Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-07-08

. The following article, which has been
pnblished in many Of the newspapers
of the United States since the indict-
ment of Senator Mitchell, is a fairly
aceurate outline of his strange career.
II is probable that the larger part of
BE present population Of Oregon has
little or no knowledge Of his history,
q Of the sensation produced in Ore
eon 80 years ago, when the revela-
lions Of his remarkable life down to
Nat time were first made. Some other
details Of his career since that time ap-
rear in the following article, but they
arc meager. On the whole, however,
it is an accurate outline;
A career without parallel in Ameri-
ean politics is that Of John II. Mitchell,
United States senator from Oregon,
Nho, with his associates, has dominated
Rat state more than 40 years; who has
heen elected to the senate four times;
Who has been charged with startling
domestic infdelities and sensational po-
htieal debaucheries, which he has never
Hsproved and which would have wreck
"a the fortunes Of any other person
- public life; and who, now in his 10th
year, at the height Of his influence at
10 national capital, is indicted by a
federal grand jury at Portland, Or,
ior having accepted an alleged bribe
of $4,000 for abetting conspiraeies to
defraud the United States Of its public
lands.
Boys have grown 20 manhood and
their children, too, while Senator
Mitchell has reigued in Oregon. Poll
ticians have come and gone-all but
Senator Mitchell. He is the one re-
naming link between the old regime
ana the new
Revolts against his domination have
been often attemptedj sometimes they
aeemed TO thrive, but they always sue
cnmbed-the last being that Of the
Gold Republicans, who partly de-
ihroned him in 1896, but lost the mas
tery in the ensuing FIVE years, at the
climax Of which Senator Mitchell was
iriumphantly re elected.
Mitchell went to Oregon nearly 40
Years ago, at the age Of 25 years. He
Was agile and vigorous then; now he
b bent with years, his limbs are vast
ed, his long beard is white, his eyes
Dre dimmed. but within his atrophied
form, and behind his spectaeled eyes,
still dwells his masterful power over
inen-not eloquenee, for he never had
that gift, but persuasiveness- factul-
ty Of political perception and organi'
cation; an art of winning admirers by
b handshake or a glance, and Of in
spring faith and confidence with
touch or a word-all this in spite of
his impaired ability to remember names
and faces as once he used to do.
In what state in the Union has one
man ruled politics so lOngf None.
Mitchell was in control of Oregon when
Boss Tweed "owned" New York. That
was more than 80 years ago, and still
Mitchell is on the stage, and nearly
all the federal Offices in the state are
occupied by his friends, and many state
and county and city offices, too. He has
controlled courts and juries, as well as
he has been fretted, but
not defeated, ty charges of corruption
which he never met; his friends have
been ousted from Office for dishonesty
OF neapaeity-several of them lately
by President Roosevelt-but in spite
Of all the evidence brought against him
Of eOnjugal infdelity and of political
iebauchery, his mesmerie power has
leRed and swept away his political en-
emies, until today he is patriarch of !
The United States senate and chief of !
he interoceanic canal committee of that Z
body.
Is il romanee-this story of 25- i
youth, who deserted a wife and i
wo children at Butler, Pa, in 1860,
vent to California with Maria ]. Brin-
Jer, a school teacher; quilted her at I
ban Luis ObispO shortly after arrival S
here, and went to Oregon, where he h
enOnneed his Pennsylvania name, Hip 4
lie, and assumed that Of Mitehelli mar
led Martha Price there, and while v
United to her declared his love for ?