East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-04-28


of the Pacific Coast.
The Western watchman tells the
story OF how Father Joseph Schell,
now stationed on Winnebago reserva-
tion, Neb., who has already been
thorn in the flesh of several officials
by his zeal in espousing the cause of
the Indians, worked in the interests
of Is poor families in Tillamook coun-
n ty, and is thereby responsible for the
recent indictment of United States
Senator Mitchell, of oregon, and Rep
resentative Binger Hermann OF Ore
gon, former commissioner of the gem
eral land office, and the removal from
office of ]. H. Hail. the United States
district attorney of Oregon.
1t is Father Schell alone who should
be given credit for exposing and
thereby breaking up what is now rec
ognized as one of the most gigantic
schemes to rob the public ever devised
in the country. Corporate interests
In Oregon, chiefly railroads, planned
to secure the states timber by a
manipulation of the timber entry laws
OF the United States government.
Finding the swindiers who were at
tempting to rob the families in Tilla-
nook county were protected by high
political influence, and that the swim
die contemplated the theft of many
thousands of acres of timber Father
Schell began a public war upon those
very men, which, after three years,
resulted in the indictment of scores
of dupes, and after four years brought
about confirmation of charges against
Mitchell, Hermann and Hall.
Father Schell, you are a fool" de-
elared Governor Chamberlain, a good
friend of the priest, when he began
his fight on high political powers,
who, he claimed, were in league with
or protecting the oregon swindlers.
But, after Roosevelt and Hitchcock
had set in motion the machinery of
the government, and the swindlers
were about to be driven to cover,
Governor Chamberlain went to Father
Schell and said:
81 want to retract what 1 said
about your being a fool. 1 want to
take off my hat to you"
Schen to Washington.
1t was early in 1901 that Father
Schell realizing the Tillamook fami-
lies could be helped in no other way,
went to Washington and visited the
land department, of which Binger
Herman was then the head.
At that time not a word had been
90 IL.
acy in oregon between the high po-
litical powers and railroad and COM
mercial interests to loot the state of
its timber.
When Father SchNll reached Wash
ington Senator Mitchell and other
Oregon representatives ridiculed
Schell, telling the newspapers not to
pay any attention to him, and that
he would soon leave the city. At the
land office Father Schell was referred
to the officers of the oregon land de-
partment the very men whom Father
Schell had attacked as in league with
the swindlers.
Then Father Scheil went back to
his parish in oregon and began an
effort to secure prosecution of the
swindlers by United States District
Attorney Hall, on evidence he had Sc
cured. The upshot of it was a letter
from the district attorneys office in
forming him that II he would fine
some man who would acknowledge
that he has taken up land under the
circumstances related, thereby per
turing himself, the office would begir
prosecution.
In February, 1902, Father Schel
secured an affidavit from Charles D
Hays, that he had taken evidence o
fraud to Halls office for days. Away
being told that Hall had just gon'
out or had not come in.
Father Schell also continued col
lecting evidence till ne had proof o
frauds in 10 cases of timber entries
He showed it was the scheme of th'
railroads and other swindlers to hir,
men to make entries for nomina
compensation, first signing contrac
TO turn the land over to them.
Tried to Buy Off SchelL
In March, 1902, Father Schell pre-
pared to go to Washington. The da,
before he left, the recognized repub
into his office and told him he wa
prosecuting business men and mus
let them alone.
II will offer you $4,000 If you wi
Just drop the timber questions" Fa
ther Schell was told.
At Washington Father Schell visit
ed the department of the interior. bJ
Secretary Hitchcock was absent. Th
acting secretary listened to a part c
the evidence, then interrupted tn
priest with a catechism as to no
good a priest he was, and finally do
manded where he got the evidenc
and ended by turning him over to a
assistant in the United States alto
ney's office. The latter first wante
Schell to turn over the original copi'
Of his evidence; then laughed in h
face and invited him to leave.
Father Schell reported his receptic
TO Secretary Hitchcock and Presldel
Roosevelt, and secured a promise
snvaotfgaffop Tho insnectOr sent