Photograph by Harris & EwingPhotograph by A. B. McAlpin
Binger Hermann, Commissioner of the Land of the Land Office.
Photograph by C. M. Bell
"THE OREGON BUNCH"
Macey understood its importance. Having taken a copy of it, Macey let the original letter go on to Hermann, and Richards watched the commissioner to see what he would do with it. Hermann pigeonholed it. Schneider wrote again, saying he had had no answer, and when this letter also was ignored, he had his attorney, J. A. Zabriskie, write. Zabriskie was an ex-United States district attorney from Arizona and his entrance into the situation caused some stir in the Department. Hermann stood pat, however, and Schneider and Zabriskie might have been worn out by silence, but for an accident. Once when Hermann was away, Richards as acting-commissioner received officially one of these letters. He ordered an investigation by S. J. Holsinger, a special agent of the land office in Arizona. A pretty bold stroke, but Richards seemed to have acted only in the way of routine, so Hermann, upon his return, and before Richards' letter reached the agent, sent a telegram directing Holsinger "to leave at once for Montana and make an examination of the Kootenai forest district." This assignment kept the agent busy from June until September (1902). But in November he took Schneider's story, and the report he sent back, offi-
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