
bitter and unreasonable course of the |
Portland Journal and few Of it's lit |
tie yawping followers is becoming
positively disgusting. The people of |
the First Congressional District voiced |
their disapproval of this unjust treat
ment in no uncertain tone at the |
special election two years ago, and |
again at the general election held last
June, when Mr. Hermann was re-
turned to Congress by a larger ma
jority than before. The people all
over Oregon know that not one word |
OF evidence connecting Binger Her
mann with the timber land conspira-
tors will ever be produced, for the
very simple reason that no such evil
dence exists.
Wednesdays Oregonian says edi-
torially: I'm politics The Oregonian
opposed Mitchell and Hermann, many
long year, with such power as it
could command But it knows, and
cannot but admit, that any men of
oregon, in public place, would have
favored applicants from Oregon-un-
less they had known the claims were
fraudulent-which it was impossible
for them to know, Let us see the men
OF oregon, in representative place at
Washington, who, when the applica-
tlon is made, fair on its face, would
turn applicants from Oregon down
Such frauds as the jury may find
should be punished; but Mitchell and
Hermann could not be on the look
out for them; and they had the right
to suppose, as they did suppose, that
the applications were lawful. This is
said by The Oregonian, that has op-
posed Mitchell and Hermann from
way back, and would have termi-
mated the political career Of both
thirty years ago, if it could. But it
opposed them on grave matters; and
1t always has been aware, as it is now.
that there can be no Just attack on
them or on other representatives of
Oregon, on the ground that they have
assisted citizens Of Oregon, presum-
ably or apparently honest, in matters I
at Washington, If you have men at
Washington who will not do this, you
will not keep them there long"