The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-30
ROOSEVELT PRAISES DANIELS.
HIS LETTER TO SENATOR CLARK
or WYOMING.
Hist ory or the Presidents Efforts, Since
successful, TO Have Rough Rider Made
Marshal OF .ArlzOna-Tells Of Danlels's
Services In the santiago Campaign.

WASHINGTON. D. C., April 29.-Benjamin
Franklin Daniels, Who was confirmed the
other day by the Senate as United States
Marshal for Arizona, has an interesting
record. In the early days when Wyoming
was a Territory Daniels with two or three
companions raided the Government corral
at Camp Carlin near Cheyenne and took
away a bunch of mules. Later he was capt
ured by the then Marshal Of the Territory,
Gustave Schnitger, and sent to the peni-
Tertiary. Like other ~convicts, he was
photographed and was posed for the pict-
ure. so that it showed distinctly that he
had lost one Of his ears. This photograph
later was the cause Of much trouble for
Daniels.
In 1901 he was nominated by the President
for United States Marshal for Arizona, and
a brief sta of his case was published,
emitting, however, the Wyoming episode,
and the matter came to the attention Of the
Hon. William R. Schnitger Of Cheyenne.
son of the former Marshal of Wyoming.
Mr.. Schnitger sent a photograph of Ben
Daniels. who had served in the Wyoming
P%enitentiary. 10 a member Of the Judiciary
Committee Of the Senate, and thus it became
known that the Daniels nominated for
Marshal was the identical Daniels who had
wears before stolen bDNtIllltll property
in Wyoming. The exposure of this part of
Daniels's career served 70 defeat his nomi-
nation. the President after much contro-
yersv had arisen in the Senate withdra wing
bis name.
During the last recess of the Senate
the President again appointed Daniels,
and when Congress met in December last
, he again sent his nam. to the Senate for
contamination 1TnIar Ia 10 nf DaCemhnr &
1905. the President sent to Senator C. d.
Clark. chairman of the Senate Committee
on the Judiciary, an interesting letter,
which is q comprehensive history Of the
Presidents efforts. now crowned with
SUCCESS. to have Daniels made Marshal OF
Arizona by and with advice and consent
of the Senate" The President letter, never
before printed, is as follows.
MITE HOUSE,
WASHINGTON, Dec. S. 1908.
NV DEAR SENATOR CLARK | have sent to
the Senate the name OF BENJAMIN Franklin
Daniels, now serving under a recess appoint
ment as Marshal OF Arizona. This name |
presume will go before your committee ana
| would like YOU to put before the
certain facts about Mr.. Daniels. He was
born and brought up in the West when IL was
a very wild West indeed. and his early life
was passed in conditions which have now
as completely vanished from this country
az the age OF the vikings has vanished from
Europe, and Daniels and the men like him
who were the only ones who could grapple
effectively with these conditions bore no
small resemblance In both their virtues and
their faults TO these same Sikings
By the time he was eighteen Daniels was
a frontier scout and ranger, and had been In
fight after fight with the Indians, as well as
with white desperadoes; and for ten wears az
terward he lived a turbulent life on the re-
mote frontier of civilization.
He repeatedly rendered stanch service
TO the courts of Justice. serving with dis
tinction in the dangerous position OF carry
ing out the behests Of the courts. even while
living this wild. reckless life. but he finally
got in with a set Of men of bad character and
took part in the robbery under arms Of a
band of horses or mules from a Government
agency. The older criminals escaped. the
younger man was captured. tried and con-
victed and served a term in the penitentiary.
Since coming out he has served In many
important positions with great credit; and
both before and after the commission OF the
crime he displayed signal heroism in support
ing the cause OF law and order az the peril
Of his life. He was deputy marshal under
Bat Masterson in Dodge City when Dodge
City was the toughest town on this continent
z and when only the garnest kind OF man
p could do good work in such a position. Mr..
Masterson. who is now himself a deputy
marshal in New York city, ~testifles in the
warmest terms 10 Daniels's efficiency, courage
and honesty. He has many other testi-
monials Of the highest kind.
The President ~encloses warm testimonials
from Alexander o. Brodie, former Gov
ernor of Arizona, and from r. D.. Dodge,
special officer of Wells Fargo Company.
Four wears ago I nominated him for this
position. He was confirmed and I COM
missioned him, but then found out that he
had been in the penitentiary and cancelled
the appointment because he had not frankly
told ME the facts. But I think that he has
atoned for his fault, Since ] thus cancelled
his appointment he has served under the
Territorial government as warden OF the
penitentiary and has donI we'll, The Cover
nor Of the Territory and the Chief Justice
wired me az follows about him.
"PHaNIx, Ariz. Dec. g. 1905.
THE PRESIDENT: Ben Daniels's admins
tration as superintendent of the Territorial
prison " as an excellent one. both as disclosed
by the record and by comment OF those who
know. ] have had no opportunity to know
of his administration of the office OF United
States Marshal during his short incumbency.
but the fact that ] hear no complaints signi-
fes that II is good,
JOSEPH H. KIBBEY, Governor
"PHGNIX, Ariz, Dec. S, 1905.
TIRE PRESIDENT: Daniels's record as
NdIuel VI DtIlNtllllo = 'd . NV 30
Marshal he has been satisfactory 10 the court
in the performance OF his duties. As you
know, he is fearless and energetic. He has
a great desire to acquit himself well in his
responsible position and ] believe he will
do so, EDWARD KENT, Chlei Justice
My own acquaintance with him dates from
1898. when he Joined my regiment. ] was
In close touch with him all during the Santi-
ago campaign, because l speedily found that
he was one Of the men in whom l could place
entire trust and whom | could use in the
most ha zardous and responsible service. A
more gallant, more loyal and more trust
worthy soldier never wore the United States
uniform. Not only was he absolutely in
different 10 personal danger Of any kind.
but he showed excellent judgment, was a
strong steadying influence in the regiment
In every way, and was as helpful in camp
as in battle.
He was devoted TO his comrades in sickness
as he was Indifferent 10 his own life in battle.
He nursed his comrades when down with the
fever with assiduous care. al the very time
/ that he himself was so sick with the fever
that he came right 10 deaths door. In battle
! repeatedly i~ntrusted him with the per-
foEp1ance of hazardous duty. For example.