The state herald., 1908-01-17
COOK ARRAICNS
The PRESIDENT
COLORADO CONGRESSMAN sE.
VERELY SCORES THE Ap.
MlNIsTRATioN.
IN LAND FRAUD CASES
GAYS PROMINENT CITIZENS
WERE VICTIMS OF PoLIT
IcAL PERSECUTION.

Washington.-In. q personal lettei
which he has addressed to the Presi
dent and vice president. Speaker Can
non and all members of Congress, the
justices Of the Supreme Court, mem
bers Of the cabinet and the Washing
ton newspaper correspondents. George
w. Cook, Republican congressman.at-
large, from Colorado. severely ar
raigns the administration for its
course In prosecuting alleged infrac-
tons Of the public land laws in Colo
RADIO.
Congressman Cooks letter follows:
"My Dear Sir-I most earnestly pro-
test against the continued high
handed. pernicious political persecu-
tion made by certain of the depart
ment bureaus of the government in
this city, branding many Of our most
honorable, upright and law-abiding bus
mess men Of Colorado as criminals.
Their only information and au-
thority for such malicious statements
are reports made to them by non.resi-
dent special agents and prosecutors
sent to Colorado, whose accusations
against innocent men are for the sole
purpose Of securing personal promo
tion in Washington and the opportun-
ity for the governmental bureaus here
to disseminate among the press
throughout the country misrepresenta.
tions as TO timber land and coal
thieves that do not exist In Colorado
Judge Robert L. Lewis, Of the
United States District Court, Denver.
ON December 24th, 26th, and goth.
quashed all of the indictments against
some thirty Of our most worthy and
reputable citizens. several OF whom
have been engaged actively in business
In Colorado for thirty years, on the
ground that the government had abso
lutely failed to furnish any evidence
whatever against these men-a most
stinging and severe rebuke by Judge
Lewis ian appointee Of the present
administration.)
Active preparations were made by
certain high officials In Washington
for the prosecution of these cases.
They condemn honorable men of un.
questioned integrity before they were
found guilty Of any violation OF the law
or even given an opportunity Of de.
tense.
Judge Lewis decision gives univer-
sal satisfaction to all our people in
Colorado regardless Of their political
Affiliations and IL endorsed by our
press: In fact. every newspaper In the
state most heartily commends Judge
Lewis action. The truth has been vim
dicated,
'In this connection | beg to call at.
ten,ion to editorial below from The
Denver Republican OF December 2G.
1907; also editorial OF December 20.
1907. written by ex-senator I. NJ. Pat.
terson Of the Rocky Mountain News.
Denver"
Congressman Cook then continues:
Referring to the action taken at the
last Cabinet meeting OF the year. De
cember 3lst, as TO the Colorado cases.
the President criticised the judiciary
and authorized the attorney general us
follows:
1.-THE government will use every
means In It's power to bring about In
the higher courts disapproyal OF the de.
cislon rendered In Colorado by Judge
Lewis
"Our citizens are ready and willing
10 meet the issue raised by the impui.
siye administration, but as TO the pur.
pose on the part OF the latter can.
not comprehend. unless It is TO con.
tinuc In the limelight.' and therefore
the country will be saved-from the
burcaucrat's point OF view.
"The unprecedented and dlctntorial
cncroaehment OF the executive against
tho executive and judicial departments
OF tho government liz almost n daily
threat TO tho peace and prosperity OF
the republic and should be knocked on
the head by the constitutional decls.
ion OF tho Supreme Court OF tho
United States.
An article In the Washington Star
OF December 3ist quotes the commits.
sioncr Of the land office as saying:
They will call eighty violations OF
the land laws In Colorado TO the a,ten.
ton OF the grand Jury and some Of
these may Involve number Of per
sons whom Judge Lewis has dis.
charged
This In n subterfugc bordering on
tho farcicai and In disseminated to
the press OF the country for tho pur.
pose Of misleading the public as To
so-callcd land frauds that do not and
hnyo not existed In Colorado.
Our citizens In Colorado have with
patience submitted TO these poraecu.
tons for alleged offcnscs. and every
fair minded citizen should Join In com.
mcndntion OF the fact that we have In
our beloved country true judges who
have tho courage Of their convictions
and believe In justice to every citizen
and real square deal emphasized.
In conclusion ! beg 10 say | ne.
sninc the personal responsibility for
statements herein made"
Colorado visitors and members OF
tho Colorado delegation decline 10 dis.
cuHs Representative Cooks state
mcnt.