Middletown transcript., 1903-06-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. June 1st 1909

, WASHINGTON, June 1st 1908.
, IT is doubtful if greater complimel
was paid to President than that in
piled by the generous endorsement {
President Roosevelt's candidacy to SUE
ceed himself Fifteen states, represente
by 450 votes in the national convention
have already endorsed, in state conven
tion, the candidacy OF Mr.. Roosevelt an,
the action of the Ohio convention, whicl
is assured, will add As votes to the tota
number. There will be 985 votes in th
national convention so that 493 will b.
required to nominate. The states which
have already declared for Mr. Roosevelt
are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut
Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts,, Missouri
Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island
Texas, Utah, Washington, Illinois, an6
Pennsylvania. Ohio will add its endorse
ment this week and the following have
/ pledged their support through their state
chairman: California, Michigan, Maine
; Tennessee, Kentucky, Colorado, Wyom
ing, Wisconsin, Idaho, Oregon, New
Hampshire, Vermont, West Virginia,
Nebraska and Montana. These will add
2S0 voters to the above number making
grand total of 730 votes, or 237 more
than enough to nominate, pledged to
President Roosevelt more than year in
advance of the nominating convention.
W.
The clearing of the political situation,
the acquiescenee of Senator Hanna to the
inevitable, following the Presidents hold
and characteristic announcement that he
who is not with me is against me, have
all combined to constitute an incident
| which is the occasion of tie greatest sat
isfaction to the Presidents friends as it
has demonstrated his wide spread popu-
larity beyond all question. The reluc-
tance of shrewd Democratic politicions
to permit the use of their names as pre-.
sidential possibilities is also regarded as
most encouraging sign, as it clearing in
dicates that the next democratic candi-
date will, in their opinion, be but vi
carious sacrifice on the alter of Democra-
tic harmony.
~
Representative John A. 7. Hull, of the
Seventh Iowa district, has just arrived in
Washington and he assures your corres-
pondent that their is not trace of fac
tionalism left in the Republican ranks in
Iowa. Senatar Allison, "the great .paci-
icator" has drafted the tariff plank
which will be submitted to the conven-
tion and has shown it to representatives of
every shade of tariff opinion in the state
and it meets with the approval of all.
The clause which refers to ''the shelter
of monopoly" had been eliminated but
that which proclaims the propriety of
revising the schedules from time to time,
as changing condition warrant, is re-
tanned. Mr.. Hull is on his way to West
Point as he is member of the Congress
sional Committee selected to visit the |
Military Academy.
*+*
The most startling and sensational de-
felopment in the Postoffice scandal has |
occurred within the past week. August
W. Machen, general superintendent of |
rec delivery, has been dismissed for
in office, has been arrested,
charged with accepting bribe estimated
It $22. 900 and has been released on bail
o the amount of $4,000. The arrest of
dachen breaks the ring which has long
ooted the Government through Post.
'ffice channels, believing themselves se-
ure because of the political influence
Which they had created by lavish use
t the federal funds. Other and almost
S sensational arrests are promised in
he near future and it is believed the end
J now in sight. The detection of Ma
hens criminality was accomplished by
hat Postmaster General Payne describes
$ the eleverest piece of detective work
/ his experience. No word was breathed
} any official by Fourth Assistant Post
laster General Bristow, regarding the
'ail which tie inspectorshad struck,
nti the chain of evidence was complete
nd Machen had virtually broken down
IIder the searching catechising to which
e Lad been subjected by Bristow and
is assistants. The facts were then laid
pfore the Postmaster General who s
gned the required request for a warrant
n Machen's arrest. IL
~ c
The credit for the present investigation I
due to Robert J. Wayne, First Assis-
mt Postmaster General and personal '
ppointee of President Roosevelt. Mr.. t
lynne long discovered that affairs in the {
vision of free delivery were not pro-
erly conducted and SO reported to the 9
resident and the Postmaster General
r. Bristow was then ordered to begin a
e present investigation and the Post O
aster General is loud in his praises of
e thorough manner in which Mr.. Bris- t
W has conducted this difficult and deli q
te undertaking. AS far back as last \
the Washington Times pre-
rred grave charges against Machen and
her officials of tie Postoffice Depart
ent. The Star, another local publica- q
m, repudiated the charges and strong n
fuence secured the dropping of the a
bject by the Times. The Star, it may u
remarked, is the owner of an office W
Hiding in which the Post Office De- +
rtment is an extensive and generous NJ
nant. In January, the President ;.
lrned some Of the facts and ordered the
vestigation which has already resulted
removing number of unworthy off, C
lls from the postal service.
~ B
Great interest attaches to rumor that
nator Quay is about to retire from d
live politics. The rumor was received
tn little credence until it became
4 r