The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-05
MITCHELL'S RECORD.
Life Story of Oregon Senator Con-
victed Of Receiving Bride.

A career without parallel in American
politics is that of John H Mitchell
United States senator from Oregon who
with his associates has dominated that
state more than 40 years; who has been
elected to the United States senate four
times; who has been charged with do
mesttc inddelities and sensational politi-
cal debaucheries, which he has never
disproved; who now in his 10th year at
the height of his influence at the nation
al capital, is convicted by a federal jury
in Portland, Ore, for having accepted
an alleged bride of $1,000 for abetting
conspiracies to defraud the United
States of its public lands.
years ago, at the age of Is years. Mitch
ell was in control of Oregon when Boss
Tweed owned" New York. He has
controlled courts and juries, as well as
legislatures; he has been fretted, but
not defeated, by charges of corruption
which he never met; his friends have
been ousted from Office for dishonesty
or ncapacity-several of them lately by
President Roosevelt-but in spite of all
the evidence brought against him of
conjugal infdelity and of political de-
hatchery. his mesmeric power defied
ana swept away his political enemies,
until he was patriarch Of the United
states senate and chief of the inter
oceanic canal committee of that body.
Washington county, Pa, was Mitch
ellis birthplace; time, June %, 1885. He
was born under the name Nipple; that
was his fathers name, his mothers
maiden name being Mitchell. A brother
OF the senator's, dentist, dWellS in
Ohio, by name Nipple. The senator's
given name in boyhood was John M He
grew to manhood in Butler, Pa, and
was educated at Witherspoon institute
At the time Of his majority he was a
school teacher.
In 1857, still under the name of
John Nipple, he began the study of
law in the Office of Samuel A. Pur-
Vance, and a little later entered into
a partnership, which was probably
only nominal with Purviance. But IN
1860, finding his family relations un-
satisfactory, and becoming possessed
OF some money, ne quit Pennsylvania
with Maria J. Brinker, and the two
went to California. The woman re-
turned to Pennsylvania.
Arrives at Portland.
Arriving at Portland in 1860, he as
sumed the name of John H. Mitchell.
and began the remarkable career
which, for rapid and persistent sue
<cess has no parallel in the annals of
American politics. One year after go
ing to Portland he was elected city at
torney. One year more, and he was
sent to the state senate. Another two
years, and he was president Of the
state senate. Again a year, in 1866,
and he failed by only one vote of
winning the Republican caucus nornf-
!.
such was his strength that he de-
feated the caucus nominee, A. c.
Gibbs, and Henry w. Corbett was
elected. Six years later, in 1872. he
was elected United States senator. and
in March, 1878, began his duties at
Washington.
All this time he was known by his
assumed name. Under that name he
not only entered the United States
senate, but married Miss Martha Prizes.
of a well known Oregon family, by
whom he had three children.
In the summer and fall of 1873.
after Mitchells election to the United
states senate, the details of his life and
his assumed name began to leak out.
The sensation was immense.
In 1878 Mitchell came up for re-
election, but Democrats controlled the
body, and chose James H. Slater for
the seat in the senate. Four years
later Mitchell again tried for election.
but a determined body of Is Repub-
Ecans refused to vote for him, and he
was compelled to give way to ]. N.
Dolph. In 1885 he tried once more,
and succeeded through the aid of II
Democrats, who hoped to widen the
breach between the two Republican
factions by that procedure. When
Mitchell came forward for a third
term in 1891 he was elected with little
opposition. but in 1897, because he had
been a silver exponent, the legislature
refused to send him back to Washing
tOAAs Eo0CAA vas tiAC 4AilO44Sllg VI LGSllIig
at that time that the legislature did
not even effect organization.
Fortunes at Low Ebb.
During the next four years Mitch
ellis fortunes were at low ebb. His
clothes were shabby, and his friends
fell away from him. 1t was said that
he was seen to eat even at 15-cent
lunch counters. But his influence,
though curtailed, was not all gone. Hi