The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-04
SENATOR FULTON
IN | 4 BAD LIGHT
Golfers Weekly Tells Story that
Oregon Senator Is Protect
ing Land Thieves.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The journal.
New York, Dec. 4. - The battle
against land frauds in Oregon has been
transferred to the United States SEN
picion upon Senator c.. W. Fulton Of
Oregon, as a protector of land thieves,
says Golfers Weekly, issued today in
this ,ci ty.s The contest, according to
Golfers, has been put up to the senate
thru the nomination. by President
Roosevelt, Of William c.. Bristol for
Oregon's United States district. attor-
ney against the wishes of Senator Full
ton. The nomination came about thru
the, effort Of the government to break
up the land graft in. Oregon: Golfers
says: s
Whole State Tainted.
"Three years ago, the whisper came
east to Washington that wholesale
frauds were being committed in connec-
ton with government lands in Oregon.
With it came the information that these
frauds permeated and tainted every cir
Gle of life. and every stratum Of bust
ness in the, state. Business men of high
lawyers at the head Of the bar were
attending to the details, and bankers
were financing the deals. Most of the
state and government officials, it. was
said,, were either directly concerned in
the frauds or else were on such init
mate personal terms with the criminals
that the United States government
could not rely on them to prosecute.
And even if there were an officials, in
Oregon fearless enough to take up the
work, he would face a public opinion
less.' r. ~ ~, * H. .&5
In view of these conditions some law
yer had to be had in Oregon, on whom
the government could rely, as it's dis
trict attorney. The incumbent Of the
office was John H. Hail., whose con-
science, says Collier g, tHtold him that
he himself was liable to prosecution.
He knew that at least one United
States senator from Oregon, two con-
gressmen, and half tn appointment poll
ticians in the state could not be saved
tween them and .Heney' Francis J..
Heney Of SanFrancisco, called in by the
government to take charge of the land
cases. Consequently Hall fought for
reappOlntment. ~:-.
Senators Form Plan.
But SenatorsMitchell and Fulton had
decided to shelve Hall in favor Of
George G. Brownell, president of the
II
TOMS able lieutenantss A. special gov
eminent agent probed3 Brownell's rec
ord and reported it to Washington : as
decidedly shady. Failing in the ap-
pointment of Brownell, Senators Mitch
ell and Fulton turned to -Brownell g
law partner, J. U. Campbell. But Hall
was still fighting. He went to- Wash
ington and saw the Oregon senators.
AS a result they decided to support
ron MI TO- RI oil
telling him that he and Campbell would
be d''-evidently meaning
from Indictment and prosecution.
|, Golfers story says that: last January
Senator Fulton tried to get possession
Of this letter, his brother offering the
recipient $500 for it.
Hall did protect Brownell and Camp
bell; at least they were not indicted. =
But when Heney took charge Of the
land fraud eases and began to suspect
cured Hall g removal from Office and
set about securing the appointment, Of
William G. Bristol, as district attorney,
and the president sent his nomination
to the senate.
Cry from Oregon. "
| Immediately there was a cry from
Oregon, and Senator Fulton in answer
| to that cry made the charge that Bits
toll had been guilty of unprofessional
| conduct. This was not sufficiently sup
ported, and the president stood by his
nomination. But the senate, respecting
the rule of senatorial courtesy" to
which Fulton appealed, adjourned with.
out confirming the appointment. Then
the president made a recess appoint
ment Of Bristol, and he has been push.
ing the prosecution Of the land cases
ever since. II
:. Now that the senate is again in SEES.
sion, Fulton is expected to continue
| his fight for senatorial courtesy. The
responsib ility rests with the senate, but
more directly with the committee on
! judiciary, and, on that committee, with
| Senators Foraker and Kittredge, who
at the last session 3.gave ear to sena,
tor Fulton, and refused to report a
nomination which President Roosevelt
had made to insure the prosecution of
criminals engaged in stealing the pub,
| lie domain Of the United States. ~ L
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