Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-06-28
ADoLPH PATTERSON.
THE CUBAN POSTAL STEAL.
Under the Powers at wash
ingtOn.

Inc scandals IN connection WIN the
establishment of a 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, end 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 81 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 first
assistant. 1t did not take very long
for the assistant, backed by Hanna
and the president, to force his chief
to resign. Mr.. Charles Emory Smith
succeeded Mr.. Gary, with the under
standing that Heath was not to be
with.
Acting under Heath, as Heath acted
under Hanna, in the scheme of plum
der politics, were Nicely and Rath-
bone, and through Heath's influence
they were given important positions
in the post office department. The es-
of a postal system in Gu
ba, a temporary dependency of the
and among a people who
did not understand the English Ian
guage or American business methods,
was the opportunity for which these
friends of the administration and
servitors of Hanna and the president
had waited and hoped. Nicely was APP
pointed treasurer and general man
lger of the postal system on the part |
Of the government, and he and his |
wasted no time in get
ting to work.
If they had not been detected by the |
authorities and checked in |
their operations before they got fair
~ started there is no telling how
much they would have stolen. AS it |
IS, they got away with hundreds of |
thousands of dollars.
The United States occupies a pecul-
ar position in relation to Cuba. In
The face of the world, it became the
guardian of the untaught and ineXpe-
fenced people of the island. 1t exer-
Used supreme authority over them.
It undertook to instruct them in the
of government by the people
Ind for the people-to start them in
he way of managing their public af-
airs peacefully, honestly and in &C
,ordance with law. The administra-
ion and the men by whom it is sur
'ounded and controlled have so quit
ed themselves of these national obi
-ations by unloading gang of thieves
Ipon them, and not only robbing them
md making them suspicious of re-
publican form of government, but at
he same time fixing a stigma and
BURNING disgrace upon their own gov
City Independent.
Western labor has condemned
for the part he had in the
Soeur d'Alene affair. Now it remains
o be seen if the western laborers will
ote at the polls as they vote in their