The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-10-06
THE CONFIDENT sTAR-RoUTEKs.
THE star-routers have called at

master general snail nOlu MS onlce
only for the term of the president by
whom he is appointed, and for thirty
days thereafter, unless sooner re-
moved, and that if Mr.. James con-
tinue in the cabinet he must be ap-
pointed on October 10Th. The
star-route thieves have been very
bold of late, even sometime in adj
vance of the death of Mr.. Garfield.
A Washington correspondent of the
New York San, who has lately been
nosing around after star-route
items, has given rather sig
nificant picture of the gov
ernments movements against the
ring, The reporter held the follow
ing interview with some of its mem
bers:
"When will the government be
ready 2"
"Neverp 1t required no effort OF
the Imagination to make me believe
the man was in earnest. mo, never
That is, till some great break in
things clears the way, and makes il
safe to go ahead"
The last few words were spoken
with an emphasis. The Star,
when pressed for an explanation,
declined to answer further as to
that, but went on to say that the ac-
ton of District Attorney COrkhill
was not unexpected to him. Cork
hill was acting Oh his own hook
by authority.
"Of course" he continued, Sin
cases of so much Importance and no
toriety, no district attorney would
venture to lie across the govern
ment's track. To trip the United
States up is no small thing for a
district attorney holding his ap-
pointment from the president to un-
dertake. You know L told you
last spring, when things were going
with such a rush, that they who
were doing it would begin TO 60
slow after while. They have found
their own reasons. | do not under
take to say what they are. They
seem to be sufficient. You see, we
told them to go ahead as soon as
they pleased, the sooner, the better,
and to go as fast and rs far as they
could. They know our attitude is
defiance. There have been good
many things wrongly done, no
doubt. No more in the star-rOutes,
though, than in some other things,
and some persons know it and will
not forget it. There are rascals al
ways about, and when you begin to
mark them yOp viii find some who
were not suspected"
The star-rOuter began 10 grow In
earnest, and drawing his chair
closer, renewed his discourse
"We star-route people have done
a regular, straightforward business,
and there's nothing to try us for.
Anyway, we defy them to go ahead.
You want to know what they will do
next. Well, James, MacVeagh or
somebody or other will buck and
buck as long as they can; perhaps
that's been done as much as can be,
and that they'll come to stand next
month. Indictments! They are
easy enough to get when the gov
ernment sets out. But they don't
always mean convictions. Somehow
or other the men who are following
us don't want to begin in earnest.
They've tried us in the papers, but
don't seem to want to try lis in the
courts"
"Will YOU tell me what you think
is the reason the government is not
ready and holds back in this busi-
ness? 2"
"NoI 1 don't think 1 will" vas th
curious answer with a curious look.
"Up in the mountains, where Pm
going to look after a route, the rule
Of good hunter is not to expose his
ammunition; something might hap
pen to it, On this he rose, and,
saying he must go up to The depart
Inent, babe me courteously good
day. He was apparently the least
disturbed, if not the most confident,
man in the world.
An hour after met another star
route nan. He has been spending
some time in Washington. To him
/ pAt the question L had put to the
other as TO The motive for dispensing
the grand jury.
"To tell You the truth" said he, "I
don't know anything about it for o
certainty, though Pm convinced it
was fixed up some way between
Cook and Corkhill, L suppose. Now,
just look how things are right here.
The court and jury met after vaca-
ton of a number of weeks, ten | be-
lieve, on an agreement that the
star cases should be given to the
grand jury and the business go on
in earnest. We-that is, the con-
tractors and all others, so far as |
know-all wanted the delay to end.
That, however, is wholly in the
hands of the government. 1t was
not for US, whom they have been
trying in the papers, 10 be at the
court when it opened. If the gov
ernment intended to indlct us, they
would go about it. IT we were in
dicted, we would be sent for. Until
we were sent for we had no occasion
at all for being within thousand
miles of Washington, and some OF
us are not. See? When the court
met, not cabinet officer but Kirk
wood was in Washington, and he
knows no more Of the matter than
the Indians. The business specially
belongs to the postoiiice and
attorney generals departments.
Neither of those cabinet officers was
in the city, and had not been for
some time. There is at this moment
not single deputy at the postofiice
department-James. TYper, Elmer,
and nearly everybody else being
away. The clerks are running the
departments. At the department of
public justice about the same state
of things exist. Cook, the special
prosecutor, with all his deputies and
helpers, was away when the court
met, and they are still away. Now,
L ask you, does this 10 ok as though
the government did not expect
postpopement? Do men, when
they mean to fight, act thus on the
eve of battle? Pursuant to the un-
derstanding which must be obvious
to all who can see anything, Cork
hill sent the jury home and secured
three weeks in which to patch up
some other understanding. Now,
who is it that is doing this thing, or
just why is it done? Ihaye nothing
TO saw"
81 believe that finally there will
be clean backout. Probably Bliss
and Brewster have told them there
is no ground to stand on.D
Are there other reasons for not