Devils Lake inter-ocean., 1913-07-25
STALWART INJUSTICE.

act. a$ z $E 2tAi3 f s lg SGl7SJS X r. a5a
sTALWART INJUSTICE.
The brief colloquy in the senate on
July. 18th over the bill for the relief
|of Mrs. May Stanley must have been
particularly interesting to Senators
Cummins, Borah, Kenyon and Gron-
ma, the leaders of the stalwart wing
of the republican party. .t.4
Will Stanley was superintendent of
an Indian school in California. Under
orders from his superior officer, he
was sent to investigate some dissatis-
faction at another chool. In the per-
formance of this duty in response to
the direct orders of his superior, he
was shot down by some of the Indians
he was visiting, several of whom have
since been tried and convicted. of the
murder. ,I.a .-@ s% ii
The murdered superintendent left
widow and two young children. The
supervisor who reported the murder
to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
recommended that a pension be given
to Mrs. Stanley as pensions are given
TO the widows of army and navy Of
| f1cers killed in line of duty. The law
already provides for pensions for mill
tary service and there is half-baked
provision for compensation to certain
classes of federal employees for injury
occurring in the service But this
case, which does not differ in prin-
ciple, necessitates special legislation
A provision for Mrs. Stanley was in
cluded by the senate in the Indian ap-
preparation bill recently passed. The
democratic leaders Of the house struck
it out upon the ground that it did not
belong in an appropriation bill, SO
special bill was introduced in the SEN
ate dealing with this case alone. On
July 10Th, Mr.. Bryan, Of Florida, repre-
ssnting the Committee on i Claims
. which had reported the bill unanimous
/ ly, asked unanimous consent for i'm.
mediate consideration Of it. It would
have taken the senate possibly ten
. or fifteen minutes, perhaps less, to-.
pass the bill and perform an obvious
act of Justice. ...i Il
But Smoot, of Utah, the eminent
colleague Of Penrose, Barnes, Crane,
Root, Guggenheim, Stephenson, Lodge,
Lorimer and the rest in reactionary,
leadership, objected and since the bill
could be taken up only by unanimous
consent, his objection was enough to
send the bill to the calendar where it
takes place behind two or three
measures Of such controversial charac-
ter that it will be impossible to reach
the bill again this session. Il. .8. :$s
! Senator 'Clapp explained this fact to
Mr.. iSmoot but that seemed only to in.
crease the Utah Tory's objection. SEN
1 ator Works, Of California, appealed to
Smoot to permit the bill to come up.
/ re said that Mrs. Stanley is in need
and that it is a meritorious claim
which should be recognized promptly.
/ What responsibility has the govern
ment for the killing Of this man p,
asked Smoot. 4. 35 l%4s ss' s5
HE was in the regular performance
OF his duty and he was shot down
while he was performing his duty"
B replied Senator Works. 5.".If that does
4 not give rise to a case where the
government ought to recognize the
claim Of his widow and children, 4 do
4 mot moi know q how you can find one where
sH1ttSWould # be just and proper. " !, e be-
Il That st brought from Smoot a question
4 WI which = shows the genuinely react tionary
i spirit actuating him. Il
Does the senator take the position. ,,G
/ ne lye. al asked that in the case Of eyery i:
{ Eeelmploye of the government killed il
L the employ Of q the government his
4 lam family should be paid by the govern.
stment 9'' 2'' 4 {
| ln this question, Mr.. Smoot, Will,
ma mharractsristi i tic dictionary cunning If
111ot with deliberate dishonesty. sought
i py an apparently slight misstatemant5
i d OF the case to minimize Or eyade the
/ goyernIne r ~ asponsibility. iilled
while & tn the: employ OF tIie govern
4 nent a he said !. . not s.killed while IN
4 the actual performance lof duty ii
I ftllfllment q Of specific ofders
2It is the old Ia ART, story $of failure
4 and and refusal to recognize the. cla inns of
4 il1lnan Just Ice. YET fl Is to lea dergl,ip
8i1ke that displ red by srnoot III this
lease, that 9'unmirls y, Borah. senyorn5
and rom & have asked 9fie p,r.ocyras.
siFes sfo return