The independent., 1903-06-18


for advertising purposes this upon
the ground that it advertises your
views and ideas. Ii this is the posi-
tion of the department, / do not see
how 1t can possibly sustain the same.
There are many publications which
are established and designed to pro-
mulgate the views of the owners; iE-
Ceed the editorial columns of every
newspaper set forth the views Of its
editor. The term in the law prin arily
designed for advertising purposes GER
tainly will not bear any such con true.
tion as you indicate is placed thereon
by the third assistant postmaster gen.
eral. | have examined the two e)pies
Of the publication, and | do not see
II yon comply with the usual rcua,ire-
ments for admission as second lass
matter, why the publ sation 81 ould
Lot be admitted. !. feel that OF the
facts as presented by you, you e In
the right under the law.
Ii you wish me to act as your oun-
sci In this matter, | will do SO 'ipoa
the payment of retainer of $. 500,
and an agreement for an additional
contingent fee of $4,000, provided the
publication is admitted as second
class matter"
On this letter | commented: with
the publicity of the rumor of a dis
graceful blackmailing intriguing game
that is supposed to be going on in tie
postoffice has gained, 1t is evident that
whatever lawyer took up my case
would take it at the peril of his repn-
tation II he won, and this would be
doubly the case If Mr.. Barrett were
The successful man, both on account
OF his being nephew to Mr.. Tyner,
the attorney general to the postoffice,
and his previous connection with the
postoffice. Having this in mind | de-
cided as matter Of duty and honor
tfat, much as | weuld have liked to
have won my case, simply could not
ask Mr.. Barrett to make such a sacri-
flee for me for a mere $5.000!"
In the daily papers of April % we
read:
James N. Tyner, attorney general
for the postoffice department, was
summarily removed by Postmaster
General Payne on April 2s. Mr.. Ty
ner had been asked to resign early in
March. but upon the pleas of himself
and wife the time was extended til
May / to save him disgrace. On April
21 his wife and her sister, Mrs. Bar
rett, the mother of Harrison J. Bar
rett, went to his Office with safe ex-
pert after hours and rifled the safe of
all 1t contained. Inspectors went to
the Tyner house and were refused the
papers. Tyner was dismissed, and it
is said all concerned may be prose-
cuted."
The New York Sun dispatch on the
matter includes thu statement:
ut is generally known that a Wash
ington firm, operating through q
stool-pigeon, has been in the habit of
sending blackmailing letters to mali
concerns throughout the country
whose methods were considered ques-
tionable, and charges have been made
that Mr.. Barrett was interested in
this transaction, and that it was he
whose influence was used to secure the
approval of the assistant attorney
generals Office for mail schemes of a
doubtful nature"
In November, 1901, / wrote to the
postmaster general, complaining OF
the injustice of Madden's decision and
asking for an investigation. But he
referred me back to Madden, the very
man against whom complained. /
then wrote to the president asking for
an interview, feeling confident that i.
five minutes conversation I could con-
vince him that his subordinates had
done me great injustice; but he re
serrea me back to the postmaster gen
eral who had referred me back 10
Madden. Even when Hon. F. o. Mac
Cartney, of the Massachuset. legisls
ture wrote him, appealing for a pei
sonal interview c1 the subject he, too,
was referred in the same Way IN thn