The Springfield herald., 1908-01-17
COOK ARRAICNS
The PRES |DENI
COLORADO CONGRESSMAN Sc
VERELY SCORES THE AD.
MlNISTRATlON
IN LAND FRAUD CASES
SAYS PROMINENT CITIZENS
WERE VICTIMS OF POLiT
icAL PERSECUTION.


which he has addressed to the Presi-
dent and vice president, Speaker Can
non and all members of Congress, tie
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-
tions of the public land laws in Colo
rado.
Congressman Cooks letter follows:
My Dear Sir-I most earnestly pro-
test against the continued high
handed. pernicious political persecu-
ton 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-
denl special agents and prosecutors
sent to Colorado, whose accusations
against innocent men are for the sole
purpose of securing personal promo
ton in Washington and the opportun-
ity Cor the governmental bureaus here
10 disseminate dlllOlS iHt pleSo
throughout the country misrepresenta-
tons as 10 timber land and coal
thieves that do not exist in Colorado.
Judge Robert T.. Lewis, of the
United States District Court, Denver.
on December oath, 26th, and 30th,
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
singing and severe rebuke by Judge
Lewis can appointee of the present
administrator
Active preparations were made by
certain high officials in Washington
for the prosecution of these cases.
They condemn honorable men of tul.
questioned integrity before they were
found guilty of any violation of the law
or even given an opportunity of de-
fense.
Judge Lewis decision gives univar-
sal satisfaction to all our people in
Colorado regardless of their political
affiliations and is 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
tention to editorial below from The
Denver Republican of December &c
1907; also editorial of December 25
1907, written by ex-senator T. NJ. Pat
terson of the kocky Mountain News
Denver"
Congressman Cook then continues:
"Referring to the action taken at the
last Cabinet meeting of the year, De
cember 31st, as to the Colorado cases,
the President criticised the judiciary
ana authorized the attorney general as
follows:
1.-The government will use every
means in its power to bring about in
the higher courts disapproval of the de-
cision rendered in Colorado by Judge
Lewis
"Our citizens are ready and willing
to meet the issue raised by the impul-
sive administration, but as to the pur-
pose on the part of the latter | can
not comprehend, unless it is to con
tinue in the 1imelight,' and therefore
the country will be saved-from the
bureaucrat's point of view.
The unprecedented and dictatorial
encroachment of the executive against
the executive and judicial departments
of the government is almost n daily
threat to the peace and prosperity of
the republic and should be knocked on
the head by the constitutional decis-
ion of the Supreme Court of the
United States.
'.An article in the Washington Star
of December 31st quotes the commits
sioner of the land office as saying:
"'They will call eighty violations of
the land laws in Colorado to the atten-
tion of the grand jury and some of
these may involve a number of per-
sons whom Judge Lewis has dis
charged
This is n subterfuge bordering on
the farcical and is disseminated to
the press of the country for the pur-
pose of misleading the public as to
so-called land frauds that do not and
have not existed in Colorado
Our citizens in Colorado have with
patience submitted to these persecu-
tions for alleged offenses. and every
fair minded citizen should join in com
mendation of the fact that we have in
our beloved country true judges who
have the courage of their convictions
and believe in justice to every citizen
and real square deal emphasized.
In conclusion | beg to say | as
sui.e the personal responsibility for
statements herein made"
Colorado visitors and members of
the Colorado delegation decline to dis
cuss Representative Cooks state
ment