Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-09-18

LenSths-mIss hulda Todd, an Exemplary
Officer, Dismissed, Like Bee Taylor, for
Having an Opinion-Even a u S. Senator
Measures Lances With Poor FraiI Woman
The Universal Comment is Shame
One of the Presidential Appointments
Turned Down Twice BY the Senate ON
missioner Wright Discovers an Important
Principle Affecting Labor Disputes-More
indictments for Malfeasance in Office
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 1903.
Postmaster General Payne has sown
the wind and he, or the President,
must reap the whirlwind. This is the
confident prediction not only of DEM
ocratic but OF Republican politicians.
The discharge of Miss Hulda Todd,
postmistress OF Greenwood, Delaware,
to please Senator Alice, the Addicks
Senator, has met with the severest
condemnation throughout the country
and will be made national issue if
not reversed. If reversed, the Presi-
dent may pass unscathed, but Post
master General Payne will, in the
opinion OF those in a position to Judge,
have to resign. Postmaster General
Payne, who was called to the cabinet
at the request of Senator Hanna be-
cause the latter owed Payne many po-
litical debts, has never acquitted him.
self with credit in his present position.
Everyone in close touch with the Post.
Office investigation appreciates that
had there not been Bristow at hand,
not only to take the lead, but to skill
fully place his chief in positions where
he was compelled to take the proper
course, the whole investigation would
have proved farce, and it is further
known that in many instances Payne
has by his obsequiousness to the polit.
ical bosses and his loyalty to political
henchman unworthy of trust, placed
almost insirmountable obstacles i'll
Bristow's way. Now, however, he has
capped the climax and if Mr.. Roose-
welt makes the least pretension 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 Presidents
professions.
Just as the Todd incident was being
telegraphed from one end of the coun-
try to the other, another Delaware de-
velopment occurred and served to re-
call the most discreditable incident of
the Roosevelt administration. United
States District Attorney William
Michael Byrne has resigned. Byrne
resigned his position some time ago to
run for Congress but was defeated be.
cause he was an Addicks Republican.
After his defeat, the President sent his
nomination to the Senate, but Senator
Hoar, chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee, was 80 opposed to Addricks-
ism" that he fought Byrne's confirma-
ton and was successful. When the
Senate convened in special session the
President again sent in Byrne's nomi-
nation and again Mr.. Hoar defeated
its confirmation. Then, after he had
twice been repudisted by the Senate
because OF his association with an in.
famous political corruptioniet, he was
again appointed to the position by Mr..
Roosevelt, as "recess appointment"
Now he hae resigned because he ap-
preciates that the Senate will never
confirm him and the President cannot
oppose the wishes of that body when
it is in session. Decent people, ire.
spective of party, are hoping that the
President will have the courage to
wash his hands of the notorious Ad.
dicks for all time, but the Geographic
news is TO the effect that Addicks'
lieutenant, Alice, has already gone to
Oyster Bay to secure the selection OF
an Addicks man as Byrne's successor,
and 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 q board OF Cancellation appointed
under the provisions of the decision of
the Anthracite Coal Strike Commits.
sion, rendered an important decision
affecting labor. Mr.. Wright, adjudi-
eating a case where the labor interests
claimed that one OF their number has
been discharged without cause, points
out that the right of discharge must
remain with the employer, the only
alternative being the forfeiture of the
right of quittal on the part of the en-
ployed. In other words. if the en-
plOyer has no right to discharge his
men then the men can claim no
right to quit and . virtual serfdom
would be thus created. The labor Or
CARNATIONS are said to be displeased
with the decision, but Mr.. Wrights
corrollary is so obvious that it is pro.
bable that when further reflection has
enabled them to take broader view OF
the situation they will appreciate the
justice of the decision.
There have been some important
developments in connection with the
Postoffice Investigation during the
past week but their real significance is
thus far guarded with the utmost
secrecy. 1t is known that the District
of Columbia grand jury has returned
seven indictments against six persons,
but who those persons are it is impos-
sible to ascertain. Arrests are expect
ed hourly now and as soon as they are
made the facts will doubtless be given
to the public. There are known to be
some twenty cases before the grand
jury and it is intimated that the most
sensational indictments have not yet
been returned, although they are ex-
pected soon. Postmaster General
Payne has stated that when the grand
Jury disposes of the cases now before
it, the criminal prosecutions growing
out of the investigation will be all un-
der way. He has further stated that
fraups involving approximately $685.
600 are under consideration by the
Jury at the present time. A number
OF dismissals will doubtless follow the
conclusion of the legal end OF the in
vestigation and there will be consider.
ohlo ra0rUanizatiop Onco ipdict n, m "a