The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-08-16

tHc Nicely 6XCraQlClOM@
former officials did so much OF IT,
the furore in the United States over
the exposure of the postal frauds has
created surprise rather than anything
else.
"The Cubans are harmless people,
In no way fit for self-government," con-
tinues this fatuous Administration
employee The announcement of the
early departure of the United States
troops which among the better ele-
ment (the Spaniards) had not been eX-
pected for the next ten years, has
aroused a strong feeling against the
proposed step.
"The finances of the island are in
good shape. We have collected $23,-
O0O,O 600 since the first of last January
and have expended $20000,00O," con-
Guides this complacent individual.
The Administration ought to be
more careful about allowing its en-
ployes from Cuba to express their real
opinions in such an unguarded man
ner The people are already pretty
well convinced that the carpet-bag en-
ployes regarded Cuba as a country
from which the greatest possible rev.
enue should be extracted and spent for
the benefit of the said employees Treas
urer Ladd's statements emphasize this
| notion. Of course, no autocratlc de-
| spoier ever thought his victims fit for
| self-government while they could be
| fleeced under military rule.
Assistant Postmaster General Bris-
tows report on the postal frauds
| shows that Rathbone, Nicely and their
confederates exercised great industry
in transferring postal receipts to their
own pockets for the few months they
were in Cuba.
The report very conservatively esti-
mates the amount stolen at $l50,OOO,
but it is very much more. Rathbone is
let down easy. He is charged with
taking 81 900 in money, SIS per diem
allowance to which he was not enti-
tied and with furnishing his house ex-
travagantly at government expense.
The Administration Imply suggest
ed that it would have Rathbone ar
rested. 1t can afford to make play
of this sort, for under Cuban statutes
he need only be punished by returning
the amount of the alleged theft. Rath-
bone will not be brought back to this
| country He knows too much about
Hanna and the Administration. He
will probably have no difficulty in set
Ting satisfactorily with the Cuban
courts. Meanwhile, Nicely tarries in
New York fighting extradition. The
whole thing is an instructive exhibition
of the logical results of imperial rule
The Republican platform commends
| the Administration for having selected
| officials for Cuba who had demonstrate
ed their fitness by training and eXpe-
rience'
Chairman Jones of the Democratic
National Committee has been con
ferring with leaders in the East. He
feels very hopeful of Democratic sue
cess. He shows that the Administra-
ton has made a record which forces
imperialism to the front as the para
mount issue. It's colonial policy, the
war in the Philippines and the strong
pro-British attitude of the Admins
tration oblige the people TO decide
| whether lney. can risk another four
years of drifting from every tradition
and principle which has governed this
country. The failure of the gold Dem
ocrats to even make a nomination is
another indication of how thoroughly
| the various forces that have been pre-
viously divided are lining up to vote
for Bryan as protest against i'm
perialism and trust domination.
! Boss Hanna is in New York. He is
collecting some belated campaign con
tributions. He needs them all, because
he is running number of expensive
side shows. He has handful of self
styled ant-imperialists whom he is
encouraging to put up straw third
ticket in order to divert the solid anti
imperialist vote from Bryan The Ma
tional League of Anti-Imperialists dis
claims all connections with this exhib-
it,
Then the Mid-Road Populists and al
least two of the so-called Socialist
tickets look suspiciouly like Hanna
promoted industries If the alleged
gold Democracy could only have vital.
lied to the extent of putting ticket
in the field it would have helped tc
round out the list of distractions to be
provided for the needless or unwary
voter. There is prospect of a mon
partisan" antitrust show to complete
the list.
The travelling men furnish another
instance. There is no doubt but that
nine-tenths of the commercial travel
ers are Bryan men just as are SINH
lar proportion of anti-imperialist
Populists and Socialists, because the
great issue dwarfs all minor differ
ences.
But some of the trust concerns have
served notice to their travelling men
that they will have to fall into line
and shout for the Republican ticket or
lose their places. It's the same old
game of coercion that was played in
SO.
The attempt to marshal the German
| vote into Republican tent is making
trouble. Roosevelt gets hold of a
prominent GermanAmerican. who is
advertised to bring in all of his peo-
| nla If was heralded in tbo ,,,,,,,