The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-26
Head of Department Believes De
rogatory Reports Have Been
Set Going About His
Actions.
POLITICS IN THE QUARREL.
Custom Has Been to Appoint
Newspaper Man Next to Chief
to Help Jolly" the Pub
Gc-History May Re-
peat Itself.
TIL, Republic Bureau.

18th St and Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington May 25.-From source that
is reliable and well informed on Post-Office
Department affairs the Information comes
that when the present investigation is con-
cluded either Postmaster General Payne
will retire from the Cabinet or First As
sistant wynne will be replaced by another
man personally more acceptable to Mr.
Payne.
1t is said the Postmaster General was not
entirely satisfied with the appointment OF
Mr.. wynne from the first. but he raised no
objection to the appointment because it
was evident to him that the President was
desirous of making ii.
Since the investigation has been in
progress many circumstances have arisen
which have served to increase the original
divergence between them to such an extent
that 1t is now said that Mr.. Payne has de-
cided that the President will have to choose
between himself and Mr.. Wynne in the
firal reorganization of the department at
the conclusion of the investigation.
Mr.. Payne Is represented to have been
very much dissatisfied at the amount of
publicity given to the developments in the
investigation while he was absent on his
West Indian trip. and for this he held MIR.
Wynne responsible. He was especially dis
pleased at an impression which he thinks
got abroad in this time that the First As
sistant had forced on the investigation
contrary to the Postmaster Generals de-
sres
IRRITATED BY INTERVIEW.
Mr.. Payne also has been irritated by an
Interview printed in Milwaukee with
Wynne's son, who is also his private secre-
tr
terview represented young Wynne as say
ing General Payne was much bothered by
the postal Investigations and that he
walks about the department in a nervous
and detected manner.
This interview was denied Cfrom WASH
ington). but, as Payne lives in Milwaukee
and knows the papers there. probably he
formed his own judgment as to the value Of
the denial.
wynne had no special knowledge of the
Post-Office Department when appointed.
He was Washington correspondent who
had served for time as secretary to Foster
of Ohio when he was head of the Treasury
Department.
For a long time It has been the vogue of
the Republicans to put journalist in the
office of the First Assistant Postmaster
General to act as sort of buffer and jol
lier and help to make the department pop
ular by reason of newspaper connections.
This was why Frank Hatton. Clarkson.
Perry Heath and Wynne got their appoint
ments
Payne, 1t is said, thinks Wynne has not
filled the bill in making him appear great
and popular official
HATTON'S CAREER.
AS to any political advantage to be Sc
cured by putting newspaper man in such
a place, it is worth while to recall the case
of Frank Hatton. Republican, who did
more than any other man. not excepting
Blaine to cause the election of Cleveland
in 1884.
Hatton was strong Arthur man. and aft
er the convention nominated Blaine Presl-
dent Arthur promoted Hatton to be Post
master General
The day before election the Postmaster
at New York wired Hatton. asking per-
mission for the New York letter carriers to
half half holiday in order to vote. There
were over 1000 of these letter carriers. and
as it was before the civil service rules COW
cred their appointments, they were pre-
sumed to be Republicans to a man.
Hatton was so disgruntled that Arthur
was turned down in the convention that
he declined to give the opportunity asked
for the Blaine voters. and enough of these
letter carriers refrained from voting to
carry the State for Cleveland and insure his
election.
What has developed in the postal service
since Perry Heath was made First Assist
ant. Postmaster General shows how political
! history probably will repeat itself.