Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-31
CARTER FLAYS
HITCHCOCK FOR
CZARLIKE POSE
Insult to People Is
Resented
lndiserminate classification Of All
Persons as Grafters, Looters and
Conspirators Arouses Ire Of
Montana Senator
Bv Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-Severe
criticism of Secretary Hitchcock was
made in the senate today by Senator
Carter of Montana. The criticism was
based on the order of the secretary of
last December which prohibits the is
suance of a patent to land under any
of the land laws until after examna-
tion Of the ground by special agent,
Senator Carter some time ago pre-
sented a resolution which denies the
right of any executive officer to pre-
vent the granting of a patent when
the law under which it is claimed has
been carried out.
Mr.. Carter began by asserting that
the order referred to expressed the
final estimate of the secretary as to
the truth and veracity, the honor and
integrity and the good faith of all
settlers on the public domain in the
United States. "It likewise arraigns,'
he added, "all other persons seeking
title to public land under existing
laws.
"The order is without precedent in
the history of the government. 1t is
without parallel in the history of any
government, save as applied to PROV
inces, classes or individuals suspected
of reasonable designs. 1t is the cul-
mination of a policy unwarranted in
fact and founded only on baseless sus-
picion. The public records demon
strate that the order is not only need
less, but harsh cruel and oppressive.
For the last six years sensational
reports of evil doings in the public
lands states have been emanating from
the interior department from day to
day, so sweeping in their scope as to
create the impression in other sec
tions that the entire western pOpula-
tlon is, and has been, engaged in
veritable Saturnalia of criminal con-
spiracy. fraud and perjury over the
whole broad surface of the public do
main.
"Since 1901 insidious interviews and
boisterous proclamations have passed
from the interior department to the
public press, rejecting on all those
seeking title to public lands. The
words grafters land grabbers,' con-
spirators,' hooters of the public do
main, and like terms have become
part of the vernacular of the secre-
tary's office in reference to pubic lana
entry of all kinds.
"The routine work of the land serV-
ice has been pillaged in quest of items
for publication, rejecting on lnd1V1d-
uals and communities. The slightest
irregularity savoring of scandal or
possible sensation has been diligently
exploited before, during and after in
and no acquittals We're ever recorded
in these scandalous reports. The eX-
ploitation of evil reports has been a
conspicuous feature of the present
secretarys administration.
"Fraud has been constantly and Vo-
ciferously shouted from the housetops.
Every item or incident colorado by
suspicion into sensational appearance
has been given wings. Ordinary oc-
currences have been magnlhed INTO the
semblance of great events.
"On the assumption that our settlers
are land thieves, in the main the most
odious, oppressive and eXasperatlng
treatment has been meted out to them
in numerous cases for the last five or
six years.
Presidents of the public land states
no longer enjoy the presumption of IN
nocence but rather face the presump-
tion of guilt. They are charged with
conspiracy to despoil their own states,
to limit their future possibilities by op-
pressing themselves and with cheating
their government in the interest of
grasping spectators. No exceptions are
made by the order of December 18.
LAS to all final entrymen of public
land the secretary of the interior Vio-
lates the law by refusing to execute it.
He has violated the law by adding to
II conditions OppreSSlNely extending
time limits, thereby essentially chang
ing it's letter and intent. He has Vio-
lated the spirit of the law by prescrib-
ing odious methods of procedure neith-
er contemplated nor sanctioned by law.
His order would humiliate and if
possible degrade a very large and re-
spectacle body of worthy citizens by
dscredting their sworn testimony and
subjecting them to a system of espion-
age to emphasize the official discredit
All this. he it known, is to be done
without charge, pending save the gen.
eral indictment framed on the ground
less suspicious Of the secretary.
ITO the band of pharisees who base
their claims TO personal honesty and
public attention on the merCiless SLAM
dering Of their neighbors, it is useless
to submit any question in the eXpecta.
ton Of obtaining fair and impartia
treatment.
He who would establish his owr
reputation for virtue by pointing Ia the
alleged lack of that quality in Others
ere long becomes the victim Of a con
firmed habit Of assimilation. Such ar
individual will meet law and facts witt
opprobriOus epithets while attempting
to smother the logic Of figures beneath
an avalanche of innuendo and false
hood.
Prom that class of persons the goo
people settling the west need eXpec
neither Justice, comfort nor suppOrt
but only insults added to injury"
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