banks, but we realize that if is not an everlasting condition; epidemics may devastate communities, though history shows their existence is short-lived, and that nothing abnormal is ever eternal. Consequently, the problems incident to the looting of the public domain were gradually working out their own solution, and made palpably so by reason of the fact that the disciples of the wrong were becoming .so bold in their operations, and blazing such a well-defined trail, that the conclusion to their rascalities was plainly inevitable.
One of the most significant of the many morals pointed by the different narratives in these pages is the powerful emphasis to the old-fashioned creed that honesty is always the best policy. Although Mr. Puter has gone very thoroughly into details concerning numerous fraudulent land transactions, it does not appear that he profited to any great extent by any of his crooked deals, and in most instances whatever he made by these unlawful operations was consumed by expenses incident to getting his bogus claims through the Land Department, or by the adoption of desperate and costly efforts to cover up his tracks. The gross proceeds of the notorious 11-7 deal aggregated but $10,080, all of which went to pay the price of corruptive tactics, leaving him practically without a dollar to face the criminal charge remaining as the only legacy of his wrong-doing.
Experience and philosophy teach us that there is a cause for every effect, and the influences at work with sufficient vigor to impel men to risk life and liberty in their efforts to wrongfully acquire Government lands, were not of a character to reflect general discredit upon the citizenship of Oregon, merely because there were those within her borders base enough to permit greed and graft and their love for Mammon to run amuck with principle.
It is one of the most remarkable features of the whole situation that while dishonesty was the basis of these frauds, many of their perpetrators were punished upon the threshold of their offenses, among their friends and neighbors, and by juries composed for the most part of those who had been life-long associates of the accused, and naturally entertained, sympathetic interest in their behalf, if there was any sort of compassion one way or the other.
It may be said, also, to the everlasting credit of the manhood of Oregon, that there was no shirking of duty when it came to a question of dealing out the full measure of justice to the guilty. The eyes of humanity were fixed upon each person sitting in judgment as a juror in the various cases, and the honorable part of the whole world applauded every verdict returned. Rank cut no figure with them. All criminals looked alike to Oregon juries. Thus, a United States Senator, a Congressman, two former United States Attorneys, several members of the State Legislature, and others of more or less political renown, were actually convicted, while another Congressman, numerous personages in the millionaire class, and many others of greater or less degree of prominence in the political, commercial and social sides of life, have been indicted, and are now awaiting their fates with chilling marrows. Further along I present a complete list of all the indictments that have been returned up to the present time in connection with recent land frauds by the Federal grand juries of Oregon, together with a brief synopsis of the social status of each person implicated thereby. While it may seem appalling, in a way, it is not without its morals, because it indicates more plainly than words of mine can portray that Justice has stalked in blindfolded fashion through the ranks of crime.
Portland, more beautiful than Palmyra of old, with a moral refinement and culture that shines with lustrous brilliancy in the galaxy of Northwestern cities, and famed as the most healthy municipality of the world in civic and climatic conditions, had no important share in these land frauds, after all the aspersions that have been heaped upon her fair name.
Oregon, one of the grandest regions of the universe, whose light is fast emerging from the bushel under which her charms have been so long hidden, does not hive all the land rogues of creation by any means, and never reared
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