And so the matter stood: some for and some against Mitchell, with the preponderance of public sentiment in his favor.
The opinion of the general public, at that moment, was of little consequence to me. I knew, as a matter of fact, that Senator Mitchell was guilty as charged, and I believed that, in due time, every statement that I made before the Grand Jury would become established, and eventually appear to all as a living truth. As time rolled on, however, it was evident to me that the Senator was gaining ground in the public mind, and as a natural consequence, I came in for additional condemnation. This condition was becoming more pronounced daily, and finally, when Senator Mitchell made his famous speech before the United States Senate, at which time, as is well-known, every Senator was in his seat, with the galleries crowded to their utmost capacity, and after two hours of impressive defense was applauded to the echo, it was plain to be seen that I stood convicted, in the estimation of the public, of trying to drag the distinguished statesman's name into everlasting mire.
My position was certainly an unenviable one, as the speech of Senator Mitchell had placed me in contempt of some of my old-time friends, as well as in the eyes of the world at large.
When the Oregon State Legislature, which was then in session, unanimously adopted resolutions indorsing Senator Mitchell, it appeared, for the time being, that the last nail had been driven into my coffin. I even felt considerable diffidence about appearing upon the streets of Portland, because whenever I did I was sure to be accosted with the remark, "What did you mean, Puter, by lying so about Senator Mitchell and causing his indictment?" while others were equally as severe in their comments concerning my action. It finally came to pass that well-known acquaintances would go disdainfully by me without even the slightest token of recognition, as if shunning contamination with one so vile as myself.
As an illustration of the idea, I append herewith extracts from the Senator's speech, which occupied two hours in delivery, together with the full text of the resolutions of confidence adopted by the Oregon Legislature:
ANSWER
of
SENATOR JOHN H. MITCHELL,
of Oregon,
to
CHARGES MADE AGAINST HIM.
REMARKS IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, JANUARY 17, 1905.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
MR. MITCHELL: Mr. President. I arise to a question of personal privilege.
The PRESIDENT, pro tempore: The Chair recognizes the Senator from Oregon for that purpose.
MR. MITCHELL: Mr. President and Senators: Recent events, with which you are all familiar, make it incumbent upon me to come into your presence at this time and make answer to charges made against me in the public press and by a Grand Jury, and which charges, if true, unfit me to occupy this seat longer.
The charges, as spread broadcast through the public press, throughout the length and breadth of the United States—and this is in substance and effect the indictment reported—are to the effect that in January, 1902, in the State of Oregon, I entered into a conspiracy with Binger Hermann, the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and with one, S. A. D. Puter, Horace G. McKinley, D. W. Tarpley,
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