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Show OREGON'S SENATOR AND OTHERS Once in n while something happens that revives tho hope that tho republic may not perish from tho earth simply on account of its gaiety. Over In Oregon Ore-gon two political magicians are having hav-ing tho mysteries of their art exposed by President Roosevelt. United States Senator John II. Mitchell, whoso feats of legerdemain have astonished all be holders, is under a spot light. His vaudevillo partner, Binger Hermann, is busy making explanations to tho public that has fed him so well since ho left his cradle. Alired Henry Lewis, tho noted Washington correspondent and author, au-thor, ouco stood in tho lobby of the United States Senate looking at Senator Sen-ator Mitchell of Oregon. "What do you think of this body of citizens?" ho exclaimed to thoso who stood with him. "There Is a man," he continued, referring to Senator Alitch-ell, Alitch-ell, "who has been sitting hero for years bearing an assumed name. His name Is not Mitchell at all, but John M. Hippie. He was originally a citizen cit-izen of Pennsylvania and never failed to hola a political job of some kind. Ho was county treasurer In one of the western counties and all at onco took a notion to vacate his ofllco. About ?75,t00 in coin disappeared with him and nobody heard of him again for several years. Ho left his wife and children a3 charges upon public charity. char-ity. One day there appeared in the United States senato as the accredited accredit-ed senator from Oregon the same John Mitchell Hippie, but ho was known to fame as John II. Mitchell. For twelve long, continuous years this fugitive from justice sat hero under an assumed name, not daring to use the name under which ho was born. Then, after an interval, he was sent back for six years more as an example of American statesmanship. Now every ev-ery senator here knows or should know this man's record. No protest is made and he is apparently received into lull fellowship. It would bo interesting in-teresting to know what crime a man can commit that disqualifies him for a scat In tho United States senato? Tho career of John Mitchell Hippie, alias John Hippie Mitchell, is one continuous con-tinuous fraud. It seemed quite Impossible Im-possible for him to have an honest thought. Ho buncoed tho people of Oregon and corrupted every man with whom ho came In contact if tho man was susceptible of corruption. IIo was ejected throe times to tho United States senate and each tlmo tho most shameless conduct marked his system sys-tem of obtaining office. Utterly un-consclencable, un-consclencable, ho bartered and traded In every conceivable way tho sacred interests of tho people. How ho could so long deceive tho public is a queer commentary on American politics. And tho strangest part of It all Is that ho now assumes tho part of an honest man and declares himself Innocent. Ho has been indicted by tho Federal grand jury, but this makes no difference. differ-ence. There is not an honest watchdog watch-dog in Oregon that will not bark with joy when tho mask of hypocricy is torn from this political trickster. Binger Hermann is the typo of man who would starve to death unless ho held a public office. To save him from tho pangs of hunger he ls given an office. Ho then proceeds to mako tho office so remunerative that many other hungry politicians aro vjll fed. As commissioner of tho United States land office ho was so corrupt that he had to be romovod. Quito a peculiar tiling (hen happened. Ho wont before be-fore tho people reeking with tho stench of his official wrong-doing, and was elected to congress by popular vote. Such tenacity of purposo would so 3m to carry with It the assumption of decency. Ho now protests that ho Is n much Injured man. Tho conclusion conclu-sion must bo reached that tho people of Oregon admlro dishonesty and craftiness craf-tiness or else they aro doddering idiots. |