The progress-advertiser. (Lexington, Miss.) 1902-1903, 1903-06-11
WASHINGTON
Politics as Seen at Democratic
Headquarters.

The Scan0aQ III Cne fOSt-Olnce
Department lie still holding the boards
as the chief attraction in the nations
capital. 1t has grown to such pro-
portions that some of the republican
politicians are beginning to grasp and
to ask where it will end and who will
be the next victim to land in the toll.
The outcome of this thingshas verified
all my predictions anent the rotten
ness that would come to the surface
if it were pursued to a logical conclu-
sion. Ever since the return of the
Postmaster General, who was para
lyzed by the revelations that con-
fronted him, he has been doing his
level best to hush up the investigation
and to suppress it.
The top has only been scratched
and the people do not know one-tenth
of the corruption that lies beneath.
More and bigger scandals are yet
to come out involving officials of high
degree, provided they are not sup
pressed by the administration. 1t is
not likely that the whole truth will
ever be known, for even if con-
gressional investigation were ordered
| it would be in the hands of the re-
publicans who are interested in sup
pressing the facts that cauld be un-
covered The railway mail service
offered fine field for exploration,
and if some of the reports are true
that are opening talked in Washing
ton, the worst, scandal by far has not
yet been developed. The Star Route
frauds, of malodorous memory, would
never have been unearthed, if demo-
cratic Congress had not been elected
and the whole truth about present
conditions will lie concealed until the
voters conclude to give the democrats
the opportunity to clean out the Au-
gean stables. Fraud and corruption
are rarely uncovered by the political
friends Of those guilty Of the crimes.
Aside from this there are so many
congressman either directly or indi-
rectly involved that great pressure
will be brought on the honest men to
let up for the good of the party"
The truth will be brought out only by
the Intervention of democratic inves-
tigators. The people know how to
get them if they want them.
The manner in which clerk Gilmer
was reduced in salary and placed in
such q position that he could no long
er stick his inquistive nose into the
business of some high officials who
were interested in graft, will be a
lesson to other government clerks to
keep their eyes and ears closed. They
must never see or hear anything that
is crooked. That is peculiarly re-
publican method OF teaching honesty
in public office.
The Postmaster General regrets
to report" that one of the assistant
attorneys in his department has been
arrested for boodling. 1t is also sad
to relate that the prisoner charged
with the crime is a good republican
and was vouched for by that good
and great man, Senator Fairbanks.
The good state Of Indiana seems to
be furnishing more than her share OF
these patriots for pelf discovered in
the post-ofice scandals.
The republican post-ofice stew is
getting thicker by the addition of
new ingredients almost every day.
It is now reported that a United
States Senator is mixed up in charge
Of boodling in the interest Of one Of
the get-rich-quick concerns, for which
he used his influence with the depart
ment. Evidently this is what the re-
publicans call running the govern
ment and the country on a business
basis.
Here is another Hearst item: He
has compelled the republican Attor-
ney General at last to take action
against the anthracite coal combine.
That republican official positively to-
proceed in any way against this giant.