Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-07-10
ADoLPH PATTERSON
THE CUBAN POSTAL STEAL.
Hanna Morally the Principal Culpr1.
Under the Powers at WASH
fnEton.

The scandals in connection with the
establishment of q postal system in
Cuba are not surprising, when con-
sidered in the light of the character
of the men who caused them, their
antecedents and the temptation to
which they were exposed. 1t is plain
they were sent to Cuba as a reward
for their political services to the adj
ministration, and that they under
stood they were to make what they
could out of their positions. They
took their unwritten instructions too
literally; and instead of filling their
pockets discreetly and quietly, they
inaugurated a species Of orgie,
grabbed everything in sight, and con-
sequently, when the exposure came
the administration was shocked, and
perhaps the chances of the Mckinley
reelection jeopardized
Mr.. Hanna is no doubt morally the
principal culprit. Years ago-in fact,
from the time of the establishment of
the political firm or syndicate of Han
ma G. Mckinley-Mr. Perry Heath, as
sistant postmaster general, has been
in Mr.. Hanna's employ. He has been
an editor and correspondent of news
papers in his interest, and when Mr.
Mckinley was nominated for president
four years ago had charge of his cam
paign in Indiana, and, acting under
Hanna's instructions, carried the state
for him. When the president formed
his cabinet Mr.. Gary was made post
master general and Heath his frs
assistant. 1t did not take very long
for the assistant, backed by Ham;
and the president, to force his chic
to resign. Mr.. Charles Emory Smitl
succeeded Mr.. Gary, with the under
standing that Heath was not to b.
interfered with.
Acting under Heath, as Heath acte'
under Hanna, in the scheme of plum
der politics, were Nicely and Rath
bone, and through Heath's infiuenc
they We're given important position
in the post Office department. The es
! tablishment of postal system in Gu
ba, temporary dependency of tn
government, and among q people VIII
did not understand the English Ian
guage or American business methods
was the opportunity for which thes
friends of the administration an
servitors of Hanna and the presiden
had waited and hoped. Nicely was al
pointed treasurer and general mar
ager of the postal system on the par
Of the government, and he and hi
confederates wasted no time In get
ting to work.
If they had not been detected by tn
military authorities and checked j
their operations before they got fail
ly started there is no telling no,
, much they would haze stolen. AS
e is, they got away with hundreds {
. thousands of dollars
The United States occupies pecu
: lar position in relation to Cuba. ]
8 the face of the world, it became tn
guardian Of the untaught and inexp
3 rienced people of the island It exc
8 cised supreme authority over then
e 1t undertook to instruct them in I'll
methods of government by the Peep
and for the people-to start them
the way of managing their public a
i fairs peacefully, honestly and in a
: cordance with law. The administr
e ton and the men by whom 1T is su
g rounded and controlled have so qui
e ted themselves of these national obi
cations by unloading gang Of thiev'
: upon them, and not only robbing the
g and making them suspicious of a r
i publican form of government, but {
g the same time fixing stigma an
+ burning disgrace upon their own go
: ernment.-Kansas City Independent.
1f Nlssssvs f FfA SID e S ssssa g. WI