Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-04-07

eminent itself. and those who in
large way conduct its business?
Some time ago the government
flooded the west with special agents.
and followed them up with special
prosecutors. The homesteader was
the first object of attack That he
was harrassed in the assertion of
rights granted him by the government
there is abundant proof. Indeed,
under the theory of the law that
even the accused must be given the
benefit Of all doubts. all presidents
have been set aside by special agents
in the vigor of their campaign in con-
nection with that class, for they have
been more harsh in their treatment
of suspicious cases than any court
would have been. In the cases of
some other homesteaders they have at
times been absolutely cruel There
will be denial of this charge. which.
by the way. is not a new one; but
the records viii bear out the accusa-
ton in any number of cases. The
files of certain members of congress
contain evidence to support the in
dictment. which has been made in
the nations highest forums in such
manner that no emphasis can be laid
thereon by anything that may be said
here.
Apparently the homesteader's blood
was not rich enough to satitate
the special agent appetite. So he
moved up a notch and attacked
United States senator here and there.
The evidence revealed how wholly
vicious was the action in at least one
case familiar to all Idahoans and how
hollow the allegations. Following
on a cabinet officer has been made
the target of attack-and in all these
cases. homesteader and public Off
cial-the same tactics have been
adopted tactics that should cause
the blush of shame to mantle the
cheek of justice.
Wherein is the federal government
blamable? In not disciplining more
of its representatives after having
demanded a high standard. just as
any respectable business house would
do in the case of those employees
whose duties throw them in touch
with customers whose credits and
standing must be Investigated.
The government special agent has
not hesitated to stoop to theft Of pri-
vate correspondence. He has gotten
down into the burglar class and the
government has winked at it. Could
any business man trust one whom
he knew to be guilty Of such prac-
tice? Would he not feel that such
a one would turn vituperously against
him if he should for any reason,
be dismissed? Would he feel that
any business secrets were safe in
the possession Of such man? EN-
phatically no. And he would not
continue in his employ one who would
engage in such methods. Even
though he might temporarily profit
through gaining knowledge by under
hand means of operations of his
rivals or of his debtors. if he tolera-
ted that sort of thing. he would be
exposed to public contumely as one
guilty Of dishonorable conduct
Yet the government has en-
couraged such practices on the part
Of its. special agents. 1t has not
enforced a high standard. but has
permitted some of the lowest. It has
put the man who has taken mp a
piece of land ON the same plane as
the counterfeiter and the mail robber
through official recognition of the
means adopted to secure evidence. i"
which, in most cases. could have been
obtained by the adoption of methods
wholly at variance from those that
too often have been employed.
There are special agents who work
along proper lines and who give the
government good service. Moreover
they do not proceed on the theory
that the homesteader is a criminal
and if they find he IS right they will
protect him. The wrong kind of a
special agent manufactures a case if
necessary out of the shreds of sus-
phion that may always be available
and then attempts TO force through
his program at an hazards with the