The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-21
Republican Politicians Want Loot


Washington. May 19.-(Spccial) -Repub
hcan parry managers are going through a
chills-and-fever period of anxiety over the
rotten disclosures In the postal investlga-
ton at Havana involving as that investi
cation Goes some Of the most trusted or
republican party workers Senator Hanna
and his colleagues in the little coterie OF
politicians which handles the political af-
fairs of the administration. realize the
immense possibilities of democratic cam
paign material which this Neely-Rath-
bone Thompson-et-al business furnishes.
Senator Bacon has started il going. and
the democrats are sure 10 make Il I'M
comfortable for the republicans not only
durirS the c;osiuG weeks of this session
of congress. but until The votes are cast in
November.
There could be no better illustration OF
just what the democrats have been con
tending vas the purpose of republican ex-
pansion than this one furnished BY the
CrookedncSS IN Cuba.
The democrats have all the lime con-
tended tfat tie prime desire and purpose
which inspiIts the republicans in thsir
ideas OF expansion is loot They have
charged that }ansion with the TepuD-
iIcans in power meant that Hanna would
give all The good places 20 repubucan poll
ticiens who were his iieuteHdnts. and that
the inevitable result If all this would be
mIsmauat emcnt and perhaps dishonesty
Hardy nad Inc words SGT out OF their
mouth. as L were. before their truth was
emphasized BIZ the most sldrlns llCstra-
tons
Here Is government acting as trustee
for the people of a little island devastated
by war There could bee 40 higher reSpon-
slbihty placed upon this government IMAM
the honest administration o. the affairs
of the Cubans. UnGer a democratic adj
ministration. with honesty and integrity
at the white house and a determination 10
do right controlling me party ~ power;
such rottenTess as that already disclosed
in cuba could not have happened Under
a republican admins ira ton dominated 7S
-lis j. 05 the most CorguptinS influences,
nothing else than corruption ana di~nOh-
csty could wei be expected.
Postoffice a Fat Thing.
Almost the greatest source OF revenue in
the island of Cuba-that furnishing oppor-
tunlty COR the manipulation of the largest
sums of money-was the Dostoffice depart
ment The administration very kindly I'M
dcrtook 10 give 10 the Cuban people per
feet postal system. showing them how
such a system should be run aHd especial
~ how 1t could be run honestly. Iht
office Of director of posts was created
and under The order OF tho president, was
given absolute authority. rs Mr.. Hale.
the stalNart republican from Maine. point
cd out in the senate the extensive author
ity given T. the director Of poses ia Cuba
was only eQualed by the unlimited author
ity given o. the Roman pro-consuLs. For
SUCH a post we're ID the desire of the
president to have Cuban affairs admins
tered honestly. there should have been
selected a man of the highest type ~
American integrity. He should certainly
have been a man against whom there n1d
never been the least faint OF suspicion
and whose life had been marked by the
most perfect pulchritude. IL is possible
to und such mCU--it is even possible TO
fi1d them in the republican party, but
when you 50 to look for them. 1t Is un-
Wise to make a selection from the ranks
of the political gang OF Mark Lanna's
Neutenants.
And yet when President Mckinley made
his selection OF director of posts he chose
a fellow whose record Hau been simply
that of political ncnchindn and ONCE
hOider-a Tau whose most noted service,
apparently. was that ia the interest," y
Mark Hanna out at Columbus. where the
majority report Of an investigating COM
mtttea appointed 10y a republican lesisla-
turc charged hIm-this man kathbonc-
with an attempt 10 brlOe a member al the
Legislature ana buy his vote Tor Hanna.
The record with regard to Mr. R1tnbone
I'm tbat tr.,ns4rtion is very Interesting IL
shows alleged efforts on his part 10 pur-
chase the vote of Representa- OtiS. lie
failed in this particular case. bit 1t is
evident that Senator Hanna 1elt that his
lieutenant had done all that he could. Ger
taiuly he performed a crVice 10 Senator
Hanna when he refused all of the over
lures of the investigating committee and
STAYED acre IN Washington until the thing
blew ovec. declining 70 go TO Columbus TO
testify.
Mr. Rathbone has a record as a repub-
lcan hustler and is generally regarded by
those intimate with his history as Il
man upon whom the republicans can rely
when there IS any dirty work to be done.
1t might be difficult TO put ones finger on
any specific case of personal dishonesty
i'm his past but there is little doubt that
his conscience would acquit him OF any
deed of political dishonesty. That, at any
rate is his general reputation There is
absolutely nothing in his record to have
warranted his appointment to an office
of so great responsibility and so unlimit-
ed power The one thing considered by
President McKin!cy-the one qualification
WAS that he was one of Hanna'S Chief