The Washington times., 1903-06-02
Blind Leading Blind.
A New and Remarkable Defense of
Mr.. Payne.

Yesterday the predecessor of Post
master General Payne, the Hon.
Charles Emory Smith, assured the
leaders of the Philadelphia Press"
Of which he is the editor-in-c chief,
that he "knew a thing or two.' He
was speaking of the investigation of
postal affairs now being carried on
under the supervision of Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General Bristow.
We are delighted to be assured up
on so high an authority though we
frankly confess that we never had the
slightest doubt on the subject that
General Payne's predecessor In of
fee "knows a thing or two" It is
comforting, reassuring-in every way
delightful thing to know. But it
must surely be false modesty on
his part to add, in another burst of
frank and unreserved confession, "let
the consequences be what they may,
that he learned a thing or two from
Mr.. Payne" How could he9 And if
not from Mr.. Payne, how from any
one else? Since he promised, how
ever, that this fact of having alb
sorbed so much from Mr.. Payne dur
ing his recent visit in Washington
twill add to the interest of these
columns 1.-THE columns of the 'tPhila-
delphia Press during the ensuing
days." we shall overlook his naive adj
mission of bashfulness and watch
with eager, yet respectful, interest
the promised disclosures the
consequences be what they may"
Today's installment, we confess
and we hope he'll pardon us for our
temerity-is slightly disappointing.
The very opening sentence of the
double-leaded leader explains the 81
lence of the "Press" since first The
Times began the exposure of Postof-
fee irregularities" upon the ground
that until a few days ago nothing
had taken definite and tangible
| shape"
i This sounds amazingly like similar
utterances of our evening contempor-
ary, the "Star." Indeed, if we didn't
know that the ''Press" is at all times
singularly original, we should now
suspect it of bit of plagiarism
That, however, is minor matter
The principal point, as we under
stand it, which Mr.. Smith desires to
make, concerns the authorship of the
) pending investigation. Says The
'1Press :"
There are various aspects of the matter which
: will demand attention from time to time To
dav we deal with the character of the investi
pation and with the credit and responsibility
: for it. persistent effort has been made u
reuresent that Postmaster General Payne ha
from the first been opposed TO the investiga
ton; that he has discountenanced and sough
10 thwart It; that he has discredited all charge
of misconduct; that he has been forced 10 d.
what he has done, and that the initiative AM
continued impelling force came from othe
quarters. This representation has been propa
gated By some newspapers which had a mali
=; cious purpose II has imposed other an
high-minded journals which were deceived bu
] which were not Intentionally misled-
Now, the Press affrms that this repre-
sentation is altogether false. In making thi
: statement we speak whereof we know. TIL
documentary evidence will in due time appear
We shall await the appearance o
these documents with patience
: we shall look for them wit
q some curiosity. Mr.. Smith assure
Us that he speaks whereof h
knows" We take the liberty o
saving to him that he speaks whereo
he knows nothing, except what Nh
PAYNE has chosen TO tell him. In tn
meantime it will be difficult to con
vince a skeptical public that gentle
!, man who characterized charges a
"stump speeches" and shot air,
which, since they were made, have le
: to safe rifing, suspensions, arrests
and-as we write, perhaps to lndict
ments, is one of the master spirit
of the investigation" or has, at an
: time, been "resolute for vigorous an
: unsparing work which should go t
: the bottom of things"
; Mr.. Smith would better try again
/
That Russia is inclined to abandon tn