Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-09-02
FAREWELL TO HOKE SMITH.
HIS CAREER AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL
COMES TO An END.
Something About How Mr.. Smith Ma
niPulated Department Matters to
His Own Glory and to the
Public Defriment.

Washington Sept. 1.-(Sp=cial.) Mr.. Hokt
Smith, Of the state of Georgia, who has
been one Of the most obnoxious charac-
ters connected with the administration, is
out of Office. He is again a private citt-
zen and will remain a private citizen some
time in the event Mr.. Bryan is not elected
president: in such an event he will again
be made secretary of the interior.
Mr.. Smith leaves his office, after work
ing the press associations, usual for
, another advertisement, made up of praise
for himself, telling what wonderful man
he is, and claiming that he has done much
while in office TO save the country. 1t may
be of interest 10 know just how it is that
Smith has been able TO impose on the
news agencies and force himself to the
front in many publications. In the first
place he owns a paper, and some news
agencies are disposed to impose on the re-
nainder of their patrons by praising some
one whose business they want, or try to
hold business when they have ii. When
MIR. Smith broke into public life by accI-
dent, his paper belonged to one associa-
ton; later ii changed to the other. In the
meantime he arranged matters in his de-
partment TO force all to tell great things
only about Smith. A news agency that
would not praise him would not be allowed
TO get official news out Of the department.
This extended to his thousands of ap-
pointees over the country, who come most
ly from the benlghted jungles of Smith S
former places OF abode. In this way Smith
tried to contiol all news in his departme MT
and force all to accept the misrepresenta-
uons made to cover up the real manipuia-
ucns of the Office.
As a sample of Smiths misrepresenta-
tion for the press. here is some OF MS
last blast about his mutilations OF the pen
Sion roll and his failure to carry out the
law in the pension bureau. The inspired
statement is follows:
AT the first of this administration there
were pending 1900 appeals from the pen
Sion office undisposed of in the secretarys S
Office. The current work has been kept
up and these accumulated cases disposed
OF. Considerable friction was created for
while by the EFFORT in the pension ofhce
to bring the administration of the act of
June q, $780, down TO the terms of the act
applicable to disabilities and to remove
from the rolls those improperly on them.
The excitement was due largely 10 a mis-
apprehension of what was being done and
fear of action which was not contemplat-
co. For over year past the work of the
bureau has been moviAss smoothly and
cases are being disposed of rapidly
There are few people who read e,I newspa-
version of facts and base misrepresenta-
tion 1t is variously estimated by members
the removal of from 10000 to 100000 names
from the pension roll. 1t only be
reached by estimate. The house passed a.
resolution, as did the senate, asking for an
resolutions passed asked for information
about every pension allowance that had
v.
resolutions reached the secretary in regu-
lar form and no attention was paid to
them. After unusual delay the house
passed another resolution asking the Sec
retary to report to the house why he had
not complied with the request. To this the
secretary made reply that 1t would be al
quested and demanded. To do 1t he would
have TO set apart many clerks who would
oe compelled to overhaul the entire bureau
and Ii was simply impossible with the force
nation desired.
In other words so much had been done in
that ii was too big matter to embrace in
point and spoke for itself. While of
even II he had wiped out all the pension
roll. his refusal to comply with the re-
quest was based on the fact that he did
know the devastation Of the pension roll III
fncuged in by himself under his direct and
Strict strict orders: This Is part of his pension
yet in the face of all this he leaves with
parting howl about great good he has
Tbis gGne q oy L refusing to carry out the law.
or to the man who was foolish enough to
iinS Tsa him M and bring him to the surface
Illustrated by his record simply with Mr..
Cleveland. The president by way of pun.
ishing some of the political enemies in
elevate man over the South whose eleva-
ton would disturb certain elements. Mr.
Smith having reached prominence in this
who gave him his advantages But in
stead OF this he uses the administration
in the effort to break into the senate, and
having been defeated for that he proceeds
to make the only remaining combination
possible for future preferment and makes
turns against his original friend q" anu
Mr.. Smith leaves the department nm
eeualed in many. respects. Never before
did m member NIB Of the cabinet appoint SO
ment expense and hold them together at
the expense OF the government service
Never did member of the cabinet ever
before have SO many relatives chasing all
over the country looking after pickup mat
ter on the outside. The fac siniile contract
tlemen In Oklahoma. a consideration being
given Colonel Cobb for his influence II,
securing the approval of certain grazing
leases in the Wichita. Kiowa. Comanche
and Apache country. stands out as finsn-
cial transaction never surpassed in hand
ing government business. By reason of
this way of handling business and in fact
by reason of this very contract. the Wich-
lta reservation is still in the hands of the
cattiemen and the settlers are kept on the
border. AT the same time of course the
secretary of the Interior refused To carry
out the law. but preferred to handle the
reservation in a way that met the finan-
and Cousin Cobb
In all the history Of territories NO sec,
IetaIy ever sent in so many carpetba spers
70 hoid oiiice, and with them so many rel
stlVes. The interests of the people in all
inc territories have always been made TO
serre the welfare of the carpetbagpers and
the territories have simply been made graz
ing Srounds for the gang The business of
the general land Office, the Indian bureau
ann the pension bureau has been handled
Tor the personal ends Of the secretary. SO
far as he interfered with or took interest
IN those ofhces. OF course, he would allow
regular business to be done by the sub
ordfnates If no turn could be made ont or
1t in the lines he was always deeply inter
ested in.
II will be great relief to the peon,. n,
the territories to know that Mr. Smith is
al last out of the cabinet and the only
fear they Will have is that by some chance
be may get back into his old position This
is likewise true of hundreds of thousands
OF other people who have been reduced 10
the humiliation of doing business with
him. VIZ"