Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-02
WAS NOT SURPRISED
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK ON THE
INDICTMENTS.
Says That the Prosecution of the West
ern Land Fraud Cases Will Be
Pushed Vigorously.

The news of the Indictment of Senator
Mitchell and Representative Hermann for
conspiracy to defraud the United States in
Oregon was no surprise to the officials of
the Interior Department here. For several
weeks past, ever since the grand jury be-
gan its last session in Portland rumors
have been afloat at the department that
evidence against Senator Mitchell and Mr.
Hermann would be presented, and the de-
parture of these two gentlemen from
Washington ten days ago to appear before
the grand jury gave color to these rumors
Through it all, however, all of the officials
here who have been in possession of the
facts of the Investigation have kept their
information closely to themselves, and
would not divuige the nature of the cases
against Messrs. Mitchell and Hermann, nor
any OF, the others whose indictment was
expected.
In this connection an official of the de-
partment stated that the comments on the
guilt or innocence of the two members of
Congress that have appeared in the news
against neither of them has been made
public The grand jury's findings were OF
course, reported in open court. but the evil
deEce on which these findings were based
has not been made public, and probably
VIII not be until the cases come up for
trial. The department. it was stated. has
worked on these cases for over two years
and is satisfied with the results.
More Indictments Expected.
1t was stated this morning that more in
dictments are to be found, and while 1t is
declared that no such well-known officials
as Senator Mitchell or Mr. Hermann are
to be named in the indictments, evidence
has been obtained against some very prom
inenf men In Oregon. and 1t is intimated
that the two members of the national leg
fslatfve body already under indictment will
not be the only members of Congress whose
conduct the grand jury will investigate
Secretary Hitchcock received the news OF
the indictments of Senator Mitchell and
Representative Hermann at his home Sat
urday night. While the Secretary was
greatly pleased at the result of the work
of the officers of his department. he did not
express much elation at the indictments.
He said:
Secretary Hitchcock's Comment.
from information which has come to me
from time to time am not surprised at the
indictments. OF course. while we all regret
that men occupying high stations in public
life should get within the clutches of the
law, nevertheless the Interior Department
and the Department of Justice had their
duty to perform. These land-fraud indict-
ments are the result of two years of the
most searching investigation, and are
part of the unalterable determination of the
President and the administration to bring
to justice all offenders of the law, be they
high or low.
s'These indictments" continued the Secre-
tary Twill not be the last. More are to fol-
low, although believe I can say that the
Investigation will involve no more officials
as high In the public service as are these
two members of Congress. All the cases
will be placed In the hands of the Depart
ment of Justice. and the prosecution will be
vigorous. l cannot say just how many adj
ditional indictments will be returned in the
various cases. but it is true that this is SIM
ply a beginning.
The Secretary said he could not at this
time go into the details of the cases against
Senator Mitchell and Representative Herr
man.