The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
More Indictments of Corrupt Off
ciaIs---Tte President Troubled
by the Labor Unions and the
0uarreIs Among Republi-
can Leaders.

grand jury Of Washington continues
to find indictments against officials OF
the Postofice Department. The latest
is against W. Scott Towers, head OF
one of the city substations. He is &C
cused of taking a commission on type
writer books sold by a private company
to the government. 1t is said that ne
received $50 on every $500 paid for each
of these, and that his fees amounted
to $500 He has been dismissed by
the Postmaster General, and is now
awaiting trial. The republicans are
afraid Of the political effects of the
Post Office scandals and their members
in Congress are now clamoring for
congressional investigation of the en-
tire department.. They state openly
that their purpose is to forestall the
democrats and prevent their making a
political issue out of these evidences
of republican mal-administration.
It is said that the President wishes to
name the Investigating committee,
which he hopes will be authorized by
Congress. The republicans have adopt
ed the same tactics with reference to
the Indian scandals, as committee
from both House and Senate will go to
the Territory to make an official re-
port of the state of affairs.
President Roosevelt's stand on the
Question of Foreman Miller of the
Government Printing Office and on the
ssopen shop" in government employ
ment, continues to receive the atten-
tion of politicians mad labor men.
In spite of the cautious and conserva.
tive statement of the executive council
of the American Federation Of Labor,
there are Indications that many labor
unions will join issue with MI. Roose-
velt and will show their dlsapprooa,
ton at the polls. The President held
conference last Tuesday with the la
bor leaders and many subjects we're
discussed. On the Miller question,
however, there seems to have been but
slight discussion as the President sim
pl7 informed the leaders of his decl-
sion. In the statement issued imme-
diately following the conference the
President declared that Miller should
remain and that no discrimination
should be made between union and
on-union labor in choosing employees
of the government. He added that the
law demanded this and that the fact OF
mans being a member. Of union
could no more be allowed to tell
against him than the fact that be was
Catholic or Protestant, Jew or Gentle,
white or colored. The Executive
Council of the Federation of Labor
made no criticism of the Presidents
statement but the following day they
issued an address to organized labor OF
the country in which they stated posi-
lively that the unions would contend
for the principle of union shops.
The radical men in the American
Federation, and they are numerous,
bitterly oppose the Presidents attl-
tude and intend to bring up the ques-
tion at the coming annual convention
of the Federation in Boston, on NO
yember S. They declare that if Presl-
dent Roosevelt is true friend OF labor
and expects the laborer's vote he must
make the same discrimination between
union and non-union labor as he daily
makes between republicans and demo-
Gratis. They argue that the labor
unions must defend their interests
against the government the same as
against private employer. The labor
unions throughout the country con-
tinue to PASS resolutions condemnlng
the action of the Administrator and
thew seem determined that the Presi-
dents statement shall not end the con-
troversy. =,
Our government is about to estab-
,;,b +reJa ra1ations with AbysSlnla.
Mr.. Robert P. Skinner, our consul
general at Marseilles, is now in Wash
ineton completing preparations Tor MS
coming visit to King Menellk. whom
he will invite to the St. Louis Exposl-
tion. at the same time urging 5im to
make commercial agreement WIN
the United States. Mr.. Skinner has
seen the President and received from
him message Of profound consldera-
tion to the African monarch he
will be taken to the nearest port In an
American warship and will have an
escort Of United States marines on his
long Journey overland before reaching
Meneiik's capital. The press OF Eu-
rome sees in this expedition an attempt
on our part to establish a footing IN
Africa, but Nh. Skinner has very
| peaceful and businesslike intentions:
over one third of all the imports OF
Abyssinia are from his country and
eyery year we sell Menelik's people
over S.. 600, 600 worth of cotton goods
At the same time we get from them
ivory, hides, carpet wools and other
raw materials. This expedition is RI
| dlculed by some who suggest that IN, IN,
stead Of going to Africa we should
turn our attention to South America
where VIII the Germans are making rapid
nrogress against their American
and English competitors.
His many friends in Washington
and elsewhere deeply regret the death
Of Sir Michael Herbert, the British
ambassador to the United States. he
died last Wednesday in Switzerland,
where he had gone hoping to be cured
of tuberculosis, which was the cause
Of his death. He was ambassador TO
this country only few months, but 1t
was well known in Washington where
t fo,r,orlv ceryed as charge of d'af-