The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-07-19

or agree to receive any compensation
whatever, directly or Indirectly, for
any services rendered or to be rend.
cred to any person, either by himself
OF another, in relation to any pro.
ceeding, contract, claim, controversy
or other matter OF thing in which the
United States is a party, or directly
or indirectly interested, before any
department., bureau, officer, or any
civil, military or naval commission
whatever" The senator held one of
the highest Offices in the country's
gift. He had been prominent in poll.
tics and in social life for a third of a
century. He is 20 years of age. is
wealthy, had powerful friends all over
the country and all the our
which money and legal skill could
supply were at his command. Yet he
was convicted by a jury of his neigh.
bors, and the evidence against him
was SO strong that eleven Jurors were
for conviction from the outset, and
the twelfth was soon won over to their
side.
An appeal is to be had to the SUI.
preme Court at Washington, but the |
only effect which this is likely to have
is to delay the punishment which the
law prescribes for the o~ffense. This is
an imprisonment of not more than two
years and a fine of not above $40, 600.
"Pull' has been powerless to save
Mitchell thus far, and it will fail in the
subsequent proceedings. The sena.
fate proves that the Ucour,s can
usually be depended on to deal out
equal justice to the rich and the poor,
the high and the low. Notwithstand-
ing the attacks which are made from
time to time on the jury system, and
in which Secretary Taft recently
joined. juries a ordinarily be re-
lied on to carry out the law. An ex-
ample was needed to show that there
was no truth in the old taunt that a
could steal without fear
of punishment. The case of Bigelow,
the Milwaukee banker, who is serving
his time behind the bars, proves, that
this sheer Is false as regards otfenses
of private citizens. Mitchell's case
shows IL to be equally untrue as re.
spects w%rongdoing in public station.
And this is only the beginning ia
the prosecutions for land frauds which
are likely to reveal the most extensive
scheme OF corruption and general 5
cality in the annals of the United
States government. Many other men
holding public offices are involved.
All will be brought to Immediate trial.
The case against each will be pressed
will all the rigor which the law pre-
scribes and which the administration
at Washington demands. If guilt is
proven, punishment is certain. There
will be 10 escape for the ma~lefactors.
Exalted position, wealth, legal skill
and the rest of the sources for oh.
struction will be vain in attempting to
suspend the regular operation OF the
law in their case. Other senators |
charged with wrong doing have es-
capped with technical pleas, but in the
trials which are ahead of them
the law will be carried out. The whole
the of the department Of
interior and the attorney generals
are enlisted in the work OF puri.
flying the public service. There will
be no respite for the malefactors.
.Mitchell's conviction Is a
magnificent triumph for President
and Secretary Hitchcock,
The latter of whom deserves the princi.
pal credit for the hunting down of the
crooks and corruptors. and for the
nerving Of the United States officials
TO do their duty without fear or favor
IN dealing out justice to the offenders.
Globe Democrat.