The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-02-18
INNOCENT MITCHELL" !"
WHAT NEW YORK PAPERS
SAY ABOUT THE REV.
ELATIONS.

Questions Now Asked About Mitch
ell-Jeer at His Protestations
His Injunction, "Burn
This Letter." and His
Innocence No Long
er Discussed.
Washington, Feb. 1.-The New
York World today prints the fol-
lowing editorial heaedd. ssThe In
nocent MITCHELL
"lt was not many weeksago that
the indicted Senator Mitchell, of
Oregon, with tears streaming from
his eyes, defended himself before
the United States Senate on charg.
es made by the federal grand jury.
II. seemed impossible for any human
i being TO be more innocent than
Mitchell appeared to be while he
was delivering this apostrophe to
his own guiltlessness. Now a
ruthless government has made pub
lie letter written by Mitchell to
his law partner, Judge Tanner, in
which the senator practically in
structed Tanner how to testify be-
fore the grand jury. These illum-
mating postscripts were attached
to this bit of correspondence:
P. S.-DonI show Harry this
letter, Or tell him anything in it.
Don't let him see our books. Tell
him nothing.
P. S.-Keep all important pa
pers in safe. and safe and Office
carefully locked, as these scoundrels
will getsin ifposaibls.
r. s. BURN THIS without fail.
sThe sscoundrels too evidently
got in. Will Mitchell be able to
keep outF'
The New York Evening Post
,Esays editorially:
sEsSsss Senator John II Mitchell, who
in his long public career has en-
|joyed a number of opportunities of
generating himself. is now facing
another. His law partner has turn
ed states evidence. One of the
documents upon which Mitchell re-
lied for defense was an agreement,
presumably signed March 5, 1901,
by which Mitchell was to share
none of the returns from the land
Office business of the firm. This
compact according to the. confes-
sion of Tanner, was not signed IN
til December, after Mitchell's name
had already been involved in the
land scandals. There is also a
lengthy and interesting letter in
which Mitchell states 10 Tanner
facts as Mitchell wishess.th to
be understood, and as Mitchell
= hopes Tanner will remember them
! This epistle, like others famous
! in political history, contains sever
! al postscrip's-the last one, Bur,
; this, without fall Mitchell is
simply under indictment; he has
not yet been tried and convicted.
) However panied he may be by these
various disclosures, he can hardly
be surprised that his fearful protes
: lotions of innocence are received
with jeers."
;, The Washington Times today
!. prints the following editorial which
: accurately reflects public sentimen |
, at the national capital:
g Congressman Williamson, OF
I Oregon, is toe latest to join the ar
L my of distinguished indicted. Mr..
/ Williamson has paid to the circum-
stances the Difference of retiring
from his accustomed seat. This l.
a wholly proper move, and Repre-
sentative Hermann, of the same
state. would be benefited were some
good friend to impress this truth
upon him The fact that man i.
indicted does not argue that he is
guilty, but that bis demonstration
Of the fact of innocence is due anc
S. seemly. Until this has resulted
the role of modesty is most becom
ing.
Ihere nave been immense lane
. frauds. The names of senators ant
representatives have been mixec
up in these. It would be saddep
ing revelation that any in public
II Office had been SO untrue to the peo
. Eple, but, if there is guilt, the de
y mand is that it be pointed out ane
" nobody spared. Meanwhile tn
verdict be withheld. But mean
while also, the persons accused vii
excite reprobation if they insist up
on ignoring the Indictment return
ed against them and treating tb
: " matter as though nobody cared"