The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-08

Aat GNNlfuAlAi BUREAU
18th 81. and Pennsylvania ave.
Washington. April What at first was
said 10 be only a personal quarrel in the
Post-Offce Department promises to-day to
become a scandal Of national proportions.
with possible serious effects on the party
In power. Although all officials directly
concerned are stubbornly silent on the re-
suits so far accomplished. the investigation
now In progress is known to have developed
sufficient wrong-doing to cause uneasiness
even among the national leaders Of the Re
publican party.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne. who is more responsible than any
one else for the proposed cleaning OF this
department. said to-day hat It was not a
question Of politics at all.
1T is simply a matter OF putting the
Post-Ofice Department" he continued. ION
a businesslke basis. I do not see how 1t
can affect the party in power when the
party in power is itself doing the cleaning.
The President himself and the Postmaster
General haze called for this investigation,
and any report that my own part in the af-
fair is contrary to the wishes Of Postmaster
General Payne is entirely without founia-
ton The men who are opposing this in
vestigation have attempted TO make it APP
pear that there is a quarrel between Mr..
Payne and myself. D. II. contrary. we are
acting in perfect harmony, and before the
Postmaster General left Washington he
gave the written order himself for the in
Yestigation-"
go TO THE VERY BOTTOM"
Further than his Mr.. Wynne would not
discuss the situation. and had nothing to
say as to the results accomplished.
It is known, however. that by the Presi-
dents orders the whole department will be
thoroughly overhauled. Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow is at the head
OF the investigation. and when he last saw
the President, just before the Western trip
was begun Mr.. Roosevelt's words TO him
were: Go TO the very bottom"
A dozen OF the most skillful post-ofice
inspectors in the service OF the Government
are now at work in various parts Of the
country. The order for the investigation.
signed by the Postmaster General, applies
to the Division of Salaries and Allowances,
at the head OF which was George Beavers,
who <ecently resigned; the Division OF Post
Office Supplies. in Chicago. Sup srintendent
n. A ". Louis. who did not object to any
inquiry; and the Division Of Free Delivery.
OF which A w. Machen is the general su-
perintendent.
IN iANAAAiAAAidAlNS VI ~ HLtStiAN ANcSA
CATION were begun as long ago as LIST jan
uary. and even before that First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne minated that
there were suspicious dealings in his de-
partment which needed inspection. All Of
the divisions at present under investigation
are contained in the office OF the First AS
sistant Postmaster General.
POLITICAL INFLUENCE.
II no sooner became known that Mr..
Wynne Intended TO move for a cleaning out
OF his department than every possible po-
litical influence was brought to bear on the
President and the Postmaster General. Mr..
wynne himself was threatened with decap-
itation, vicious personal attacks were made
on him and Senators and Representatives
were frequent visitors at the White House
and Postmaster Generals office with the
gratuitous advice that any investigation
must be stopped. II was even said that It
would reach officials OF the Republican ma
tional organization.
All this. however. had no weight Mr.
Wynne insists that no man high in the
~counsels OF the party is involved. and 50
far as he can learn the investigation can
Only undo officials in the department who