The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1903-09-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Postmaster General Payne ha
sown the wind and he or the Pres
ident must reap the whirlwind
This is the confident prediction
not only of Democratic but of Re
publican politicians. The discharg
of Miss Hulda Todd. postmistres
of Greenwood, Delaware, to pleas
Senator Alice, the Addicks senator
has met with the severest condem
nation throughout the country ane
will be made national issue if no.
reversed. If reversed, the President
NAV pass unscathed, but Postmas
ter General Payne, will, in the opin'
ion of those in position to Judge,
have to resign. Postmaster Gen
eral Payne, who was called to the
Cabinet at the request of Senator
Hanna, because the latter owed
Payne many political debts, has
never acquitted himself with credit
in his present position. Everyone
in close touch with the postotfice
investigation appreciates that had
there not been a Bristow at hand,
not only to take the lead, but to
skillfully place his chief in positions
where he was compelled to take the
proper course, the whole investiga-
ton would have proved farce and
it is further known that in many
instances Payne has, by his obse-
quiousness to the political bosses
and his loyalty to political hench-
men unworthy of trust, placed al
most insurmountable obstacles in
Bristow's way. Now. however, he
has capped the climax, and if Mr..
Roosevelt makes the least preten-
sion to consistency, he cannot fail
to relieve the postal service of a man
whose every conception of his duty
is at total variance with the Pres
ident's professions.
X
Just as the Todd incident was
being telegraphed from one end of
the country to the other, another
Delaware development occurred and
served to recall the most discredit-
able incident of the Roosevelt ad-
ministration. United States Dis
tr1ct Attorney William Michael
Byrne has resigned. Byrne resigned
his position some time ago to run
for Congress, but was defeated be-
cause lie was an Addicks Republi
can. After his defeat. the Presi
dent sent his nomination to the
Senate, but Senator Hoar, chairman
of the Judiciary Committee, was so
to "Addicksism - that he
fought Byrne's confirmation and
was successful. When the Senate
convened in special session the
President again sent in Byrne's
and again Mr.. Hoar de-
feated it's confirmation. Then,
after he had twice been repudiated
by the Senate because of his asso-
citation with all infamous political
corruptiouist, he was again appoint
ed to the position by Mr.. Roosevelt
as recess appointment, Now
he has resigned because he appreci.
ates that the Senate will never con-
firm him and the President cannot
oppose the wishes of that body
when it is in session. Decent peo-
pie, irrespective of party, agree hop
ing that the President will have
the courage to wash his hands of
the notorious Addicks for all time,
but the telegraphic news is to the
effect that Addicks lieutenant, Al
lee, has already gone to Oyster Bay
to secure the selection of an Adj
dicks man as Byrne's successor, land
the public will await with interest
the news of the reception accorded
him by Mr.. Roosevelt
Commissioner of Labor, Carroll
D. Wright, has, in the capacity OF
umpire for a board Of Cancellation
appointed under the provisions OF
the decisions Of the Anthracite
Coal Strike Commission, rendered
an important decision affecting Ia
Dor. Mr.. Wright, adjudicatlng a
case where the labor interests
claimed that one of their number
had been discharged without cause,
points out that the right of dis