The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-03-19
BRISTOL STILL
AFTER RASCALS
Receives Instruction from u.
S. Atty General to Push
Land Fraud Cases
PRESIDENT, Secretary TAFT
ROOT AND BONAPARTE FOR BRISTOL
Oregon u. S. Attorney Still After
Land Frauds Regardless of
Kittredge'S Opposition

Portland. Ore March 7.-United
States Attorney Bristol yesterday re-
ceived instructions from Washington
Immediately to proceed with the work
of the federal court in this state. The
order came direct from United States
Attorney General Bonaparte and will
be complied with. In the United
States court Mr.. Bristol asked Judge
Wolverton to cali grand jury tOgeth-
er and to assemble a petit jury as
soon as indictments can be reported
by the former. This means that the
federal court in Portland will again
be in full operation in about two
weeks.
Accompanying the order to resume
activities in the governments prose-
cutting branch here were instructions
authorizing Mr.. Bristol to appoint two
assistant United States attorneys.
1t will be the intention of Mr.. Bris-
tol first to clear up the large number
of cases that have accumulated on the
federal docket.
To Prosecute Land Thieves.
1t is considered more than probable
that Mr.. Bristol will be instructed to
proceed with the trial of the % pend
ing land fraud cases when he has dis
posed of the minor criminal and civil
business in his court. This is regard
ed as more than certain since Tracy G.
Becker, special assistant to the United
States Attorney, who is now in Cali
fornia, has announced that his work
in California will not permit him to
return to Oregon in time to take
charge of these cases, as had been ar
ranged, on April 13 next, when they
are scheduled to be taken up. This
announcement from Mr.. Becker is
considered specially significant, COM
ing as it does simultaneously with the
news from the attorney general that
Mr. Bristol is actively to assume the
duties of his office.
Mr.. Bristol said if it was the inten-
ton of the department of justice that
he should prosecute these cases and
he was ordered to do so, he would not
hesitate to assume the responsibility.
Bristol to Stay Indefinitely.
Further significance attaches to the
action of the attorney general on the
very eve of the meeting of the Oregon
delegation to consider recommending
another candidate permanently to
succeed Mr. Bristol. 1t is taken un-
mstakably to indicate that the prob
lem of selecting Mr.. Bristols success
sor is no nearer solved than it was be-
fore congress met and that an under
standing probably has been reached
by which the incumbent of the office
is to be retained indefinitely. Other
wise, it is argued, If it were to be a
matter of only week or two before
the delegation should select candi-
date favorable to the presidents the
attorney general would not be apt to
direct Mr.. Bristol to assume undisru'
ted possession of the office and an
point two assistants. 1t Is DeleVed
by a great many that Mr.. Bristol, by
keeping quiet and holding his own
counsel, coupled with the inability of
the delegation to agree on his success
sor, has prevailed against deterl!;ln-
ed effort to oust him. Some even con
slider that the same conditions may
keep Mr.. Bristol in office for some
time.
kittredge's Part In It.
Mr.. Bristol was first appointed Uni
ted States district attorney OF oregon
two years ago, by President Roose-
welt. upon a showing that he was
the one man to be relied on to prose
cute the land thieves of Oregon. Inc
land grafters Immediately organized
fight on Bristol, through Senator Full
ton. Senators Kittredge of South
Dakota and Foraker of Ohio constl-
tuting majority of subcommittee
of the committee on judiciary in the
United States senate, prevented the
confirmation of the Bristol appoint
ment. Kittredge held up the appoint
ment through two whole sessions OF
congress. Notwithstanding President
Roosevelt appointed him four times.
Fake charges were brought against
Bristol, that he sold out certain
clients 1t was explained to Kilt
redge by affidavit facts that the men
Bristol was alleged to have sold out
were not his clients at all, and Brlstoi
was cleared of the charge by cabinet
committee composed OF Metcalt' 80
naparte, Root and Taft.
Nevertheless Kittredge is still using
this charge in his campaign speech,
to defend himself, Notwithstanding
Fulton has admitted publicly that the
charge was groundless. Senator Kit
redge is also making it appear by MS
speeches that Bristol was ousted from
the position of United States attor-
new bv Roosevelt and that the attor-
ney general had broken with MN.
The above dispatch shows that bris.
tol is still United States attorney or
Oregon. acting under recess appoint
ment by President Roosevelt, anu
that he is proceeding against the lanu
thieves under direction or the attor'
ney general.