The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-31
STEVENSON
DEN|ES CHARGE
Declares He Accepted Docu-
ment' in Question Merely
to Please Indians.

Washington, Jan. 30.--peclaring
that he had done nothing wrong. and
speaking from recollection, Congress-
man Stevenson today gave the follow
ing statement relative to the applica-
ton for an allotment on White Earth
in his name:
When l cur the passage Of the
call STEVENSON act, giving the
White Earth Indians additional allot-
mentS OF so acres each, / a adopted
ny n tribe in Il ceremonial manner
AS part of the ceremoney, 1 ~recollect
that L was presented with u document
under which l was entitled to an al
lotment.
II refused to take it, but when I
was told that wfen an Indian gives a
man anything he is offended at a re-
fusal to accept, L took the document.
My recollection is that Il copy was
kept at the agency and another sent
to the department here. l have heard
nothing and know nothing further
about the matter. and had supposed
the department had ignored the docu-
ment entirely and forgotten about it. I
have done nothing wrong in this
matter"
Mr.. Stevenson said he would look
up the records in the case and make
a formal statement later.
Will Find Truth.
Minneapolis, Jan. 30.-Chairman ].
M. Graham today made the following
statements concerning the charge
against STEVENSON:
This investigation is bigger and
wider than politics. If a democrat in
congress is in the way. let the roller
hit him. When We are after the
truth we expect to find it.
IF a man has done wrong he
ought no to hide behind a partisan
fence. If. he has done right he has
nothing to fear from investigation"
Judge NJ. c. .Burch. attorney for
the department of justice in charge of
the White Earth investigation, said:
eff Congressman Stevenson thinks
he can climb up on the coat tails of
Theodore Roosevelt or hide behind the
coffin of the late Secretary of thu In
terror E. A. Hitchcock. he Is mistaken.
Every phase of the situation will be
brought forth. even should the testi-
mony affect STEVENSON.
I'm justice to myself, I wish to state
that steenerson's statement that we
are trying to involve Senator Nelson,
Colonel Roosevelt, or the late Secre-
tary Hitchcock is ridiculous. Colonel
Roosevelt's name has not been men,
toned and he can take care of him.
self. l consider Senator Nelson one of
the best men in the senate and I have
stated. in the record of. this case.
that his law. the Nelson law. was
safeguarded in avery way. Secretary
lie official. l was his co-laborer for
years. He was the originator of the
project to conserve public lands and
man got the credit.
ITO charge that the administration
is protecting itself I car only say the
we are dealing with did not
take place under Taft's administra-
tion."
Morris Denies Charge.
Minneapolis, Jan. 30.-Judge Page
Morris of the federal court. author of
the Morris law which is blamed by the
prosecution for much of the alleged
frauds in connection with the White
Earth Indian reservation, today unex-
pectedly appeared before the congress
sional committee which is investigat-
ing charges of fraud and vehemently
defended both himself and the law
which bears his name.
For IS minutes Judge Morris adj
dressed the committee explaining the
origin. purposes and results of the
Morris law. He emphatically denied
that the law was drafted to evade any
state law, which prohibited lumber
concerns from owning more than
5000 acres of land.
II dreamed and no one as
far as l know ever dreamed of evad-
ing any state law" declared Judge
Morris. II am sure I did not know
there was any such law at the time
I introduced the Morris law and in
fact I do not believe I ever heard Of
a law until the present hearing
began and I read in newspapers that
law. the Norris law, was passed to
evade a state law.
THE only purpose Of the Morris