The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-04
AOUILLA JONES YINDICAED.
The Administration Organ Fakes Hughes
Easts Word for 1t.


Easts Word for 1t.
| Washington Post
Our adviceS from Indianapolis are to the effect
that Postmaster Jones appears to. be innocent of
| the charges that were made against him. Those
| charges were that he had violated the civil
cervice rules in making changes III the Indiana
polls postotfice, and it said that not only had
| he done this but had done it with every sort of
oStentatlon and under circumstances that seemed
to indicate desire to parade his contempt for
| the rules, the law, the Commission and the Pres
| ident's policy all combined.
| OF course, it was to be supposed that the
| President would take notice of such a case. 1t
| came to him IN a shape that demanded attention,
and was emphasized by the rumor-very gener
ally credited in certain quarters and circulated
with every appearance of triumph and satisfact-
| ion--that Mr. Jones had been put forward to
| make an issue on the Presidents policy and that
he was backed by a large and influential section
of the party. 1t WAS claimed that Mr. Jones had
| Intentionally violated the law, being instgnated
thereto by Dir. Hendricks and other opponents
of civil-service reform, and that the object was
to lnaugurate a revolt all along the line. Under
such circumstances, a man of the Presidents
| profound convictions and serious courage had
one thing to do. If tho law had been violated it
must be promptly indicated. If the opponents
| of the law were seeking an issue, they must be
met halfway. The investigation was at once
| ordered, and the occasion made
| We are now told that there was nothing in the
| charges against Mr.. Jones The information
| does not come from Commissioner Thoman.
| That immea Sura bic person has not for q long
| time enjoyed such an opportunity to be mystsri-
Gus and he naturally improves the shining hour
! We are indebted for these facts, which are pub
! lie property and should have been promptly made
| known, to Mr.. East, the Vice presidents private
| secretary, who has been at indianapolis and
! must DO supposed to be familiar with the case
| II they are as Mr.. East reports, the whole story
| has been groundess and silly from beginning TO
| end-nOt only as concerns the alleged irregulari
of PoCfy Sta INIT tha
sationa statement that revolt organizing
against the Presidents civil-service policy 1t
is difficult to imagine how such story could
have emanateG from Indianapolis and become
generally current throughout the country, gain
ing wide credence because of the conspicuous
lack OF contradiction, when all the time IL had
not the most shadowy basis of truth to rest upon.
Perhaps when Commissioner Thoman shall have
incubated his report. and that pin-feathered
fiedgling shall have CROPPED its way through the
maZes of decentralization and emerged into the
light, we may be able to say with the people in
the nelodrama 'All is explained"
Meanwhile, it is well to take notice that in this
matter the President has exhibited the courage
of his convictions. He has not only manifested
determination to stand by his declared policy,
but the hint that there was an organized opposi-
ton awaiting him has had the effect of Fastening
his action. If any have expected to find Mr.
Cleveland a faint hearted doubter of himself
they have been grevously disappointed. Against
threat as against pressure and importantly he
has been immovable, and the country now
knows that he means what he has said and that
he intends to stand oy it against any and all an-
tagoniSm. Even if MIR. East be correct in his
diagnosis Of the indianapolis affair and there has
never been word of truth in the statements
made concerning it. the episode will have been
valuable in its effect and important in its sgni-
ficance There need be no further misunder-
standing as to the Presidents purpose or as to
his courageous resolve to realize them. That is
worth knowing, anyhow!