Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-06-11

SHIHSlOu-bSnOlQ, now great a
matter little fire kindleth, A few
months ago an outsioer discovered that
an officer of the post Office department
was leading an irregular life when he
went on long Journeys for the govern
ment. AS he handled considerable
sums of public money, this struck the
discoverer as being a perilous condi-
ton of things. Then somebody heard
that the same functionary, although re-
ceiving a salary of only $500, had
declined an offer of $4,000 in private
business. Here was the beginning
of the whole dramatic season of pos
tai scandals. Both reports were car
ried directly to the new first assistant
postmaster general, Robert ]. Wynne,
on the ground that the officer involved
was subordinate of the first assist
ant and that the facts, if they should
come out later, might be construed by
the public as affecting Mr. Wynne's
own character. About the same time,
one Of the local newspapers opened
fire upon another prominent officer of
the department, whom it accused of
making money out of fuel contracts
with the government. The first men,
toned culprit, getting wind of the
stories about himself, came forward
at once with a promise to tell all he
knew if the department, in mercy to
his family, would not publicly disgrace
him. He was allowed to resign. The
oil 30 l.
investigation in spite of much advice,
but brought influence to bear upon the
publisher of the hostile newspaper,
and procured a suspension of the at
tacks and the dismissal of their author
from the editorial staff. He declared
he would never resign, because he had
done nothing to call for such a course.
He was presently suspended, to await
the result of an inquiry into the man.
agement of his office. After being out
few weeks, he was arrested last
Wednesday on a charge of bribery by
a contractor for letter-box clamps,
and dismissed from the service. This
was A. w. Machen, general superinten-
dent of the free delivery system, also
a subordinate of the first assistant
postmaster general.
How the Suspicious Grew.
Meanwhile Mr.. Wynne, actuated
by the counsel of prudent friends as
soon as the web of gossip began
closing around his two heutenants,
made demand in writing for an i'll
vestigatiop of his Office. Postmaster
General Payne and the president con-
ferred, and decided that some atten-
ton would have to be paid to the ru-
mors about Machen, which were con-
tinually growing thicker, but that, to
avoid even the appearance of preju-
dice against any particular person, it
would be advisable to make the scope
of the inquiry so broad as to cover the
entire branch of the department under
Mr.. Wynnes jurisdiction. Who should
government outside of the postal SER
vice, so as to assure a verdict which
the public would recognize as I'M
biased? Or Mr.. Wynne, as the person
who had most at stake in making the
search thorough and purging his own
official household of offence? Neither
suggestion seemed to meet all the
needs of the situation, and so Mr..
Payne asked the fourth assistant post
master general, Joseph l.. Bristow,
whose staff includes the postoffice III
spectors-men trained in hunting down
frauds and depredations-to under
take the disagreeable task. Mr.. Bris-
tow is no novice at such work. 1t was
she who ferreted out the abuses in the
postal administration of Cuba when
the island was under United rates
authority. He is q keen-witted Kan
san. somewhat suspicious by tempera-
ment, self-contained, quick at putting
two and two together, and with ?
tireless physique He announced,
when he took hold, that he was there
to work and not to talk; and that
statement he has verified every day
since.
Mr.. Wynne's Methods.
Mr.. Payne went off on pleasure
trip as oon as the detective machinery
had been set in motion. He was in
clined to believe that the discomfort
ing rumors would fade away before the
test of proof He said as much.
When he returned he found the inquiry
in full swing, and developments OF
some sort coming daily to the front.
Again he expressed his doubts whether
ANYTHING serious would be brought
out. Here was his great mistake.
Whatever he may have thought as to
the ultimate result, good or bad, he
placed himself in a false position by
assuming to PREJUDICE the value OF the
3 evidence offered, though it is only fair
to say that he has insisted that moth
ing be covered up. Mr.. Wynne, on
the other hand, having received his
training in journalism of somewhat
sensational school, was looking
askanee at everybody. He has not
deliberately said much for the public
prints. but reflections of his views has
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