West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-06-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Pestofiice ana Naval Scandal-Talk OF
Gorman for Democratic Nominee
for President.
From Our Regular correspondcn,

From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, ID. C., June IS, 1909.
Will President Roosevelt have the
moral courage to call for the resig-
nation Of his "political manager, -
Postmaster General Payne1 Is the
question which persons familiar
with the Postoffice scandal are ask
ing each other. 1t will be remem-
bered tina, while Mr.. Payne antici-
pated perfunctory investigation,
he never expected any thorough
sitting OF the Postoffice affairs and
during his absence First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne made
representations to the President
which caused the latter TO order
Fourth Assistant Bristow to make
a relentless investigation of the al.
legged frauds. The result was that
when Payne returned from Porto
Rico he found the Department in
turmoil and was besieged by the
guilty ones to put stop to Bristow's
activity. This he was unable to do,
since Bristow was acting under di-
rect orders from the President and
had already been furnished a wealth
of information by Wynne. About
this time the President left for the
West and now that he has returned
he has been placed in possession of
extensive evidence showing that
Payne has done everything possible
to thwart the investigation, as has
been related in these letters, and
that the Postmaster General has
even retained in the capacity of his
confidential clerk" a man, Fl. H.
Rand, who is hand in glove with the
Machen crowd, who has used his
office to further his private ends
and has generally abused his official
position. From remarks dropped
by the President there is no doubt
that were he not on the eve of an
election he would summarily dis
miss Payne but that he will have the
courage to do so under the circum-
stances is doubtful, especially as
Payne is the fond protege of
Hanna.
The President and his Postmaster
General have just been to Cleve.
land to attend the wedding of Miss
Ruth Hanna daughter of the Sen
ator, and it is regarded as especially
significant that Mr.. Payne went to
Ohio "a hours before the President,
his purpose undoubtedly being to
talk over the situation with mis- real
chief before the President arrived.
1t has been ascertained that Payne
now has on. his desk report made
by Bristow in regard to the Tulloch
charges, which places former First
Assistant Postmaster General Perry
Heath in most unfortunate light.
Your correspondent, among many
others, has made daily demand
on the Postmaster General for
copy OF this report but so anxious
is Mr.. Payne to protect his friend
and fellow member of the Republi-
can National Committee, that he
is even mourning the condemnation
OF the most loyal Republican news
papers, rather than permit the re-
port to become public.
TT
Senator Clay of Georgia, is in
Washington, and when seen by your
CORRESPONDENT talked Interestingly
OF Democratic affairs. He said,
"The names most mentioned for
Democratic candidate in my state
are German and Parker. At one
time l thought Parker would be
sure Of the nomination but German
appears to be gaining ground.
do not believe Cleveland will be a
candidate, and 1 think that, If it be-
comes necessary, he will make an
announcement to that effect, do
not think any man can secure the
nomination by attempting to swerve
Democratic sentiment. The can
didate will be that man whom the
Convention regards as most avail