The San Francisco call., 1908-09-28


the. Creek nation, was directed by the
secretary of the interior to file suits in
equity for the cancellation of all deeds
10 town lots in the Creek nation where
the same had been secured by fraud.
Proceeding upon instructions, and
after full investigation, / find that
Governor e. y. Haskell, among others.
had secured deeds to quite a number of
lots in Muskogee by conspiracy and
fraud: that he had these lots scheduled
IN the name of dummies or straw
men, who lived In the state of Ohio
and elsewhere, and then had them quit
claim back to him without considera-
tion
BY this dishonest means he succeed
ed in getting deeds to a large number
or lots belonging to the Creek Indians
at half their appraised value. l have
hled quite a number of suits against
Governor Haskell in which conspiracy
and fraud is charged, and the manner
OF consummating it Is set out in detail.
HASKELL DARED NOT ANSWER
Haskell has not filed any answer in
any of these cases. He has simply.
through his attorney, filed dilatory mo-
tons. such as demurrers. pleading to
the Jurisdiction, etc. He dare not an
swer and deny the allegations set up
In our bills, such an answer would be
sworn lie, and known to be by the
large number of straw men and
fraud"
For this particular. act of the man
whose public record you indorse you
may rest assured the interior depart
ment viii endeavor to see that the
courts do justice to him.
When Mr.. Haskell was in New York
various Judgments We're filed against
him. ! will not at the moment discuss
the charges of perjury and fraud made
against him by Attorney Albert H.
Walker of Ohio in connection with the
sqit decided by Judge Lacombee in
March, 1902. But the records of the
county clerk of New York county show
that on February 21, 1900. judgment
for damages and costs amounting to
s42.235. .4S, recovered in the supreme
court of the county, was fled against
Charles y. Haskell.
On April 2. 1900. this judgment was
returned on the sheriff's execution sat
the remainder of II remains still unsat-
isfied- In this instance your proposal
that Mr.. Haskell be left TO the court
does not seem TO have produced thor
oughgoing justice
Neither shall I touch upon the vari-
Gus suits of all kinds now pending
against him for all kinds of reasons.
Thus it is reported. in the press under
judgment had been obtained against
Mr. Haskell by an attorney Of Arkansas
who was employed by him TO lobby be-
fore the city council of Muskogee to
get through a franchise. The attorn ey's
fee was never paid. But the franchise
was granted.
HASKELL LACKS PRINCIPLES
Nor again shall I touch upon the
fac simile published in the press of
September 25 last, showing Mr.. Has
organization to prevent union labor
from entering the city in which he
lived Indeed, as regards this state
ment, l wish distinctly to acquit Mr..
Haskell of being opposed on principles
to either trade unions or corporations,
for wish 10 acquit him of being op-
posed on principle 10 anything.
Now, as to Governor Haskells con-
nection with the Standard oil company
in Oklahoma. Governor Haskell ad-
vances the fact that the United States
government permitted the Standard
oil company on the same terms as any
and all other companies to enjoy the
legal privileges to which it was en-
titled on the Indian reservation of
Oklahoma, as his justification for hav-
ing given it Illegal privileges to which
il was not entitled in the state of
Oklahoma The excuse furnishes the
measure of Governor Haskells moral
The federal act of March IL. 1904
conferred upon the secretary of the in
terror the right to grant permits for
oil and gas pipe lines to cross Indian
reservations. Regulations to carry out
this law were drawn up by the Indian
office and approved by the secretary of
the interior April Il. 1904.
OIL TRUST NOT FAVORED
In compliance with the law and the
regulations the department of the in
terror permitted the Standard oil pipe
line company (the Prairie oil and "a :
line companies. such as the Oklahoma
National gas company, the Cary River
cement company and others (the Texas
and Gulf companies). all on the same
terms and under the same conditions
the right OF way across the Indian
reservations.
No preference or privilege was given
to any company that was not also
granted 10 all the others ANY other
action than that actually taken by the
as grossly improper as the actions OF
Governor Haskell himself.
The government is neither for nor
against any company. but it requires
each to obey the law. Its action was
precisely like the action which it took
for instance, in proceeding against the
Standard oil company in the rebate
matter. 1t did not thus proceed he
cause the Standard oil company was
involved, but because rebates had been
granted. 1t would have proceeded lust
as quickly against the rivals of the
oil itself. Our only concern was to
punish any guilty party
FOR Equal JUSTICE TO ALL
Our effort is to do equal Justice to
all and to exact Justice from all alike
VI are no more TO De SWaVed from
this course by desire TO punish a cor
poration than by desire to favor 1T no
matter whether it is the Standard oil
or any other company.
The permit of the national govern
ment. set forth in the Telegram of
the secretary of the interior to Gov
ernor Haskell of April % last was
merely to cross or use the restricted
allotments and tribal property of the
Indians; ii had nothing to DO with the
question of compliance with the laws
of the state of Oklahoma and conferred
no privileges to cross territory in ok
lahoma outside of these reseryafions
Governor Haskell refuses TO nerYaif
any proceedings to be taken against
the Standard oil company. although
this company declines to obey the law
of Oklahoma He claims that the
Standard oils rights were superior IN
the requirements of the Oklahoma con-
stitution, for which he was himself
mainly responsible: he took the de-
cision of this question away from fbe
courts and. against the opinion of his
attorney general, he decided ii in favor
of the Standard oil corporation.
OIL COMPANY A TRESPASSER
The attorney general of Oklahoma
has made the following statement in
this matter:
.'The presidents statement as to fhe
Prairie oil and gas company suit is less
than the whole matter in its whole in
iquify. because on the 23d of AnriI T