The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-12-07
HELPED BROWNELL
Fulton Attacked by Golfers
Weekly for Opposing Bristol
IND0RSED MITCHELL'S LETTER
Senator'S Brother Accused of Having
offered $500 for Possession
of the Letter.

A New York special dispatch says
that apropos of the denomination Of
William @. Bristol by President
Roosevelt to be United States attorney
for Oregon, Golfers Weekly of that
city publishes in its issue dated for
| tomorrow an extended account of the
controversy, which it claims has been
maintained over this appointment
by Senator Fulton in opposition to the
action of President Roosevelt and
Special Prosecutor Francis J. Heney.
| Golfers article says, in part, that
| the story of Bristol's nomination is an
incident in the history of the Oregon
land frauds and will recite in detail
the various incidents which led to the
selection of Heney to prosecute the
| participants in these frauds.
It was at the critical period, Col
lier's states. that Senators Fulton and
Mitchell had under consideration the
recommendation of successor to
United States District Attorney John
H. Hall. This then was the situation.
Fulton and Mitchell earnestly desired
the appointment of George d. Brow
nell. Failing in that they wanted the
appointment of Brownell's law part
ner. James U. Campbell.
On the other hand. Hall was de-
termined on his own reappointment,
and he threatened his rivals with
prosecution in order to force them out
of the race. Then he hastened to
Washington to secure the senatorial
Endorsement of the bargain he had
made.
i What took place at this conference
with Senator Fulton and Mitchell is
clearly set down in most remarkable
letter. It bears the date of January
18, 1904, and at the top of the first
page, in the hand writing of Senator
Mitchell, is the warming: Strictly
confidential.
4 The letter, which was sent TO Brow.
nell. covers four typewriter pages.
The important part of the communi-
caion is here given as follows:
''My Dear Senator and Friend:
have received your several dispatches
since Hall left Portland, and since ht
arrived here, and both Senator Fulton
and myself have done everything in
our power to protect you, and also
Campbell, who is also under the bal
of Greene and others. as we learn tt
our very great surprise and regret
and without going into particulars
think l have Eeen aEle to SO arraug'
matters as to protect you both.
"Of course, Friend Brownell, this
letter is to you in the strictest con
fdence. The best way for the presen
is to drop all talk about the distric
attorneyship and let the matter les
just precisely where it stands for th
present. Both Fulton and have, TO
the purpose of fully protecting you
interests, gone very much farther il
certain direction than we ever sup
J posed we would. / cannot explain
fully to you until see you just what
mean.
Hall leaves this evening for home
ii My advice would be for you to sa.
nothing to him whatever, unless b
says something to you. just let tn
matter driftsfor the present. This
! all important.
Faithfully and sincerely you
friend,
(Signed. "JOHN H. MITCHELL. "
! 81 have read the above and full
concur in it.
Al (Signed. &C. W. FULTON"
AS to this letter Golfers article
. says:
"What Senator Fulton thinks O.
! the significance of this letter may b
inferred from the fact that on tb
= fourth day Of January 1906, Senate
3 Fulton's brother, by appointment, me
q the recipient of the letter .and offere
him $500 for it. When Bfownell di
not produce it g. Clyde Fulton warne
= him in this language:
: "'If you have given up the Co
: respondence of Mitchell and m
y brother it will be your ruin, and 20
will be traitor and an outcast. =
The article charges that Senate
Fulton intends taking advantage I
senatorial courtesy to continue
thwart the wishes of the presiden
who desires the confirmation of Bri
+ tol, and in conclusion says:
4 "Wnile the responsibility rests {
the senate as whole, the direct bur
gu must be borne by two members
the committee on judiciary, Senate
Foraker and Kittredge. They kno
what manner. of man,is their colleag
& from Oregon. Yet they gave ear
Senator Fulton aud Erefused to repc
! the nomination which Preside
B Roosevelt had made to insure t
4 prosecution of the criminals engag
in stealing the public domain of t
United States. =
In Washington Senator Fulton {
pressed much indignation when shot
copy of Golfers Weekly for the Ct
rent week attacking his action in
Bristol case Eand charging bim wi
attempting to bny the original Of
~ 1afa Eanufor Mifahalisa lattar