Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-03-07
(From the Omaha Bee1

(From the Omaha Bee.)
The conviction Of the Homer saloon
keepers for bootlegging conspiracy
after a sensational trial in the United
States court last week--the first con
vietion Of the kind on records one OF
the results Of the disclosures Of corrup
sion on the Winnebago reservation
made by Father schell and the persist.
ent agitation he has carried on to
remedy the abuses. The conviction of
these saloonkecpers, however is re.
garded by Father Schell as of small
importance except AS a link in the chain
aud Of no lasting benefit unless pursued
so that the whole system Of Indian
spoliation under official protection is
rooted out. Summing up tine situation,
Father schell explains existing condi.
stons on the reservation in the following
vigorous language;
Public Sentiment Only Remedy.
"The situation Of tho helpless Win
nebago Indians is as discouraging as
81 IL revolving and this condition is the
outcome Of the inefiiciency, the indo-
lence and the corruption Of the officers.
Public sentiment is the only remedy
for such cases During the last 20
years the government was misrepre-
sented and It's laws abused by the Off.
GERS; the public was bluifed by futile
efforts and the ruin Of the Indians was
che natural consequence. Hundreds of
thousands OF dollars were spent 10y the
government through those indolcnt Of
hcers to preserve the Winnebago In.
dians from the rayagcs Of whiskey,
Go protect them and guide them to civ.
ili2ation, and the only result after 20
years is their total ruin, their total
degradation and their total demoraliza.
tion.
"When ! raised my voice Ia defense
of these unhappy and helpless Indians
! found myself confronted with an
army Of scoundrcls, consisting of spec.
nlators bootleggcrs, saloonkeepers,
corrupt officials, politicians, ugcuts aud
representatives of the church and the
state--a chain of opposition reaching
from Omaha 20 Washington.
Had an Uphin Fight.
"For a moment was alone, forsak.
en- aud sold hy my own, to oppose !
body Of hloodthirsty aud lawdefying
individuals, threatening me with ruin, F.
disgrace aud even violent death; but
the Omaha Bee and the Sioux city
Tribune gave me their unsolicited aud
disluterostod help and support aud the
fair minded public, with other dallics
and wceklies followed their steps.
"n a supreme oiI6rt the powerful
ring attempted TO influence the presi.
dent Of tho United States against my
efforts 90 obtain Justice for the Ia.
dians, bat, as could be expected. they
were made 60 understand that ne was
che president of an, that the Indians
must he protected and that the Indian
scandals must cease A few months
ago the federal grand jury Indicted the
Homer saloonkeopcrs aud bootleggers.
One OF tbcso eases has just been CON.
emdod iu thc uuitcd States district
eourt and the defendants were found
guilty
Rias Of Hoartless spocuiators
"from nay study aud observation OF !
DE much abused Winpehago Indians
dare proclaim that therc is at Homcr
1 powerful ring OF heartless speeuh ,
.ors who ate after che Indian lands I
md thc lUdbw money To succeed ia ,
hs they must keep tho indians 20. N
lothcr ani bring thom into submission. d
rhey have hircd saloOnkccpers and {
'ootleggers who are operating uuder c
he protoelioa of this rlag and through D
he whiskey ihe Indians became the q
dawes of the speculators when / first q
anne 90 Homer the ringleadors CON.
osscd 60 400 shat thcy wanted tbe In. HI
Ian business. that they only can bring IN
hem, their money and their business 4
. Homer hy selling them whisky that
cosls them a great deal of money 60 a
hFoW odicial protection around che a, b
Dons and the boolleggvrs and ia order L
. eoine out even they must charge n