The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-06-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June Sth.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER..
WASHINGTON, D. c., June Sth.
Mr.. ED1ToR:-The most important news
affecting the democratic party in years
has just reached Washington from New
York. 1t is to the effect that a consider
able number of New York business men
have decided that President Roosevelt is
"unsafe," ''erratic," ETC., and have in
formed leading democrats that they will
support any democratic candidate whom
it is believed can win. While this course
has been under consideration for some
time, it has been actually determined upon
as a result of the recent Hanna Roosevelt
fracas. They say that so long AS MIR
Roosevelt was guided by the advice OF
Senator Hanna he was not likely to err
too seriously, but now that he has cut
loose from the Ohio statesman he is not
to be trusted. His friendship with the
labor organizations is regarded as judi
cious and his attitude on many important
questions as varying with each breeze that
blows. 1t is believed that he will attempt
to force radical tariff revision on Congress
as soon as he is elected, and these promi
nent republicans say they would prefer an
out-and-out democrat with clearly defined
policies to the present occupant OF the
White House. They are perfectly willing
to accept a Bryan man and in fact urge
that tho nominee ho aooorfoh1o RI Cn1nno1
Bryan and his supporters. They only
urge that there be harmony in the ranks
of the democracy and they will supply
the sinews Of war.
In this connection, the greatest interest
is manifested in the conference which
Mayor Harrison, of Chicago, has called
for July 18th. 1t is known that Mr.. Har-
rison is opposed to what is generally
termed a reorganization of the party"
and that he favors the retention of the
old national committee and the nOmina-
ton of a man acceptable to Colonel
Bryan. In this connection the possible
nomination of Hearst and Harrison is
being quietly discussed. Mr.. Hearst coa-
trolls the great organizations of letter
carriers and postal clerks, regardless of
party, and that in itself would insure a
considerable support which perhaps no
other man could command. Whether
Hearst and Harrison would prove accep.
table to the New York interests is not
known. 1t may be that they, believing
they could carry New York, New Jersey
and Connecticut themselves, would advise
the nomination of an Illinois or an Indi-
ana man who could be counted on to
carry one of those doubtful States.
The extent of the ramiications of the
postal scandal continue to increase and
the Postmaster General, who is consulted
only after the applications for warrants
have been made, shakes his head and says
sorrowfully, at is appalling" Machen,
former general superintendent of free de-
livery, close friend of Abner Mckinley
and Perry Heath and petted f~avorite of
Payne, has been indicted on nine separate
counts by the Columbian grand jury.
Two of Machen's s~ubordinates and trusted
intimates, Thomas w. McGregor and G.
Ellsworth Upton, have been arrested for
mulcting the Government on a plan SINH
lar to Machen's. They have purchased
from one Smith, a trunk manufacturer of
Baltimore, rural free delivery mail bags,
which could nave been bought for so
cents or less, to the amount of $4,000.
They paid Smith 80 cents and received a
commission of 40 cents each, thus robbing
the Government of $4,000. Numerous
other officials are under constant surveil-
lance and will be arrested as soon as evil
dence which will hold in court can be Sc
cured and arranged. The implication of
some of the most prominent republican
politicians is momentarily threatened and
the Postofice officials are confident that
most of the spoils of the Machen, Beavers
gang have reached the pockets of such
prominent men. For all their corruption.
Machen and his pals are comparatively
poor men.
There is every indication of a very
warm interview between the President
and his Postmaster General. The latter
has tried in every way possible to cover
up the scandal and prevent the implica-
ton of the very politicians to whom he
owed his official existence. Met by a
man like Bristow and a man like Wynne,
he has been unable to accomplish this end
but has been defeated at every turn and
now he has the pleasure of meeting a high
ly incensed chief. AS if to forefend the
Presidents anger, Payne met him at the
railway station and touchingly threw his
arms around the Presidents neck. Mr..
Roosevelt was not seen, by the closest OBJ
server, to reciprocate this burst of ingenu-
Gus affection.
Much interest is taken in the speech Of
Senator Hanna at the Ohio convention.
For gentle irony it is awarded the palm.
Mr.. Hanna Invariably referred to the
president as that heroic young man In
the gentlest of sarcasm he pointed out
that Mr.. Roosevelt's administration had
been successful only because he had car
| ried out the policy of McKinley-the pol,