The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-22
AFTER BRISTOW
POLITICIANS BANDED IN FIGHT FOR REMOVAL OF INVESTI-
 GATOR.
Free Delivery Route Reform the Pretext-Elkins, Scott and Hanna Lead Attack; Presi-
 dent May Have to Yield.

Washington Special to N. Y. World. Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow mbst go. This is the verdict of the politicians, and when they act in uni- son success Is generally accomplished. Every Senator and Representative who has heretofore utilized the rural free de- livery patronage in building up his per- sonal machine is now after MT. Bristow' s official head. They will never rest until he has been either shorn of his strength or removed. They will give neither Mir. Payne nor MT. Roosevelt moment 8 peace until their enemy has been pun ished.
 Nobody realizes the danger of his po- sition better than MT. Bristow. He would not begin the present postoffice investi- gation until personally assured by the President that he would be protected af- ter its conclusion. He was not satisfied with this assurance, being fully conscious af the fact that In the end he must be sacrificed. At the very outset Mir. Bris- tow remarked to a personal friend that he was aware that but one fate overlook the Investigator He always gets singed," says MT. Bristow. He expected from the inception of the present inquiry to be singed.
 The politicians have waited for a pre- text to make war on MT. Bristow, and 1t has now come in the allegation that he Is unfriendly to rural free delivery. His announced policy that each route must have 100 families, with 5000 pieces of mall matter, afforded the opportunity desired. He had previously announced that In the establishment of routes the indorsement of Senator or Representative should weigh no more than the ordinary citi- zen.
 Protests Pouring In.
 Protests against Mir. Bristow are now pouring into Oyster Bay and coming to the Postmaster General He is credited with being an enemy to rural free de- livery and seeking to ruin the service of the masses and no more appropriate watchword could be chosen than that MT. Bristow Is hampering the system.
 It is not believed the President can long hold out against the combined solicita- tions of all the men in public life. He must yield sooner or later. Then MT. Bristow must either withdraw from the service or have his power taken away from him. It was not until the suspen- sion of Mir. Machen on May last that the free delivery system was placed under MT. Bristow's jurisdiction. He soon be- gan instituting reforms. He consolidated districts and inaugurated experiments by placing certain States under the immedi- ate control of postoffice inspectors. Ev- cry move on the part of Mir. Bristow made the practical politicians more un- easy. The announcement was made that the rural free delivery system should be entirely taken out of politics. Congress sional district lines were abolished and each State became the -9Alt on which the apportionment of routes was based. The last straw came with the declaration that routes must come up to a certain re- quirement before they would be author ized. The revolt against Mir. Bristow then began. It would have come much sooner only the pretext was lacking.
 Concerted Attack.
 But ten months have elapsed since the politicians had virtually accomplished the overthrow of MT. Bristow. On September 1, last, Mir. Bristow was slated for dis missal. His successor was under consid- eration. The fact that he had gained some renown through investigating the postal scandals in Cuba saved his posi- tion.
 Senators Elkins and Scott of '. est vir- ginia, assisted by Senator Hanna. led the crusade against MT. Bristow. Mir. Scott had recommended a candidate for fourth-class postoffice in West Virginia. MT. Bristow detailed an inspector to look up the record and character of the can didate. It was found to be unsatisfac- tory, and he was not given the appoint ment MT. Scott advanced the plea that MT. Bristow must not employ detectives to dog his lieutenants. Messrs Elkins and Hanna entertained the same view. others in public life came to their as- sistarce. Life was made burdensome to the President. MT Bristow only saved his official life by the merest scratch
 The crusade of last autumn was noth- ing compared to the warfare that will be waged against the Fourth Assistant Post master General. His success in the pres ent inquiry will serve as means of grace for time. but when the newDess has de- parted and the edge of his achievements Is deadened his retirement seems inevit- able.