Evening star., 1912-09-11
HEEDS CALL TO DUTY
Robert G. Valentines Reason
for Leaving indian Bureau.
JOINS THE PROGRESSIvES
Declares His Purpose of Assisting
Roosevelt in Massachusetts,.
HERBERT J. BROWNIES VERSION
Says Indian Commissioner Sought to
Embarrass Mr.. Taft and Resigna-
tion Was Requested.
HERBERT J. BROWNIES VERSION


and declares he expects TO give his best
effort TO carrying Massachusetts for Col
Roosevelt at the November election. Ths
progressive party. he declares carries
1.-The leaven, the yeast, the true hope for
the future" He will probably continue
as commissioner until his successor
qualities.
+. II. Abbott. at present assistant In
dian commissioner. is looked upon as hav-
ing a good chance to succeed Mr. valen-
tine. Bdgar b. Merritt. law clerk of tho
Indian bureau. has also been mentionei
as a possible successor.
Mr. Valentine says his desire to work
in the progressive party is his only wish
for quitting the Indian bureau. He makes
no reference to Order COL. which he issued
some months ago. forbidding the wearins
of religious garbs by teachers in the In
dian schools. which in effect barred MEM
bers OF Roman Catholic orders from the
teachers list. This order was subse-
quently suspended by President Taft. aud
is now in the hands of Secretary Fisher.
following a formal hearing.
The order the Indian commissionerde-
clared. was issued on the ground that
il was in conformity with the prin-
ciple OF the separation of church AMI
state. but Herbert j. Browne, who Is
an Investigator for the Henry George,
jr., subcommittee OF the House which
recently reported on the taxation I'm
the District OF Columbia, and who pre-
ferred charges against Commission
Valentines administration several
months ago. which charges were heard
by the Graham committee OF tn
House OF Representatives. declared
that the order was issued To EN-
barrass the President.
In answer Mr. Valentine said this aft
ernoon: There is absolutely no founda-
ton for any one making that statement
The order was issued because situation
demanded It."
Browne Reiterates Accusation.
Mr.. Browne said today he is credit
ably informed that months ago Mr.
Valentine wrote to DR.. Lyman Abbott
OF New York, a close friend OF Col
Roosevelt. that the bull moose move
ment was the salvation Of the country
The fact was brought to the attention
of President Taft. The chief exeeu-
tive, 1T is understood. took the view
that il the Indian commissioner Were
summarily removed the action would
be misconstrued by the representatives
OF Protestant bodies who upheld the
garb order Of the commissioner. Mr.
Valentine was therefore allowed {"
continue in Office. The President, Mr..
Browne says. was. however. awaiting
a favorable opportunity to call for the
resignation of the Indian commissioner =
when influence in behalf OF Mr.. NA1-
entine was brought to bear on tho
White House by Senator Oliver OF
Pennsylvania and allied interests of the
Sage Foundation I'm New York.
Mr.. Valentine issued a denial that he
was to resign, after, IL is said, he was
practically assured he would be allowed
to hold on. With the election in Maine
over, Mr.. Browne declares. the President
evidently thought the time had arrived
for Mr.. Valentine to resign. and he called
for the resignation, which was given at
once.
Mr.. Valentines Statement.
In his statement Mr.. Valentine says
his work in the Indian bureau during the
past seven years has been one along the
lines OF social service.
AS early as last winter. he declares. he
felt that the progressive movement was
the beginning Of a new day in the bet
terment of living conditions throughout
the country. and the movement seemed
to ':be about to rehumanize and revftaize
the republican party" Whether defeated
or victorious in the coming election. he
says, the movement will serve its purpose
we'll.
"Snce the formation of the progressive
party" he continued. 1T has been known
that l was heart and soul for its cause
and that would vote for It. ] could not.
of course, take part i'm its work while at
the head of the Indian office. 1T was
known that L WAS anxious to leave omce.
and, i'm fact I should have done so but
for the obligation / felt not to leave the
Indians and the Indian service IL ! could
properly stay until a satisfactory sue
cessor could be found and his appoint
ment assured. With Secretary Fisher and
A ntn "A L., s~l.
Of the Interior Department. that part oe
Indian affairs which passes through tho
department Is safe.
I'm the Indian service. above most other
bureaus. the opportunities for graft and
political patronage are such that ths
politician and the privilege-seeker will he
INCREASINGLY active. and vigilance against
them must be equally active. In ths
wrong hands most OF the work OF the.
last decade can be undone I'm few
months, and also, In a few months. irreN
ocahie new injuries can be laid at tho
roots of the future. For months l haV"
been waiting for the kind of successo
who would have all these things at heafc
"a man OF militant honesty and capacit.
/ feel now that l should wait no longer
Heeds Call Of Bull Moose.
"Inasmuch as the President knows the
needs Of the Indian service and the forces
of evil that are to be guarded against,
need not refuse the call of duty that tho
progressive party program makes on me.
through fear that the Indians will be left
unprotected. On the contrary. / believe
when confronted with the necessity thu
President will appoint some one having
the standards Of Miss Lathrop, at ths
head OF the children's bureau. or OF Mr..
Conant, at the head of the bureau OF COR :
porations.
THE work of the Indian service 10.
from every honorable point OF view, a
non- political work OF social service. L
would not now leave 1T except Tor what
seems to me a pressing obligation 10
take part I'm the larger work or the pro-
gressive party on the same lines"
Charges Against Valentine.
Charges that Robert G. Valentine. who
resigned yesterday as commissioner OF
rrdian affairs. took intoxicating liquor
an to an Indian reservation in Oklahoma
during an official visit. will be investi-'
goted nv the Department OF Justice.
The allegation that the commissioner
had violated the law was made several
,nonths ago at congressional hearing
hasnra a committee investigating the In.
Alan once. No action was taken then,
a person whose name IL not disclosed
recently called the charges TO the atten-
ma informed by Acting Attorney General
Harr that the subject would be taken up.
"Five-Cent Bank" President Dead.
WORCESTER. Mass, September IL
Henry M. witter. president of the wor-
rv;x,o Cnnfc govipO~ Rank ia dead