The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-08
POSTMASTER GOWDEN
Learns OF Alleged Charges Against
Him from the Press.
He Is RElLLY NOT REMOVED ut ALL
But His Successor is Named Because
His Term Expires December 20.
False and Reckless Accusations of
Grave oHcnses-what He Has to
Say OF tho Matter

In telegram sent out from Washing.
ton announcing the appointment OF NJ.
J. O'Kaue as postmaster at Wheeling,
and which was printed in the Regi4er
here, the Post at Pittsburgh and doubt.
less other papera, some statements
were made which we're news to Post
master Cowden and to almost every
body else in the city. The telegram re.
ierred to says:
"Tho removal from office to-day OF
Postmaster Cowden and the nomina-
ton of Michael ]. O'Kane 10 succeed
him was something of surprise here,
as it was thought the change would not
be made until tho Goth OF this month,
the date on which Mr.. Cowden's term
expires.
THE fact that the latter was not al
lowed to finish his term shows that the
charges flied against him were consider
ed by the postmaster general and the
President sufficiently serious to warrant
his removal. IL is probable that the
postmaster general did not find time to
take up and consider the case until the
last few days, and that as soon as he
discovered the nature OF the charges
against Mr.. Cowden, he decided on
prompt action.
These charges were that MI. Cowden
tempered with the mail OF prominent
Democrats, abstracting letters and Civ
ing their contents TO Republican papers
TO print as campaign material. There
were also other charges OF less serious
nature rejecting on the general conduct
Of the Wheeling Office by the Repubtt.
can postmaster.
Yesterday an INrELLlGESCER reporter
called on Mr.. Cowden and asked him
what he thought OF this.
III the charges which the Register
says werCmade, Mr.. Cowden answered,
were really made and the administra.
ton believed there was anything In
them, it certainly treated me literally.
The oiIense oil tampering with or re-
moving mail is punishable by an i'm
prisonment OF at least two years in the
penitentiary. IL seems to me the gov
eminent treated such a charge pretty
lightly il it was ever made"
did you ever know OF any charges
being made?"
No; / never did. The first l ever
heard Of any such thing was in that
telegram. Several Democrats here have
told me that they were solicited to pre-
fer charges and make affidavit to them,
but that they positively declined to do
so"
"Have you been removed?'
Not at all. / have heard nothing
from Washington. My frat official in
formation OF the change will bo when
Mr.. O'Kane waits on me with the papers
notifying him OF his appointment. In
the ordinary course Of events he can
scarcely possibly succeed Inc before
January l. His appointment must be
confirmed by the senate, then the blank
bond must be sent here, filled up, re-
turned TO Washington and approved.
That will take at least all tho time until
my commission expires, December 20,
and in all probability longer than that"
Mr.. Cowden did not say what course
nc intended to pursue in regard to the
publication OF the alleged charges. 1t
was reported, however, that he would
90 to Washington and demand to see
any charges on file against him, lie
made the significant remark 10 tho re-
porter that the charges were false, and
whoever made them knew them to be
false, and that such false charges COLI
stituted gross criminal libel. The pub
LEGATION is also libelous.
Mr.. O'Kane is quoted as saying that
no will fill all the places in the post
office with Democrats as fast as he can,
and that il there is any obstacle in tho
way in the shape OF the civil service
law, he cannot be held responsible for
that. Such an obstacle will be found to
exist, for there are only six eligible
names OIL the list Tor carriers and three
or four for clerks. All the other aDpl.
cants failed to pass the required civil
service examination.
Yesterday leading Democrat tele.
graphed to tho chairman OF the senate
committee on postoliices and post roads
asking him to have 0'Kanes uomina-
ton hung up in the senate, as his con-
firmation would defeat the Democratic
party in West Virginia aud lose it all
four Of the congressman aud both OF the
senators. He was evidently in earnest