The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-26
yINDICATION OF POSTMASTER
GENERAL PAYNE.

The filing Of the Bristow report on the
investigation of the Postoffice Department
calls for a word of praise for Postmaster
General Payne When he was appointed
to that position the appointment was crit
icised in some quarters as an unfit one and
Mr. Payne was declared to be "a spoils-
man." This was because he was member
of the Republican national committee,
though he had also fine record as sue
cessful business man of unquestioned in
tegrity. His large business interests made
it personal sacrifice for him to accept the
office Of postmaster general, and if he could
have foreseen the sea of troubles into
which he was plunging no doubt he would
have declined the position. The crooked
ness and rottenness which have been I'M
covered in some branches of the postal
service existed when Mr.. Payne became
head Of the department, and had existed
for some years, but he had no inkling of 1t.
The modification, embarrassment and wor-
~ incident to the disclosures were all to
fall on him. The investigation which is
now practically ended has been one of the
most prolonged and thorough ever made
in any branch of the public service. and at
almost every stage of it political enemies
of the administration have tried to create
the impression that Postmaster General
Payne was trying to thwart the investiga-
ton, shield the wrongdoers and prevent
disclosures that might be damaging to the
administration. This was consistent with
the charge originally made by the same
class of critics that Mr.. Payne was spois-
man, etc. Through all this storm of mis-
representation and defamatory criticism
Mr.. Payne has borne himself with courage
and dignity. contributing by every means
in his power TO the work of investigation
and waiting till it should end for his vindi-
cation. That has come in the shape of a
voluminous report. which shows that dur
ing the entire course of the investigation
the committee was instructed to chew to
the line and that not the slightest eff
fort was made to shield any person TO
whom wrongdoing was traced. 1t also ap-
pears in the promptness with which every
person proven guilty of wrongdoing, or
even Drought unOer SUSPICION, was removed
from office and their cases turned over to
the legal authorities. The making of these
removals was in some instances a painful
duty for the postmaster general, but the
record shows he did not shrink from it for
a moment. He met courageously the re-
sponsibility inherited from previous admin
istrations, and never stopped until he had
completed the housekeeping which had
been deferred all too long. The outcome
shows that a man can be an active politi-
clan without being a spokesman, and that
membership of the Republican national
committee does not prevent person from
having a high sense of public duty. OF
course, the most important result of the in
vestigation, as shown by the Bristow re-
port, is the complete cleansing of the Post
office Department and the demonstration
that malfeasance in office inevitably brings
its own punishment, but among its Incl
dental results not the least gratifying is
the vindication of Postmaster General
Payne from charges and innuendoes made
against him by political enemies for po-
litical purposes.