Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-27

The Distinction Enjoyed by the Sta
i'm Washington journalism.
IT Is NOT A STAR ROUTE ORGAN.

Washington Special to New York Tribune. 25th.
The ofenses of Postmaster Anger and Fore
man Helm were much alike Anger is the pro-
prietor Of o paper in the west, in which he
declared over his own signature that the gov
eminent had no case; and Helm was for long
time the business manager Of the Critic, Brady's
afternoon paper. which was filed every day Of
the trial with abuse Of the government counsel,
and often of the Judge himself. Buell., the
editor Of this paper, spoke when on the stand Of
Helm as the man Of control In the Office 1t IL
picturesque bit OF politics-and of Washing
ton politics in particular-that this man should
have been able, while conductinga paper for the
sole purpose of defeating one department Of the
government in an important prosecution and
vilifying its representatives, to hold an import
ant and lucrative position under another de-
partment of the government. The EVENING
STAR, which has the distinction of not being q
star route Organ-fOr 1t is distinction I'm WASH
ington jOurnalism-has been calling attention
for some time to the fact that Helms connection
with the government office, while he was also
connected with newspaper. was contrary to
law. Seeing trouble ahead, Helm caused it to
be announced in the Critic to-day that he had
Withdrawn from that paper and would "hereaf-
ter devote all his energies to the Congressional
Record" About the same time the papers were
being prepared in the Department Of Justice
something else. Anger and Parker were also
under censure in the matter Of the straw bonds.
George f. Spencer's case-that of a man;hOlding
prominent government place evading at the
same time subpoena from the government
has been scandal for months.
This brings up the chief point Of criticism that
Is heard in connection with this action-that it
should have been delayed so long. All these
alleged offenses were committed long agO-sO
long that the scandal of them has fairly died out
or,d nfS 49, h0D :l1v>
prise. 1t is TAKEN to be sure before the new trial
begins, but not before the panel of jurymen had
been drawn and their names published in prepa-
ration for the trial. On the other hand, this
action is widely commended, as an evidence of
the governments determination to press the
cases vigorously; and coming just before the
trial, it may easily have marked effect on the
sentiment Of the community.
Mr.. Merrick the only one Of the government
counsel in the city, after stating that when the
interview with Marshal Henry was printed he
sent it to the Attorney General as an Illustration
OF an act of great INSTRUMENTATION on the part of
subordinate official who attempted to dis
credit his superior officers and who publicly
stated that the government had no case. said
tonight: ''That interview has never been de-
MED or discredited On the contrary, Marshal
Henry has acknowledged it. ! passed over. the
continued presence of Detective Miller in the
court room, knowing that he was engaged in
the interests of the defense; but when at last
Helm, foreman of the Government Printing
Office, and also the responsible business
manager of the Critic which had SO
freely abused the government and
attempted to obstruct the administration
ofjustice removed young Doniphan. son of one
of the jurors, as l thought. because his father
had found the star route defendants guilty. l
could stand it no longer, and said to the At
torney Generals: Il have been handicapped by sub
ordinates Of the government, who, while living
upon the government, are using all their efforts
to obstruct the administration of tifstice and
the time has come for this to STOP Preferred
him to the complaint that counsel had made and
begged that he would not allow me any longer
to be embarrassed by the interference of sub
ordinate officers. I told him that young Mr..
Doniphan had called upon me and stated his
case to me, and that his removal was beyond
doubt caused by the fact that he was the son of
juror who had, in the exercise of his duty as a
juror. voted for the conviction Of the defend
ants, and that his removal at this time was de-
signed to demOraliZe the trial at the approach
ing term Of the court. The Attorney General
said that it should be attended to-