The Washington times., 1905-02-01
bARD'S CHARGES
ACKNOWLEDGED
BY DR.. SCFIARF
practical Politics and
Not a Threat, He
Declares.
DIVERSION OF FUNDS
DIVERSION OF FUNDS
President Ordered It and
Properly, Declares Cati1o-
lie Representative.

Dr. E. L. Scharf, of the Catholic
University, against whom sensational
charges in connection with the diver
sion of Indian funds TO sectarian schools
were made yesterday by Senator Bard
of California, today gave a reporter OF
The Times statement OF his version
of that occurrence.
DR.. Scharf did not seem alarmed by
anything that has tronspired.
The charges, which Were printed in
The Times yesterday. were to the sf-
feet that DR.. Scharf had solicited ne
support OF Senator Bard for eonsidera-
ton for Catholic schoIs in an Indian ap-
preparation bill that was pending in
Congress TWO years ago. and had
strengthened his position by the state
ment that the Catholics were able to
control the political destinies OF twenty
Congressional districts in various parts
of the country.
No Threat Intended.
To Senator Bard's mind the statement
conveyed a threat. while DR.. scharf says
none was intended. There is little diff
ference between them as to the mere
matter of fact. He said he acted en-
tirely on his own responsibility owing
"Ir Is true I told Senator Bard of the
political preponderanee of the f7atnoli.s
in these districts and furnished him with
a list of the districts and eheir voting
| strength, said DR.. Scharf this morn
ing.
AT that time the Indian appropriation
| bill pending contained a provision ex-
| tending the appropriation for the Indian
schools. amounting 70 100000 a year. At
/ that time also the a P. A. influence in
| Congress was asking and securing anti
| catholic legislation, which was espe-
| cialiy directed to this question of schools
| for the Indians.
| 'I felt an interest in the matter, and
understood the need of stiffenfng the
| bucks Of those who might be inclined
| to be our friends.
Thought to Siffen Bard.
| "At that time. I took it, Senator Bard
/ had an interest in the success of the Re
publican party. / concluded he was one
! or those whose personal inc1inations
might be stiffened in the right way.
| Recent events in California may have
| weakened or destroyed the interest he
! formerly felt.
AT any rate, 1 did present him this
list of Congressional districts and GER
| tain facts and figures in connection
with each of them. l told him If the A.
P. A organizations III any OF them op-
posed Representatives vino favored and
.oted for the Catholic Indian school ap-
preparation, and they would apprise me
of this fact, 1 would put them in com
| rnunication with influential Catholics,
| who would see to it that the hostile in
| fuence was successfully coubated.
Il told Senator Bard that Il these
their votes on this question Catholics
would do nothing-as Catholics-ag gainst
Il EN-. If they We're opposed because Of
their attitude on q matter merely re-
Igious they would be protected. 1t was
q, mi ter of practical politics.
| President Ordered It
AS to the expenditure of the Indian
trust funds by the Catholic schools, by
means of an executive order. DR.. Scharf
said this was merely just and right and
based on economic consideTat tions- This
order had been issued by the President
he said. because the President believed
it was morally right and because he had
been advised by the Attorney General
that it was legally proper
THE Protestant schools had beer
taking pap from the Government fol
twenty years. said DR.. Scharf, ''anG
| only recently discovered there was any
| thing wrong a bout it, They were willing
to give up their share. IL would seen
for the privilege Of attacking the Cath
| olic Church
For my own part l consider the ac
! tion of the President justified by every
economic consideration and approved b1
the plain dictates of common sense Thr
Government has made il its duty 10 ed
ucate the Indian children, ana il Is {
4 be noticed that not single one OF tn
| Catholic scnooiS receiving Government
aid is located in the same place with
Government school,
Senator Stewart's Idea.
Senator Stewart of Nevada expressed
the situation correctly when he said, 4
IA hearing before Senate committee;
Why these schools are doing on
work.
the brothers and sisters of the church
Nho work TO advance the glory of thei
religion: the Protestant schools ar
taught by paid teachers, half OF whom
:, perhaps. will be carried, and haV
g families dependent upon them for sup
: 1T is obvious that in the Catholi
= schools larger number CT pupils ca
: be taught for the same amount 6
! money than IN the Protestant school:
9 | beAeVe this consideration appealed
= President Roosevelt
The Indian trust furdsr which age1
- Brosius charges have been diverted
: the Catholic schools almost in their er
tirety. yield an annual income Of abot
i sos, COO
G Letter Submitted.
e Tie letter which DR.. scharf submit
ted to Senator Bard and which was
have been sent to the parish priests an
other influential Catholics Gf the twent
rop.racSipnaJ districts b31t which xus