The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-09
Nor so BLIND THAT HE COULDN'T


lust before the Adjournment W
Congress, Senator Gore startled the
country with the statement that an
at,empt to bribe him had been MADE
by various and sundry persons VINO
were interested in helping the choe-
taw and Chickasaw Indians to ma
purchaser for their coal, asphalt ana
.,,o- lands There was instant and
indignant denial and a rush of the IN
nocant to washington to demand re-
traction of the infamous charges made
AGAINST them or thorough investiga-
ION The investigation was ordered and
Is now In progress. So far as it has
rone, ii looks as II the blind Senator
e-on oklahoma has really caught
some OF the rascals who have been
1svinr plans for the wholesale rob-
berry OF the indians.
the indians own $4,000 acres of
coal and other valuable lands for
which New York syndicate is said
TO have offered s2O,ooc.ooo-a state
nent was made several days $50 that
The lands were worth something like
100000 oOo-and the broker or engi-
neer of the deal was 10 receive $4,000
600 for working the thing through for
the Indians 1t was while the nego-
tiations were in progress that Senator
Gore was offered $4,000 If he would
get out of the way. He went straight
way and told the Senate about IT, and
it looks as If he is going to prove
everything he said and more, too
This is better than anything that any
other Senator with good eyesisht has
ever attempted to do before, and the
blind man is leading the American
people to see the enormities of ouI
Indian policy. There is no reason, IT
common honesty, why it should have
been necessary for the Indians to dea
through any agent for the disposition
of their property. the Government be
ing their guardian.
"The Government" says the New
York World, sis their rightful agen
asn any sale, and it can be trusted t.
safeguard their interests Is that SO
When he was President Mr.. Roosevelt
disapproyed a lot of contracts made
by the principal broker in this mat
ter. After he became President, Sem
ator Curtis, of Kansas, and Vicc-Pres-
ident Sherman. former chairman OF
the House Committee on Indian At
rairs. advised Mr.. Taft against
ahe contracts now held by
this se,fsame broker or agent:
hut what has been done by the
Government to advise the Indians OF
the efforts that have been made to
.swlndle them out of their property?
1T is well known tTat THO Indian lob
,byists have been swarming about the
,sress. and until Senator Gore dcscrib-
ed the attempt that had been made to
seduce him not one word was said to
Senate or House against the PERM
cious activity of the combination to
steal the property of the Indians 1T
is not question of personalities or
politics" says The World. "a colossal
fraud has been attempted at The ex-
,pense of the Indians. Reputable wit
nesses on the stand have charged that
devious and corrupt methods were at
tempted with the purpose of CONSUME
mating the fraud. The Congressional
investigating committee must lay bare
all the facts. 1t must go TO the bot
ION of Sais grave national scandal
Surely, the Government has permit
ted enough rascality In the treatment
OF the Indians TO try to help them now
save this little nest egg from the
thieves who would take it also,
1t took a blind man 10 find out thI.
precious bit of business" but nov
that the country has been stirred from
Its sleep we may hope that this dea
shall not be carried through.
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JUST LIKE STUART.