The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-09-07

fUO ulu nUu KNOW Tue mann laws 'i
he fellows rascally career.
The West Is blanketed, on the sun.
'et side of the Missouri river, with
.hese mems power and influence. My
Denver Sunday school friend Is not
The only one who sits In the Senate.
The case OF Senator Mitchell OF Ore
son, recently indicted by the grand
Jury, with lot of his co-conspirat-
ors. for various land frauds, Is still
fresh In the public mind. Besides
there are very many OF the smaller
fry from the same school OF fish hll-
ing seats in the lower house Of Con-
gress.
But as a general proposition the |
biggest and most notorious OF these /
gIafters are not in official positions;
neither are they seeking them. In
the language of one bold buccaneer
of the order, ''It's easier to own
Judge than TO be ONE The same
rule seems to apply to legislators,
congressman, senators, governors,
department officials and all the rest
of those who may, might, could,
would or should he of use In places
of authority.
What seems on the face OF II TO be
rather the most curious feature of
the matter Is this: Everybody knows
the facts-not the details, OF course,
but the big fact Of the thieving and
something OF the means by which 1t
has been accomplished. In the ma
ture OF things the plunder cannot be
concealed. nor can the trail Of the
plunderers be covered. The Federal
Land Department cannot plead ig-
norance; every Official In 1t, from the
highest TO the lowest, has had knowl-
edge OF the iniquity for years upon
years. Surveyors, inspectors, SUBJ
inspectors and agents OF all sorts by
the score have been going about
practically without intermission,
charged with oversight OF affairs.
1t is not against the law OF probabIi-
titles to suppose that they have all
been blind, deaf or foolish? The
registers aud receivers OF the Local
offices in the field have always known
the main facts and most OF the de
tails; more, they have coUnived al
the stealing. Not few have beer
bought outright, as those Pacific
cases disclose, and as will soon b,
made evident In Montana and Ne
braska; getting either a lump sum In
cash from time to time, OF a smal
rake-off, or support from the ring II
their efforts toward advancement II
the service or other political prefer
ment.
Some have been honest, In th'
half.hearted. everyday use OF tn
! word; taking no bribes that could b
| technically described as such; real
izing Just what was going on, bu
e realizing further that 1t would avail
, nothing for them to blow their fee
BILE breath against this trade wind
: and realizing still further that pei
: nicious activity In any move towar
reform had cost many register an
e receiver his Job. When all was sal
t they were not responsible heads {
v affairs in the department; and NEAR
e while, until the reforms come, iii
II comfortable income OF the job
II made up from fees-so much spc
e cash for every fraud that Is blinke
/? at and allowed to pass. At Washing
J. ton the situation is otherwise; Il
l. there responsibility rests there are th
+? right and the power OF initiative
= The Interior Department, and pa
|. ticuIarly the general land office, hi
:? been aware of the thefts almost sin'
D. their inception; knowledge has bee
,e not merely constructive, but actua
n The official records and letter-hle
es are reeking with information amp
b. sufficient to Justify an upheavel
D. any time these last twenty years.
ly has been absolutely shown that Jol
SO A. Benson of California, the premi
t. thief OF the lot In daring audacit
On was hail.fellow for dozen years
H. more with the gentlemen OF q
b. Washington ofhces, coming and goi
and conducting himself like Wis
ny ing nabob; and he was not a
,ol lonesome. II the sunlight Is eS
ri. let into the interior recesses OF Il
n branch of the Interior DepartmeI
d. il will certainly be apparent I'll
d. Benson had plenty OF company OF
.es own kind, official and otber.ise.
tn And lastly, public land affairs 4
lis now in charge OF former Covert
Is. Richards OF Wyoming. Mr.. Richai
st; is man of good Tepute. There
OF nothing to be said against bim
all the matter of his native intesri
ip. But he comes from Wyoming; as &
bis renor. bis ofiicial residence was Cb
III enne in the heart Of the ca;
oy- country, where some Of the graves,
nee these crimes have long been carr
UT. on. Cheyenne was headquarters
US many of the biggest of the THE
ID. MI. Richards imeaning no di
spect) Is what is konwD as IN
ore er." with a native faculty Of getl
sha ,sonnIa and kaaninl