CHAPTER XXVI.

Big land steals in Washington.—‘‘ Eighty per cent. of the entries in one
district fraudulent." —How this is accomplished, and who can do it
with impunity.—Also showing what should be ‘‘ between the lines ”
in the newspaper press.

WHILE it was a difficult matter for a homebuilder to acquire
and held even a quarter section of land, masonic individuals
and gangs by their prostitution of the Government and secret
influence at court were given, or allowed to steal, millions of
acres of the people’s rightful heritage. This is so notorious
that I only need to quote from the press to make it plain and
evident to all.

‘‘There is no doubt, and there can be none, that the public lands have
been plundered in the most bold and unblusbing manner, The testimony
of every man who has investigated the subject is to this effect, and there
is no citizen of Washington who is not convinced of it. The evidence given
oniis point by this special agent may be quoted as indicative of that
which has been given by thousands of others [without effect because the big
thieves are linked masons]. In an official report he said: ‘It is my
opinion that fully fifty per cent, of the entries in this (the Olympia) district
are collusive, and therefore fraudulent.’ Was it not necessary to set a
closer watch on the thieves? Every journal in the United States which
has been outspoken in behalf of popular rights sustains the action of Com-
missioner Sparks. Every one which owes its allegiance to corrupt [ma-
sonic] power, joins in the chorus against him, [and he was kicked out of
oftice for exposing the rank perjury and stealing of the linked masons, and
the masonic-ridden courts shielded the criminals. |

* *
*

[House of Representatives, Washington. ]—‘‘Cobb moved to pass the
bill repealing the pre-emption, timber-culture, and desert land acts.......
Payson declared that during the past four years ninety per cent. of the
entries of land under these acts had been fraudulent.”

*
* *

‘‘Some of the down Sound papers are expressing a greut deal of vir-
tuous indignation over the probable escape of J.. and other [masons] from
conviction upon charges of frauds in connection with timber land entries,
These same papers, in common with other [masonic] papers j : this land
district, have willingly accepted and published the notices iecessary to
appear sixty days before timber land entries can be perfected, for which
they asked and received very liberal pay, and in doing this had abundant
(485)

PIECED LALO LT FOIA OL ‘ .

i a ote knee eens Reractget

486 Bia Lanp Sreaus IN WASHINGTON.

opportunities of satisfying themselves that most of such entries were made
in the interests of [masons] and that only in exceptional cases was it ex-
pected that the individuals taking the claims would hold them. [The
land office officials also being masons would and do shut their eyes to
frauds of their brethren, but outsiders are snatched up quick enough. |
Nearly every mill company and large buyer of timber lands was as much
cuilty of fraud as J.. or any other land agent who acted for his principals
in securing large and valuable tracts of timber land. It is folly to attempt
to make one or two men [when they are masons] the scapegoats for all the
sinners who have been guilty of ‘irregularities’ in connection with land
entries,

The public land laws are only so many legalized methods of offering
premiums upon fraud and perjury, and until these laws are differently
framed, evasions, false swearing and trickery will be prevalent in the
taking up of public lands.”

[And they will be just as prevalent no matter how the laws are framed,
80 long as masons and odd-fellows are the land and court officials who are
secrelly sworn to keep their ring brothers’ secrets,

Whenever land is secured by fraud it is well known in the neighbor-
hood of the land thus stolen, and the crimes can easily be proven; and
when outsiders go after such * premiums” (?) thisis done with a vengeance
and for blood, and they ave made scapegoats for all the ring thieves in the
country ; stripped of all their property, if they have any, by the court
gang, and then frequently sent to prison to reflect on the unequal justice
(which is not justice) they are suffering, and to relate the much worse and
stronger cases against ring men steeped in crime that were ‘ acquitted,”
or laid over to acquit by the same jury or court. And the land of the out-
sider is restored to the Government even after patents have been issued
and it has changed hands to different outsiders—‘‘innocent purchasers”
and in ‘good faith.” |

* * *

‘It has been stated over and over again that the [ring] people of

Yiympia were intimately connected with these land frauds ; that they had

ermeated society, had contaminated servants of the Government, |Ma-

mic] citizens of the town, one and all. So general has become this con-

ction with the frauds that their investigation has been all but impossible.

( ostacles are put in the way, movements made are squelched, and a sup-

ression of the facts resorted to in all cases,” [where the gang is con-
cerned. |

For example I give this, —‘‘The [farce] trial of J.. which commenced
a week ago [at the expense of the people which means profit to the gang]
terminated yesterday in the disagreement of the [ring] jury. J.. had
been indicted for obstructing justice by removing to British Columbia a large
number of important witnesses in the cases of conspiracy to defraud the Gov-
ernment by making fictitious land entries, pending against J..,W..,D..,R..

ries were made
ses Was it ex-
i them. [The
t their eyes to
nick enough. |
is was as much
r his principals
‘olly to attempt
soats for all the
etion with land

ods of offering
are differently
yevalent in the

laws are framed,
officials who are

n the neighbor-
be proven ; and
with a vengeance
ing thieves in the
ny, by the court
» unequal justice
much worse and
ere “acquitted,”
land of the out-
iave been issued
ent purchasers”

[ring] people of
is; that they had
vernment, [Ma-
hecome this con-
1 but impossible.
hed, and a sup-
the gang is con-

hich commenced
fit to the gang]
jury. J.. had
Columbia a large
defraud the Gov-
2 W.D. Re

Bia Lanp Strats IN WASHINGTON. 487

and P... Thetrial of W. was commenved Wednesday, but for want of suffi-
cient evidence the Judge directed the Jury to bring in a'verdict of not
guilty, which was done. An order of nolle pros, was entered in the cases
of J.. and D.. for the same reason, and they were discharged. The
Olympia attorneys P,.. and R... were allowed a change of venue to
Olympia. [Where, of course, their court brethren ‘ wequitted ” them,
One of them was prosecuting attorney at the time—that is, he prosecuted
outsiders, and wa a close friend and influential brother of the Governors,
while they would . :off at the will of whole communities of good citizens, |

“End of the Timber Fraud Suits, —Owing to the fact that nearly all
the important witnesses in the cases against J.. and his pals had been in-
duced to leave the country, U. S. prosecuting attorney [Mason] considered
it expedient to dismiss the cases against the parties, as it is almost im-
possible to get a conviction when the opposite purties have money [or be-
long to the gang] unless the evidence is overwhelmingly conclusive of
guilt, and even then a prosecution often fails,”

[But are such gentry any the less criminals than those without money
or ring influence at court, who go to prison? And is this justice ?

What does a Jury that is selected by Masons to try (?) a Mason or
Odd Fellow, or an outsider against one of the gang, care for evidence ?

Except as a too plain exposure to the people, evidence neither convicts nor
acquits in such cases. A packed Jury is governed by other influences and
obligations than evidence or their oath to do justice, ]

* *
*

“Tt will be seen that prosecuting attorney [linked Mason] and his
law partner [chief of the ‘bar’] were indicted by the Grand Jury on the
part of the U. S. for obstructing justice. W. J... and several of his con-
federates were arrested for conspiracy against the Government in making
fraudulent entries on large bodies of timber land. Four of the witnesses
could not furnish the bonds and were placed in the penitentiary until
court should convene. It now transpires that tivo or three days before
court met, certain men [Masons] not only furnished $800 cash bail for the
release of these witnesses, but chartered a steamer to go to the penitentiary,
tele the witnesses and convey them to British Columbia. Messrs. P. R..
ad J.,. are charged with having concocted and carried out the scheme.”’

[There were plenty of other witnesses to be had, besides those that
were spirited away, but they were not wanted to testify against the gang.
And there was also plenty of proof to be had against the guilty parties
who did the spiriting; but to produce such procf would be in violation of
their secret-ring oaths ‘‘¢o keep their brothers’ secrets!” And thus are the

most vile and dangerous criminals kept out of prison, and even ‘‘ vindi-
cated,” (?)

Listen to this! from a Masonic paper that would pull on a rope to
lynch an outsider, less guilty of a like offence. |

488 Bia LAND STEALS IN WASHINGTON.

“The Press expressed its confidence when [brother] J.. was assailed
by his enemies, that there was nothing in the case against him. We had
ascertained to our [Masonic] satisfaction that he was guilty of nothing
more than technical irregularity or want of sufficient adherence to the forms
prescribed for governmental business.” [?]

[But when outsiders do the same thing, it is declared and decreed to
be robbery, perjury and treason! And they are sent to prison for long
terms—which is hei congratulation. |

‘Our judgment has been coufirmed by the [packed] Grand Jury
which has dismissed the charges against [the brother] and found ‘not a
true bill.’ There will be entire unanimity here [among the pagan brethren]
in congratulating Mr. J... upon this complete [?] vindication.” [?]

[Are not such criminals who are thus ‘‘ vindicated” [?] by Masonic
ridden courts and press, more dangerous to the community and State than
the plain, common burglar, against whom people lay in wait with shotguns?
Then, wuy discriminate between them ?

* *
*

‘The land stealings of the |Masonic] Mill companies during the past
few years have been estimated by a competent and well-informed person
as high as 300,000 acres, worth on an average $10 an acre, [which should
have been preserved for actual settlers under the Homestead act, and let
them make what they could out of the timber growing on the tillable land,
to help {nem in building their home, and the rest they could preserve for
the benefit of their children.] This $3,000,000 worth of land has been

stolen [by Masons, &c.| from the peopie upon whom this Territory de-
pends for its development—the hard working settlers who go into the
woods and hew out farms and homes.”

To accomplish this enormous fraud, the [Masons] have employed re-
gular agents, who have openly solicited individuals to make entries of
timber lands and for that service have paid from $50 to $150 per quarter

’

section.” [And thus ‘‘openly” committed perjury and subornation of
perjury, fraud and conspiracy, But having the Government and courts
prostituted, they could do this with impunity, and get to be blackleg
Governors with their plunder. |

* *
*

wo... All the talk of suing amounted to nothing. Iam guarded in
my language when I say that in more than thirty years of experience in
lumbering in California, Oregon and Washington, and thus seeing over
fifty equally and often times greater suits begun, they all fell through.
They amount to nothing.”

[They should at least open the eyes of the people to the prostitution
of the Government and courts by members of secret brotherhoods who ar
sworn to keep each other's criminal secrets. |

“Sometimes they are settled, fully as often they are withdrawn. I
have known the most stupendous frauds—such, for instance, as the big

. was assailed

him. We had
ilty of nothing
ice to the forms

und decreed to
ison for long

41 Grand Jury
| found ‘nota
pagan brethren |
ion.” [?]

[?] by Masonic
y and State than
with shotguns?

during the past
informed person
», [which should
tead act, and let
the tillable land,
uld preserve for
f land has been
nis Territory de-
who go into the

hve employed re-
make entries of
$150 per quarter
h subornation of
ment and courts
Mt to be blackleg

am guarded in
of experience in
hus seeing over
all fell through.

the prostitution
erhoods who «

4, withdrawn. |
ance, as the big

Bia Lanp Sreats IN WASHINGTON. 489

timber steal at Humboldt Bay. The charges were true, but yet nothing
was done. I know that not one of these cases was pushed to conviction,
and I have no fears of this case.” [When witnesses are bent on exposing
such ring thieves, jobs are frequently put up against them, and these false
cases are ‘*pushed to conviction.” Whereupon the blackleg Governor
smiles and smiles and declares ‘‘we have a good judiciary,” and that the
‘‘neople clamor” for the punishment of such victims, and join the prison
contractors in sucking their heart’s blood and driving iron into their souls
and a flaming desire of vengeance. |

* +
*

“All geod citizens will rejoice that commissioner Sparks has deter-
mined to check the rascally operations of the [Masonic] mill companies in
the future and to hold them to account for their past crimes. It is noto-
rious here on Puget Sound, so notorious as not to excite remark, that
hundreds of thousands of acres of the best and most valuable timber land
in the territory have passed and are yet passing into the hands of the
|Masonic] mill companies, by means of fraud and perjury.”

‘This accumulation of immense bodies of land in the hands of a few
wealthy [ond clanish] owners, is in itself a fraud upon the Crovernment
and the people. It was never the intention of our land laws to create ¢
landed aristocracy, and by so doing to withhold from settlement and im-
provement large areas of country. On the contrary, their object was and
is to distribute the public land in small quantities among a large number
of people, to be by them improved and made into homes and farms. [But
the prostituted court steps in with its fraud, its bar (?) and expensive
jugglery, and gives license to ring thieves to override the laws and people. |

‘The [Masonic] companies, by hiring transient employees and sailors
to file claims upon government land, to falsely swear that the necessary
improvements have been made, and upon receiving a certificate from the
land office, [which would not be given for the benefit of outsiders in the
face of such bare-faced perjury and subordination of perjury, but only to
ring brothers of the land office officials,] to convey the land to their em-
ployers for a song, are gobbling up government land to hold, This steady
ond rapid stealing of the most conveniently located timber lands has been
going on for many years, until now the mill companies have a practical
monopoly of the timber land near enough to tide water to be at present
available. This gives them an advantage over the loggers, which they are
not slow to avail themselves of. This is the way the [Masonic] mill com-
panies fleece the loggers: <A logger applies for a contract to furnish a
boom of logs. If he has timber of his own, he is told that the [Masonic]
mill company has pleaty of [stolen] timber. Unless, therefore, he will
cut logs on the mill company’s [stolen] land, at their own price for
stumpage, he must put in his own timber at a price to be fixed by the
[Masonic] company. ‘Furnish your own timber at our price, or cut logs
on our [stolen] land at our price,’ says the |Masonic] company to the

490 Bia LAND STEALS IN WASHINGTON.

logger. Sometimes the logger takes one, sometimes the other. In either
case the price is so regulated as to leave him a bare subsistence, while with
the enormous profits of the transaction accruing to the [Masonic] mill
companies, they buy ships, hire perjurers to help steal more land, and buy
off government officials. [The same, being generally brother masons, are
sworn to ‘keep and never reveal’ these ring secrets. Otherwise such cor-
ruption would be more dangerous to themselves and less liable to occur. }
Commissioner Sparks will fail to redress the wrongs to which we have ad-
verted, unless he avoids the mistake of selecting [Masons] to conduct the
investigation and appoints men of integrity.”

[The gang had secret influence enough at Washington to have Sparks
kicked out, as soon as he began to make trouble for the thieves. |

* *
*
...... This [Masonic] mill company owns (?) some 80,000 acres of
timber land, about 500 acres of it being around the mill.”
* %
*

‘*What has become of the improvements on each quarter section of
land owned by some of the mill companies? The improvements must be
there on the land, for the employees of the [Masonic] mill companies have
sworn it. Certainly! But where are they ?”

* *
*

‘*Where are the five hundred men that took up the land now owned
by one of the great | Masonic] mill companies, and used as an instrument
to oppress loggers and others engaged in and connected with the lumber
business ? Echo answers, ‘ Where ?’”

* *
*

*« Tf fourteen years imprisonment in the penitentiary at hard labor is
a proper punishment for a poor [outsider] who, under the stress of temp-
tation and cold weather, takes an overcoat that does not belong to him,
what ought to be done with a [Mason] or gang of [Masons] for stealing
land worth two millions of dollars ?”

[The blacklez Governors, in their annual reports to the Secretary of
the Interior and in their messages to the Legislature, had never a word to
say as to these and other robberies done by their ring brethren, while they
gloated over and increased the misery and destruction of those who in their
distress and distraction had stolen only a coat or a pair of blankets. }

[Large bodies of prairie land is likewise stolen by members of the
gang, shielded by the prostituted courts and glorified by the ring press on
account of their ‘ability and enterprise;” while outsiders who only desire
to gain a few hundred acres honestly for their homes, are stigmatized as
hogs and made objects of attack and plunder. |

ther, In either
fence, while with
» [Masonic] mill
re land, and buy
ther masons, are
erwise such cor-
liable to occur. |
hich we have ad-
3] to conduct the

n to have Sparks
hieves. |

+ 80,000 acres of

>

juarter section of
yvements must be
ll companies have

land now owned
as an instrument
1 with the lumber

y at hard labor is
he stress of temp-
bot belong to him,
ons] for stealing

the Secretary of
never a word to
thren, while they
those who in their
f blankets. |
y members of the
the ring press on
4b who only desire
e stigmatized as