The Washington times., 1905-06-07
EXPECT A TUSSLE
IN MITCHELL TRIAL
State Of Oregon Involved in
Land Fraud Cases.
SCANDAL HAS WIDE REACH
Keen Observers Despair of Convictions
Before Juries of the Far
Northwest.
SCANDAL HAS WIDE REACH

NO State in the Union has ever had
so shameful, SO disgraceful a condition
OF affairs as that which will be proved,
during the timberland fraud trials, to
exist in Oregon
| This statement was made by a public
man who has had to do from the be-
ginning with the investigation of affairs
| In oregon. The first trial of Senator
Mitchell, under indictments charging
completely in frauds against the Govern
ment, will begin in the Federal court
| of the Oregon District June II. Already
secret service men and the Government
prosecutor are on their way there.
| That the Government will have the
! utmost difficulty in securing any con-
+, victions is declared emphatically by peo-
| pie from the Far Northeast who have
/ knowledge of the situation in Oregon.
| An astounding condition exists there 1t
| is said. There is no department of life
In the State which has not been reach
| ed, directly or indirectly, byInfluences
that are bound up with the accused pub
! lie men. Three members out of four of
the Oregon delegation in Congress are
under indictment. They are Senator
Mitchell and Representatives William
son ana hermann senator fulIOfl
alone stands unaccused.
Federal Officers Involved.
Federal officers have been removed
and some of them indicted: members
of the State Legislature and other peo-
pie of no less prominence have been
indicted. and the State today places ev-
erything else subordinate TO the siren
uous contest Of influences that must be
involved in the coming trials 1t is full
ly recognized that to convict men whose
fortunes are thus bound UP with every
interest of the State-social. political,
and business-wi1l be most difficult.
The scandal of Oregon, the scandal OF
a whole State. has been stirred up, and
during the coming trials will be laid
bare, as a result of the work of young
Catholic priest, the Rev. Father Joseph
Schell. Father Scheu went to Oregon
lea few years ago. and taking a poor
parish in the timber country soon dis
covered evidence of the graft system.
He appealed to State authorities and to
Congressional influences. and found no
sympathy. Not realizing the reasons
for his cold reception. he carried his
complaints to President Roosevelt him
self with the result that the Executive
became interested and REQUIRED investi
cation of the matters Father Scheil
had presented to him
Scandal Of Great Proportions.
From that time forth the scandal grew
and broadened It was like unraveling
a web after one loose end had been Sc
cureo Father Sche1l got the work fair
ly afoCt, and then left Oregon. He is
now in Nebraska working for the bet
terment of the Indians on the reserya-
tons of that State
Sensational allegations are made thae
if the prosecutions are pushed to the
limit interests greater even than now
involved will be reached. What is
called the Lumber trust is suggested
dragged into the light of day; but just
what is meant by the Lumber trust
is difficult TO get at
Seeking a New Judge.
At present the Department of Justice
IL concerned with the appointment of a
new Federal Judge TO succeed Judge
Charles 3. Bellinger. deceased. for the
Oregon district. There are many cam
diGates and the candidates. are so in
yolved with the influences and interests
so inextricable tangled up in the fraud
Investigations that the effort TO deter
mine exact relations seems almost hope
less. Recent report from the Coast is
that Steven A. Lowell will be APP
rc!nted: but at neither the Interior De-
partment nor the Department of JUS
tee can any intimation be secured as
to what IS likely to be done Judse LIE
try the first Mitchell case. and may re-
main for the others
tt is doubted whether n new judge
win DE appointed for some time. owing
TO the embarrassment Of present con-
ditions Former Senator John M
Ihurston is TO act as Senator Mitchell s
attorney