, 1906-12-03
THE MOTIVE OF M~YENDoRFF.

The alleged coal land frauds brought
to the surface by the Investigations of
the interstate commerce commission at
Denver and Salt Lake City have almost
thrown the yellow journals into con.
WILSON'S. The particular interest taxi
en- by the wyoming contingent of this
class of journals was because of the ties.
timony of one Myondorff, special agent
of the department of the interior, in
which the attempt was made to con
meet Senators Warren and Clark with
the transactions. The statement OF
Myendorlf is to the effect that Senator
Warren requested him in 1901 to de
fer a certain investigation until after
the election, for the reason that II
brought out before it might injure Sen
ator Clark's chances of reelection to
the United States senate. To this
statement Senator Warren makes
frank and positive denial.
Perhaps the witness did not know,
but the people of Wyoming know, as
stated by the senator, that there never
was any danger of the defeat of Sena
tor Clark. He had absolutely no oppo-
siuon, and if there had been, no one
would have found Senator Warren max,
ing an appeal for questionable aid from
an agent Of the governmental total
stranger in Wyoming and a man with.
out influence or power in this state.
The senator's answer to Myendorff,
when the latter asked him for advice,
was characteristic of the man, Follow
the law and your Instructions"
Wyoming people will accept Senator
Warren's statement as true, and yet
there are those who will be at a loss to
know the motive that impelled this
government agent to connect him with
h allegations of fraud against the
coal companies. What was the mo
tive? 1t is best explained by Myendorff
himself. He sought an interview with
Wyoming's senator for the purpose OF
asking his assistance in securing pro.
motion or a position in the consular
service. He knew Mr.. Warren was
close to the president and that he hat
a splendid standing in the departments
IIe laid his vase before the senator and
asked him for aid, and when promo
tfon did not come, his mind turned
against those whom he believed could
have given II to him. He was ambitious,
yet OF a morose, melancholy tempera-
ment, a combination of character that
rarely ever succeeds in accomplishing
lofty purposes. He brooded over the
matter to such an extent that, accord
ing to report, he mad a sensational at
tempt to take his life. Next heard of
him, he comes before the interstate
commerce commission with a far-fetch.
ed story connecting in a remote de
gree the Wyoming senators with the
alleged frauds. This was for the pur-
pose of %wreaking petty vengeance. to
get even because of the malice that
was in his heart.
Just one other influence appears to
have entered into this testimony of
Agent Myendorff. In his evidence it
was brought out hat he had received
a telegram from one Newhausen, spe-
cial inspector of the interior depart
ment, in which the following appeared:
f.. THE secretary expects good results
from your evidence before the commits,
sion. Fail in nothing" The fact that
it was deemed necessary to send such
a telegram to the witness is evidence
of lack of confidence in his integrity,
but when it is coupled with the further
fact that Secretary Hitchcock has
been pursuing Senator Warren with all
the power at his command, it is easy
TO be seen just what good results he
hoped to obtain. The secretary expect
ed the evidence of Myendorf to be suf-
~iciently strong to scalp" the senator.
What is the sun total of his statement?
Put In It's worst light, the evidence is
to the effect that Myendorff was treat
ed in a gentlemanly, courteous man
ner; that he was asked by the senator
to grant a political favor in aid of the
ell ction Of Senator Clark. No fraud
no corruption, no connivance with the
Union Pacific and other coal com,
panies to obtain fraudulent title to
coal lands. And the senator's reply TO
this is that Myendorf is a pipe-dream-
er; that he never at any time asked
him to eyade the performance of his
duty in the interests of anyone; that
his advice to him was to follow the law
and his instructions. How familiar
that sounds to ofice-holders who have
had occasion to ask advice from Sen
ator Warren. Follow the law and
your instructions" That is the kind of
doctrine he advocates. He has ever
taken great pride in seeing those whom
he has aided in their political aspira-
lions perform their duties efficiently
and honestly, the law and the instruc-
tons being their only guide.
The herculean efforts of the enemies
of Wyoming's senator's have failed to
connect them even in the remotest de
gree with coa frauds or coal land pur-
chases in Utah, Colorado and Wyo-