The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-29
RUN THE RASCALS TO
EARTH, COMMANDS
ROOSEVELT.
Clarkson and Others Fear the Effect
on the Party, but It Is Said the
President Is Resolved To
Uncover All Rascality.
End Not in Sight.

has got to be cleaned up ana cleaned at
once"
This is the emphatic order that has
gone forth from the white house TO
Postmaster General Payne. and that Of
ficer now seems to realize that the pres
ident will tolerate no half hearted in
vestigation So intense has become the
situation regards the postoftice scan
dals that official OF the administra-
tion. however high up he may be. feels
competent to predict where the inves-
tiaaton will end or what more startling
sensations it will bring forth. At the de-
rartment the excitement among the en-
ployees is on the increase and perVades
every branch. This Is regarded as
bad sign and every postof1ice inspector
in the employment of the government is
working over hours here ann in other
parts of the country. Now that the IN
vestigation has begun the president de-
clares that the accounts of every post
office, in the country shall be gone
through before this investigation stops.
A large force of inspectors has been dis
patched to New York and they already
have facts in hand which indicate that
New York will prove almost as fertile a
field for scandal as is the department
here. Indeed. it is believed that New
York politicians of prominence will be
seriously implicated in the scandals. And
still the president says, keep it up.
General James Clarkson, who has
way of coming to Washington to advise
the president whenever an ugly ques-
ton such az negro appointments in the
south or scandals in the government
service IS up, got a severe turn down
al the white house Saturday. Hearing
the rumble of thunder over in New ofK'
General ClarkSon came on to Washington
to warn the administration of the sad
political effects that would follow an up
turning OF affairs III the New York post
office. He first saw the postmaster gen
eral and endeavored to discuss the ques-
ton from the standpoint of political eX-
pedency. The postmaster general had
already gone aground on the same argu
ment and he advised the general in these
words:
the white house. The president won't
stand for it..
Clarkson and Plat Rebuffed,
Because he had the partys interests
so keenly at heart, however. the general
thought he could present the matter to
the president in a light that would ap-
peal to him So he came TO the white
house armed with lot Of talk about
the critical situation in New York poll
tics Before he had a chance to ask
the president to let up biz, he was
informed that the postofiice inyestiga-
ton was not being conducted to boost
the republicans bat in the interest or
clean government General Clarkson left
the white house without further ado.
Senator Tom" Plat, Of New York, is
another who has oeen made aware Of
the presidents determination in the mat
ter The senator came over the other
night to look over the ground. He had
a talk with the postmaster general Fri
day night and told him that the stirring
up of trouble in the New York post
Office was certain to cause the party
lots of trouble Mr. Payne and Senator
Plat are old friends In the business of
politics and he gave the New York SEN
ator 4 bat of advice which had its effect
next day when the president and the
senator lunched together. After the
luncheon it was announced that post
office matters were not discussed This
proved disappointing news to the New
York postOfice officials. especially Post
master Van Colt. whose son is SAID to be
badly implicated in the scandals there.
There is no doubt felt here that Tom
Platts mission 70 Washington was TOR
the sole purpose Of doing what he could
30 call off the postoftice inspectors that
are now swarming on the trail OF Ger
Ohig Postlnas tof General fayhe uhey
"otd Oh auH4ce SdFeu '.lG senator lioaa
dent
Postmaste. General Payne's position is
one of increasing embarrassment In
deed, his closest friends admit that the
situa ton looks bad for him. When the
IuHoch charges We're hlst MADE MI.
me ID d" NJ ie" ~ " 'iD|U'
800 ~ htcr ~ ~ w. ,rfInoh
charges we're 81 much hot air. and had
no more weight than a stump speech. D."
The forthcoming report of Fourth AS
sistaht foslihaster Genera bIlstoW. VINO
- ~ go - .ilI aE| onn re ~
Tullooh charges The postmaster gen
eral Informed the president of this fact
Yesterday afternoon at . conference. The
president while regretting to place Mr..
Payne in an awkward position, feels that
the BrStow report should he made pub
lie and he has so ordered. MI Payne
will therefore, have to indorse a report
confirming the charges which he only a
short while ago declared to be "hot air"
viii Mr. PAYNE resign? Will he not
find that he can be of more assistance
10 the president as western manager of
the presidential campaign than as
"a hinet officer? These questions are be-
ing asked by officials of the administra-
ton and they are not getting very quick
or definite answers.
povno Hoe p,,nIed
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