Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-27
LEADERS FAVOR
RESIGNATION OF
JAMES SHERMAN
LAND DEAL EXPOSURE HAS
SENSATIONAL EFFECT
REPUBLICAN NOMINEE SHOULD
QUIT TICKET is OPINION
Connection Of Taft's Running Mate
with New Mexico Combine Shocks
Natlon-Death Blow Be-
lleved Dealt
Especial to The Herald !

N HICAGO, Oct. 26.-Following the
exposure of James S. Sherman,
~ Republican nominee for the vice
presidency by the New York World,
for his connection with the New Mex
leo Lumber and Development company,
which is charged with having attempt
ed to perpetrate gigantic land frauds,
numerous demands are being made
that Judge Taft's running mate retire
from the Republican national ticket.
The Worlds story, which created
a sensation in national politics, al
legged that Mr.. Sherman, who is
member of the rules committee of the
house and a powerful factor in the
deliberations Of that body, entered into
a corrupt deal not only as a stock
holder but as a director of the New
Mexico Lumber and Development COM
pany to plunder public lands.
1t is charged that Mr.. Sherman and
the officers of this company, who had
arranged to secure dummies" to enter
up these lands were advised by Sen
ator Spooner that their scheme was
too dangerous and that government Of
ficials might prosecute them on the
charge of fraudulent conspiracy, that
thew abandoned this plan, and under
the direction of Congressman Sherman
secured the passage of a Dill IN tne
house of representatives authorizing
the sale to themselves at SO per acre
of a vast amount of public lands which
were at the time worth at least $S per
acre.
Patterson Defeated Them
That this measure was defeated in
the senate by reason of the active ana
persistent opposition of Senator Patter-
son of Colorado, who discovered it's un-
worthy object.
The. scandal in which Sherman is in
volved was discussed to the exclusion
of all other political subjects in Chi
cago today.
Vice Chairman ]. E. Lamb of the
Democratic executive committee, as
well as many leading Republicans who
are in charge of the Chicago head
quarters, declared Mr.. Sherman should
retire from the Republican national
ticket
Exposure Is Startling
In an interview tonight he said.
"The story published this morning,
which is printed in full in the New
York World, is the most startling ex-
posure of the campaign, and If Mr..
James S. Sherman had any sense OF
propriety he would certainly withdraw
himself from the public gaze.
'Tt has been suspected by the coun-
try for several years and has been
charged by the New York Sun and
other Republican newspapers that
Sherman was holding office for selfish
purposes only. This charge is now
made absolutely certain by record evil
dence.
"Is a man who, as one of three men
who are now debating and controlling
the legislation of the house of repre-
sentatives and willing to prostitute his
public office for private gain, a fit man
to preside as president of the United
States senate?
RooseveIt's Own Hobby
"The prosecution and determination
of the men who have been engaged in
the Iarcenies of the public lands in the
west has been one of the hobbies of the
Roosevelt administration, which the
people have indorsed. and all-irre-
spective of party-have their eyes
turned toward Washington to see
whether the big stick will be drawn
today to drive from the Republican
national ticket the man who is con-
victed by public records of having en-
gagged In a conspiracy to plunder.
President Roosevelt has now as
sumed entire command of the Repub-.
Iican forces in this political campaign
and the public is anxious to know
whether he is willing that Mr.. Sher-
man, with this record behind him, shall
be elected vice president of the United
States, with but one man between him
and the highest office in the gift of the
people"