The Washington times., 1903-06-23
Mr.. PAYNE'S RETIREMENT
URGED FROM ALL QUARTERS
Demand for His Resignation Not
Prompted by Partisan Motives.

- A-pAA NANS Which nave bteu uioNON-
cred in HIS department belong to q
previous administration. No one has
accused Mr.. Payne OF any completely IN
wrong-doing. As the head of the POST
office Department, he has inherited GER
tain grave abuses. the disclosures OF
which have already led to the forced
retirement Of several officials, and to
the application 70 the grand juries for
a number of indictments. But notwith-
standing this general exoneration OF
Postmaster General Payne from personal
completely In the scandals that have
been disclosed. there is a loud call for
his retirement from the Cabinet.
This call comes from quarters that
are, IN large measure, free from par
tisan motive, and that appear to De an
expression OF enlightened public senti-
ment- The Wall Street Journal" Joins
in this call. II believes that Mr.. Payne
should retire voluntarily. thus relieving
/ the President from a position which
must be becoming embarrassing 70 him
Mr.. Payne can do this now, because By
common assent he has been relieved
from personal responsibility for the
wrong-doing that has been unearthed,
I --- $1,000 &c vii A0k nave 70 FeLlr0
under cloud Of suspicion OF his own
honesty. But II he does not retire OF
his own accord. the wall Street Jour-
nal" is firmly of the opinion that Presl-
dent Roosevelt should request him TO re-
| sign.
In saying this, the wall Street Jour-
nal" speaks as a friend OF the Adminis-
tTation. 1t believes firmly in President
roosevelt 1t has also not the slightest
prejudice against Mr. Payne, politically
/ or personally Moreover, Il sympathizes
largely with both the President and Mr..
| Payne IN the situation that has deveI-
/ oped- Mr.. Payne Is President Roose-
velt's own choice for the Postofice De-
partment. He IS not one OF the hold
overs from the Mckinley Administra-
| ton The situation thus DEVELOPED must
be peculiarly awkward TO both. But all
the more reason for the retirement OF
| MI Payne, and II he has not the deli
cacy 70 appreciate the fact, the Presi-
dent must act himself. however painful
this may be.
Now, why is this demand for Mr..
Payne's retirement made. when he is
| aDsoIVed from any personal completely
| In the scandals that have developed?
| without going into the history OF the
nauseating PostOffice irregularities so
| Tar as they are known Il is sufficient 10
say that Mr.. Payne has disclosed a pain
! ful lack OF appreciation of their serious
ness, and Of his plain duty in regard to
them. What has been done in the IN
earthing OF the abuses has been accom-
pIished by Mr.. Payne's subordinate
with the backing Of the President. Mr..
Payne himself has displayed sr-S
| hippancy Of language and a weakness Of
attitude toward the gravest Governments
abuses that have been developed Ia
years, that II has become clear that he
IS entirely unfit TO deal with the con-
| ditions that exist In his department.
! what Is wanted there is fearless re-
FORMER, not an apOlogist OF wrong
doing or an official who seems disposed
20 Dellttle the whole matter and 20
cover II up. Mr.. Payne has the repu-
| tatfon of being a fine campaign man
ager, and he is, moreover. an agreeabls
person 20 have in ones company. IN
der ordinary conditions he might mako
! a satisfactory head OF a Government de-
partment. It is noteworthy that when
he was appointed, although he was
chiefly known as a practical politician,
not exactly of the Presidents school OF
politics, no special criticism was made
OF his selection, except from people who
would probably have objected 10 any
body that the President wonId appoint
1t may be said. however that TO con-
tinue him at the head OF the Postofice
Department under prevailing conditions,
would strengthen the suspicion that was
then entertained that he was called 20
the Cabinet at the instance OF party
leaders, simply as a reward for party
service, and as one who could be de-
pended upon in any party emergency. IL
is clear that there has been too much
practical politics in the Postofice De-
partment. and a practical politician like
Mr.. Payne is not the man 10 deal with
the situation. His retirement would up
lift the standard OF the public service.
In he f=fa p Nu- = ~,
a deficiency in the qualities that are de-
manded OF the head Of the Postofice De-
I partment. There is an entire lack OF
public confidence in his ability 10 cope
with the situation, especially as the
scandal appears 10 grow daily. and there
Il no knowing how deeply the knife Of
investigation must be plunged and how
many officials OF high degree IL may cut.
We repeat, therefore. Mr. Payne must
retire or be retired Our special inter-
est in this matter is twO-fOld- First.
Wall Street has objected strong 10 Presi-
dent Roosevelts policy OF publicity as
applied 10 corporations Well. now there
Is need OF the application Of that policy
10 one of the Presidents own depart
ments. and he must not permit one OF
his own suboTdinat@s 10 prevent the
most searching light Of publicity in the
Postof1ce Department. Never was there
a greater need OF illumination than
man TO hold the searchiight.
II Wall Street sees that Roosevelt Is
strenuous in applying his own policy TO
his own political household, its respect
for him and his policy viii be height
ened.
The President will not have failed to
Notice the sarcasm with which the news
paper which has made itself the special
champicn OF that section OF Wall Street
lopiniou that antagonizes the Presidents
publicity policy, speaks OF his attitude
toward the POstOfiice scandals. Yelling
its language under a pretense Of admira-
| ton for the President. il says: The
most confident and circumstantial state
ments alleging the Presidents intention
10 mitigate his activity in certain cire':-
lions in the matter Of Furnishing rascal
itv in the POstofice Departmental such
be proveu-fail TO shake TO the extent
OF the thousandth part OF hair-breadth
| OF vibration our bslief that he Will let
no guilty man escape.
But. second. the wall Street Jour-
nal" asks for Payne's removal because
of the fine example it viii set 20 Wall
Street itself. which. in some respects,
! needs a strong moral tOning up. Tho