Semi-weekly herald., 1908-04-13
THE PORTER CASE.

against Hon. JOnu a. fOTteT Ol iScH-
yer, and w n. Bagby and J. A. Cop
pinger of Durango. disposes of all the
indictments returned by the United
States grand jury in Denver year
ago this coming June. AS stated on
previous occasions, The Herald will
not stand for fraud against the gov
ernment any more than 1t Will for
city or county grating. but from the
start we have not believed that Mr..
Porter and his associates were out
for the purpose of plundering the
United States. and that the indict-
ments returned against the dozen or
more citizens of La Plata county were
based on false Interpretation of the
law and desire to cater TO what ap-
peared to be a popular craze. That
the government has been defrauded
in many instances in different parts
of the country must be admitted and
II was taken for granted that those
getting large tracts of land in coal
country was for the purpose Of de-
frauding rhe government and those so
engaged in La Plata were classed
among the guilty. The bringing of
the indictments naturally had de-
pressing effect among those implicat-
ed as the government never leaves
any stones unturned to make good its
intentions, hence the uneasiness OF
the indicted and their immediate
friends The indictments also put a
stop 10 further enterprises in this sec
ton. 1t is well known fact that IL
takes men with money to develop
coal propositions, the same as with
other enterprises. II is safe to say
that the Porter Fuel company spent
several hundred thousand dollars be-
fore dollar OF profits was returned.
In fact the writer OF this article was
aware that the Porter company was
running behind and had not paid
dividend up to Il few years ago The
same is true of every other coal prop
erty in the county No individual was
able to open and develop our coal
fields. We must have combined cap
ital ~ handle our coal deposits the
same as II requires combined capital
TO build railroads and develop the
gold and silver mines of the country.
and it Is only natural that men at the
head of such corporations secure as
large holdings as possible. but be-
cause OF this IL was no sign that they
were engaged In defrauding the gov
eminent. In dismusing cases against
X. f. Sloan, Chas. f. Herr ana others
last fall Judge Lewis held that the
law had not been violated. The case
against Mr.. Porter was continued for
further investigation. At all times
Mr. Porter insisted on trial as he
wanted the facts brought out, and
when the final showdown came at
Pueblo the other day, U. 8. District
Attorney Ward dismissed the case.
And now, while we are on the sub
ject, those in authority should make
some effort TO hurry along the, exam
nation and report on the homestead
and pre-emption entries made in La
Plata and other southwestern c0un-
ties. A great many of our people who
have lived FIVE years and more on
homesteads are unable to obtain re-
ceiver's receipts upon making final
proof. In many cases this results in
great hardship. We know of in
setances where farmers drudged along
for years In poverty, expecting TO bor-
row little money when they proved
UP SO they could build homes, secure
better water rights, etc, TO find them
selves unable to secure dollar be-
cause they were unable to secure the
slightest kind of title from the gov
ernment. The Herald claims that
the legitimate farmer has been made
to suffer more than the coal men the
past year or two. and that immediate
relief should be forthcoming.
inasmuch as the men indicted were
heralded over the country as land and
coal thieves It is no more than right !
that they should be accorded the |
same publicity when cleared by the |
government of criminal wrongdoing, |
hence The Herald takes pleasure in |
reproducing news article as well as
an editorial from the Denver Repub-
lican, the latter being as follows:
In the United States district court
at Pueblo. on yesterday a Judgment
OF dismissal was entered In the case
ofsthe United States against MIR. John
A. Porter. w. N. Bagby and J. A. Cop
pinger. wherein the charge was con-
spiracy to defiaud the government Of
its title to certain alleged coal land,
situate near Durango.
The indictment against MIR. Por.
ter and his associates was secured
nearly . year ago. through The uaaus'.