Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-12-07
THE LAND INVESTIGATION.


 It is not pleasant duty that con fronts the federal grand jury now in session here. From the best obtain able knowledge they are asked by fed eral officials to bring indictments for perjury against a group of men, some of whom have done much toward mak- ing the southwest what it is today and even more than that, have made Globe the flourishing city it now is. As to the merits of the case, only what has been given out by either side is known.
 About score of indictments for con spiracy to defraud the government of these lands have been found in New Mexico and the intentions of the fed eral officials is to secure indictments for perjury against the entry men in Globe, alleging that they committed per jury in subscribing to affidavits that the entries were made for themselves and for no other party or corporation, claiming that the coal lands secured by them were to be subsequently, trans ferred to a corporation, the Phelps Dodge company. The parties accused claim that nothing criminal had been done, that they had filed on the land for themselves and that no agreement or pact, written or verbal had ever been made between themselves and the cor pOration for transfer of the lands.
 It is generally known that threats and intimidation have been employed by agents of the government to secure evidence against the parties they wish ed to indict, as have promises of i'm munity from prosecution. Others than special agents of the government, have also been active in the effort to secure evidence, for purely personal reasons, and it is the work of these that creates prejudice in the minds of fair-spirited men gainst the prosecution, and even the proseuction, while using the in- formation secured in this way cannot but feel contempt for the weakling who takes advantage of the "immunity bath" or the self-appointed Pinkertons seeking the distress of others to grati- fy personal grudge.
 Charges have been made that the gov ernment attorneys used improper means to secure indictments in New Mexico. Whether or not it be true, such course would be and is impossible in Arizona, where men summoned on grand juries comprise the highest Amer ican citizenship; men who do not have to be driven to their duty and who erwise. If they are satisfied that the cases referred to them contain viola tions of the law, they will act as the law requires them to; if they believe there was no criminal intent on the part of those against whom the prose- cution is directed, they will also do their duty.
 The federal prosecutors claim that they were strenuously opposed by the high officials of New Mexico. No sim liar obstruction will be placed in their way here. All that is required of them is to deliver the goods, in the shape of evidence and they will not have to go gunning for justice.
 The men against whom indictments are sought have always represented the highest class of citizenship in the southwest, which we believe is not in- ferior to any in the land, and if they have come in conflict with the laws of the land, it was not, we are sure, done with criminal intent, or with intent to injure any individual or the United | States government.