Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-03-07
THREATEN HITCHCOCK
Senators Intimate Impeachment
Proceedings.
CHARGED WITH UsURPATIoN,

Secretary Stands Unmoved and De.
cines to Revoke Order Withdrawing
Indian Lands His Unquestioned
Honesty Is Rarity Among Repub-
Iican Statesmen.
1t is evident that those western SEN
ators whose constituents have been
mixed up in the land frauds and those
senators whose togas are not entirely
clear of participation are intent on at
lacking Secretary Hitchcock, who has
stood like lion in the way of the land
grafters and Indian plunderers. The
immediate cause Of conflict is the with
drawal of 100000 acres of Indian
lands from allotment which congress
had ordered made. The withdrawal
order of Secretary Hitchcock is claim
ed by the special committee Of the
senate which has been Investigating
the citizenship and property rights Of
the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians to
be usurpation Of authority. But Sec
rotary Hitchcock was evidently I'M
moved by the threats Of the senate
committee when he appeared before
them and was requested to explain his
reasons for withdrawing the land,
which he declined to do. except to fur
nish the opinion Of Assistant Attorney
General Campbell. which cites num-
Der of similar cases justifying the ac-
ton Of the secretary.
The outrageous frauds discovered by
Secretary Hitchcock in the disposal Of
the Indian lands would seem to be
ample reason for his withdrawing the
lands for the time being until the de-
partment can ferret out the frauds
The senate committee thinks otherwise
and even intimates impeachment as a
threat to make the secretary rescind
his order Withdrawing the lands.
These threats, however, have no effect
upon Secretary Hitchcock, who claims
he has general control over the affairs
Of the Indians and the same right to
direct the policy to be pursued with
reference to their lands that he exer-
cises In directing the policy to be pur-
sued with reference to the public do
main.
To those Of us who have no interest
in the matter except to see exact JUS
tice done it would seem that the atti-
tude Of Secretary Hitchcock is to be
commended. for even If he has exceed
ed his authority and temporarily set
aside an act Of congress he has done so
to prevent fraud. Fraud vitiates all
contracts, and even an act Of congress
should be no exception to that most
ancient Of legal rules. 1t may be said
that even senators and congressman
have been smirched with these land
frauds, and such strenuous opposition
by this special senate committee to
Secretary Hitchcock for his persistent
prevention and punishment Of frauds
has a suspicious look. Honest sena-
tors should rather uphold the hands of
Secretary Hitchcock. even If he has
stretched his power, to prevent still
greater land frauds than have already
been discovered.
AS Secretary Hitchcock Is about the
only Republican high official that has
shown untlinching honesty, he will I'M
doubtedly be upheld by Democrats
But it must also be remembered that
the Republican administration Of the
Indian Territory has been constant
scandal, and most Of the officials APP
pointed there by the administration
have been a disgrace and constant
source Of corruption.