Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-19
SENATOR
MITCHELL'S
SPEACH
Full Text of the Speech In
the Senate


in the United States senate on Tues
day afternoon. The speech was made
in aelf-defense and for three-quarters
of an hour he held his colleagues spell.
bound in their eager attention TO hear
the aged senator's story of his con-
nection with the charges by the Ore
gOn grand jury, which, as he says, if
proven would disqualify him for fur
ther membership in the United States
senate. Nearly every senator was
present and he was given the most
courteous hearing possible.
Senator Mitchell win not return to
the Senate until his ease has been
passed upon by the courts. He, said
II assert in the most positive and
unqualified manner that each and every
one of the charges, insofar as they re-
late to, or involve me, are absolutely
unqualihedly and atroeiously false, and
defantly denounee their authors, and
each and everyone of them, and brand
them publicly as malicious and afro
cious Iara'
Following this general denial with
one more specific, the senator spoke
substantially as follows:
"But / desire to be more specific,
and therefore further deny, in terms
the most absolute and. unqualified
which I ana capable of using, that I
ever, either in the month of January,
1902, in the state of Oregon or at any
other time or place, unlawfully or
feloniously, or otherwise, eonspired
with Binger Hermann, then commits
sioner of the land office, and 8. A. d.
Puter, Horace G.. Mckinley, d. w.
Tarpley, Emma l.. Watson, Salmon B.
Ormsby, Clark e. Loomis and William
II. Davis, or with either or any Of
them, or with any person or persons,
to .defraud the United States out Of
any part of it's public lands located
either in township IL south, range 2
east, in the state of Oregon, or any
other public lands either in the state
of Oregon or elsewhere.
Denies Puter's Charge.
'FI assert, furthermore, in the most
absolute and unqualified manner, that
any and all statements by any person
or persons to the effect that ever at
any time or place entered into con-
spiracy with all or any of said persons, |
or they or any of them, with me, to
defraud the United States out Of any
part of its public lands in the state of |
Oregon. or elsewhere, either by false
or forced homestead applications, aft- !
davits or proofs are absolutely, un'
qualifedly and atrociously false, and
l defy my defamers and challenge them
to produce any evidence other than
that of condemned thieves, forgers and
periurers 20 sustain any such charges.
81 further deny in the most absolute
and unqualified terms that s. A. D.
Puter did, either in the City of Wash
ington on March 9, 1902, or at any
stAer time or place, offer me or pay to
me, or give me, nor did I on March 9,
1902, in Washington, d. c., or at any
other time or place, accept or receive
from said 8. A.. d. Puter the sum of
$1,000 or any other amount whatever,
either In two $1,000 bills or any other
denomination or amount whatever as
an indqeement to use my influence with
Blngcr Hermann, then commissioner of
tho general land Office, TO induce him,
az such commissioners, to pass to pat
snt 12 certain homestead ENTRIES, or
any homestead entries whatever, or for
any other purpose.
"And here Indignantly, with all
Sthe force can command, denounce the
syubliO statement of s. A. D. Puter that
he, ON March 0, 1902, at Washington,
D. c., paid mo $1,000 in two $1,000 bills
IN wilfully, malieioualy, unqualifedly /
and atroeiOusly false"
story Puter Told Him.
The senator then said he thought it
proper he should state precisely what
connections no ever had with Puter
aAd the lands in question and some of
tAe circumstances connected with the
sections Of the grand jury and the pub
lieation IN the press regarding the
eAaTges.
He said that about March or 2,
h0oa, Puter called on him in Washing
hon With letter of introduction from
Hon. +. p. Mays, prominent attor-
.Aey Of Portland, Oregon, and for many
sars the district attorney for the
OreaOR district. Puter had with him
woman, whom he introduced as Mrs
IA Watson, widow and citizen
~ Nra.An.a 10 hna in..aaiaa annei hing