The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-11
CUT OPEN PARTY LETTERS
SERIOUS CHARGE Is MADE AGAINST
REPUBLICAN DEPART
MENT CLERKS
TAMPERED WITH THE MAIL
Have Been Slit and Re-
seaIed-Interference in Delivery
of Campaign Literature
Also Alleged.

CHICAGO, Oct. 10-Oficials Of the
Democratic national committee make the
sensational charge that representa- ives
of the Republican organization In the
employ Of the postal department are
opening personal letters directed to fed
eral employees and are interfering with
the regular delivery of Democratic cam
paign literature
1t is alleged that personal letters sent
out from executive headquarters of the
national committee have been opened
systematically and that envelopes have
been slit at the top the entire length
and sealed again with mucllage In no
instance have such envelopes been
marked Opened by mistake" nor, after
having been opened, have they been off,
cially sealed as required by the postal
regulations.
Moreover, complaints have been receiv
ed by Charles A. Walsh, secretary of
the Democratic national committee, that
campaign documents mailed by the thou
sands and issued through the Democratic
document depot at $50 Wabash avenue
have not been received and cannot De
traced.
THINK IT REPUBLICAN PLOT.
Reports of this nature have been re-
ceived for several weeks. AT first the
Democratic officials were disposed to at
the part of shipping clerks, but evidence
has been gathered in the last few days
which has satisfied the party managers,
apparently, that the Republican bosses
have been engaged in a plot to estab-
fish a censorship over Democratic CORE
spondence, with a view to counterfeit
any plan which the Democrats might 0e
disposed to prosecute in the conduct Of
their campaign and to prepare a federal
blacklist
An official statement Is wanting as to
the method which the Democratic mar
ayers will employ to prevent this alleged
criminal interference with the United
States mails, but If the present practice
is not Immediately discontinued, it Is
said, a general investigation will be
sought before election. 1t seems that
Democratic mail matter directed to
Washington and New York has been
personal letters directed to federal EN-
ployes being special objects of prey.
# EDERAL OFFICIAL is NOTIFIED. 4
Senator Jones, chairman of the Demo-
cratic national committee, has notified
Joseph L. Bristow, fourth assistant post
master general, of the espionage which
has been practiced by certain parties
evidently in the service of the postal de-
partment, but Mr. Bristow has replied
investigation unless furnished with
bill of particulars giving names and in
criminative facts. Senator Jones has
withheld this information temporarily,
for fear of disclosing his informants,
who, it is assumed, would Immediately
lose their official heads were it known
that they were spying on their asso
ciates.
Consideration for the men who have
hol h. H.
appears to be an Infamous conspiracy
against the Democratic organization has
dissuaded me from making any disclos-
ureS at this time said Senator Jones.
''What will be done later on will de-
pend largely upon circumstances"
Willis j. Abbot manager of the Demo-
cratic press bureau, says he has re-
ceived scores of letters which apparently
had been previouly opened and clumsily
sealed.
Secretary Walsh said the chief com
plants made to him related to the nom
delivery of campaign literature.
Democratic officials say they would not
be surprised were the Republican man
ayers informed daily of every move
made at the Auditorium headquarters.
1t is expected that copies of circulars
will find their way into Senator Hanna's
bailiwick, but the idea of keeping tab
on the personal correspondence Of the
Democratic executive officials is regarded
as a breach of the traditions of political
warfare as well as a gross violation of
the postal laws unprecedented in the his
tory Of this country.
DEMOCRATS SUSPICIOUS OF HEATH.
1t is an open secret that the Demo
cratic officials are suspicious of Secre-
tary Perry S. Heath Of the Republican
national committee. Mr. Heath's name
is not connected with the present al
legged Violations but it is believed that
as former assistant postmaster general
he has inspired many schemes which
have veered dangerously near the limita-
tons of the postal laws.
In the transmission of campaign litera-
ture the Republican national committee
and it's subsidiary bureaus have enjoyed
every privilege that the postal depart
ment could confer. Special mail wagons,
special carriers and special preference
have been given Republican mail matter
from the beginning of the campaign.
1t is charged that postal carriers and
employees have acted as roustabouts and
eXpressmen in their handling of Repub-
lican mail bags, but have done the bid
ding of their superiors without complaint.