Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-09

Ethan Allen Hitchcock. former Secre-
tary of the Interior and American am
bassador to Russia, died at the home of
his son-in-law. Lieut. Commander Sims
of the navy. 122s 18th street northwest.
at IL o'clock this morning. after an i'll
ness of several weeks. He was nearly
sevent y-four years of age.
His three daughters. Mrs. Sims. Mrs.
Shepley and Miss Margaret Hitchcock,
and Commander Sims and nephew.
George II. Hitchcock of ST. Louis, were
with him when he died. Mr. Hitchcock
remains will be taken TO ST. Louis to-
morrow. arriving there Sunday night
The funeral will be held Sunday. The
burial will be in Bellefontaine cemetery,
ST. Louis.
Mr. Hitchcock's final illness was brought
on by a severe cold, contracted in St
Louis six or seven weeks ago. About
three weeks ago he came here TO consult
specialists. He was confined to his bed
from the time he reached Washington
until his death. which was due to COM
plicaton of kidney, heart and pulmonary
troubles.
During the past week Mr. Hitchcock
grew steadily worse. He was so weak
last night that all hope was given up, his
possibly live through today
Land Fraud Prosecutions.
While he attained some fame as nn;s-
ter and later ambassador to Russia dur
ing the Spanish-American war. his primo
pal achievements were in connection with
the prosecution of the land fraud ca -,s
in the west during President Roose cit 8
administration.
Mr.. Hitchcock was brought from 81.
Petersburg To Nashi gton ana made
Secretary of the Interior in 1899 by Pres!
dent Mckinley. He was retained by
President Roosevelt until he retired vol
unfairly in 1897.
Soon after he became a member OF the
cabinet the land fraud matters in the west
became serious. Mr.. Hitchcock was
plunged into one of the bitterest and most
sensational fights a government officer
has ever had TO face.
He ordered a sweeping investigation.
and carried the fight boldly 10 men
higher up. Many prominent men, in
Guiding senators and representatives IN
Congress. were caught in his dragnet.
The animoSity of some Of the most poW-
erfu financial and political interests in
the west was aroused Countercharges
were flied against Mr.. Hitchcock. At the
White House and on the floor of the Sen
ate and the House the matter was
thrashed out again and again.
On one occasion Mr.. Hitchcock car
ried with him 10 a cabinet meeting an
immense bundle of papers. relating to tho
been filed against him and his reply TO
them He stated the case fully to Presi-
dent Roose1 cit and the other cabinet ofti-
GERS.
Had Roosevelt's Support.
The President listened to everything he
had to say. Then lie banged his fist
down on the ;able:
go after 'em, Hitchcock he said.
Give it To 'em. I'll back you TO tho
limit. Don't get worried or frightened,
and don't let 'em bluff you.
The task that Hitchcock assumed would
have discouraged a less fearless and de-
termined man. but through several years
he stuck to his work in the most relent-
less fashion and procured many convic-
tions. There WAS never Il question OF MS
honesty Try they would. his enemies
never succeeded in impedchlnS his III
teGrity.
The hard work naturally told in the end
on A man of his advanced years Afier
the situation had been cleaned up he re-
tired to private life. carr3ins with him
the absolute confidence of President
Roosevelt and the members OF the cahl-
net with whom he had served and me
officials who worked ufldef MIN III the III
terror Department
The sensationa lism that characterized
the prosecution of the land-fraud cases,
said man W no HdS dSSctidlCo WIN tAAo
work was not the fault of Secretary
Hitchcock but the fault of some of the
men he sent into the field. They antas-
onized the western people in number or
instances when. had a reasonable amount
of diplomacy been used, the same or
even better results would have been OBJ
tained without half the publicity
But the situation was a bad one. 1t Is
doubtful If any one could have done bet
ter than Mr.. Hitchcock. He possessed
ability, honesty and courage. or he would
1t..l..
did.
Men in High Places Prosecuted.
Among the important cases prosecuted
by Secretary Hitchcock were those against