The Washington times., 1905-02-03
Long Delay in Senator'S
Accusation Needs an
Explanation.
MUCH TIME HAS ELAPSED
Professor Recants Interview
in Which He Alleges
Bard Misled Him.

DR.. E. L. Scharf, who attained con-
siderable notoriety a few days ago at
the meeting of the Senate subcommittee
On Indian Affairs. when Senator Bard
accused him of approaching him with an
offer of the Catholic support in ex-
change for Indian school funds, issued a
statement today attacking the Califor-
MIA Senator and justifying his own ac-
tons in the matter
When two years ago. said DR..
Scharf, tI made an effort to have the
appropriations for Catholic Indian mis-
sions extended for two years more.
acted on my own motion, and certainly
did not represent myself as anyone S
agent.
Opposed to Plan.
when I called upon Senator Bard al
the Normandie that winter and explain
ed my mission, he informed me III the
beginning that he was a Presbyterian
and that his church was opposed to re-
ceiving money from the Government for
the support of its schools.
He failed to tell me, however, that
the Presbyterian missions had received
| their share OF the contract appropria-
| tions from the time of President Grant
under whose Administration the Indian
contract school system was inaugura ted
| Neither did he explain the sudden ant
mysterious conversion of the Presbyte-
rians to the new principal then promul-
gated by the A. P. AS that it is un-
constitutional to make such an appro-
priation.
| IN fact, all the Protestant denonafna.
tions had, until the Administration OF
Cleveland, received such appropriations
|
A. P. A. agitation to show them tht
wiekedness Of the thing.
Objection an Afterthought.
| while they were receiving this hell
| from the Government there was no or,
of sectarian legislation. But after the,
withdrew, and the Catholic missions
were alone the benefciaries, they hypo
critically affected a holy horror at tn.
very idea, and a great many Statesmen
at the Capitol chiuaed in."
After detailing his original converse
tion with Senator Bard. in which it wa
alleged he promised to swing twent-
/ Catholic Congressional districts, Dr
Scharf says:
81 pointed out to him the notoriou
| fact that, since the beginning of thf
| Republic. no Catholic had ever ru
for office without losing votes becaus
had ever been presented for appointment
to office without opposition to sUcn ap
pointment because of his religioa. an
that / considered the cry of the OF h,.
side against the Introduction of reiigio
into politics rank hypocrisy.
| Thanked by Bureau.
1.-The statement of the Rev. Fashe
Ketcham. the director of the Catholi
Indian Bureau, that I was never tb
/
Bureau is perfectly correct. nay ad
that I never represented myself a
such I Will. however, add that 1 re
ceiyed the thanks of the bureau, OF
fcially in its report, for valuable ser
vices rendered.
In conclusion | will say that tn
statements made by Senator Bard, eve
If they were absolutely accurate, los
| their force by reason of the long tim
he allowed to elapse before bringing hi
charges. He waited until the Legisla
ture of California discovered he was no
the right man to represent that Stat
in the Senate.
when I appeared before the Senat
| subcommittee on Indian affairs, tw
years ago, to present my case, Senate
( Rard should have denounced me the
and there If he really thought that tn
! propositions / made to him were in
proper. But not he. There was some
| thing doing in California and somethin
still TO be done.
Threats Of w. C. T. u.
But speaking of threats to affeC
legislation, If any were ever made
Congress they came from the w. c.
z. when they 1obbied for the passag
syof q bill to abolish the sale of liquC
/ at the House and Senate restaurant
4 and the bill against the army canteen.
"Congressmen and Senators Wei
, simply forced to vote for these measure
| against their convictions and inclinf
i tfons by sheer threats of defeat at II
1 polls.
I'll IF any Catholic organization did
, similar thing in behalf of any bill
which they might be interested hoV
! would go up from these people ths
l could be heard from Jacksonville
] Dawson
! Bonaparte Denounces