The Washington times., 1903-09-02
The Evening StaT.
Semper Fidelis-in the Interest of the
PoStoffice GIafteTs.

Postoffice GrafteTs.
The Washington correspondent of
the kansas City Star" IN discussing
the charges against Secretary Hitch
cock and the Interior Department, de
clares that they form part of an eff
fort by enemies of the Secretary in
the Southwest to oust him from the
Cabinet. Says he:
The concerted movement TO discrcdit Sccre-
tsry Hitchcock is similar in its methods and
origin to the effort made one year ago to So
cure the removal Of the Fourth Assistant Post
master General. Mr.. Brist5w. Postofice thieves
had plundered the Treasury. Bristow was known
10 be fearless and RELENTLESS. So long as he re-
moined in change Of the detective force Of the
department. every official thief who had gone
into a combination with contractors for a share
Of the proceeds from postofice supplies felt that
he was in danger Of detection. Members OF
Congress. ignorant Of the real condition q af-
fairs, listened to supposed friends who came to
complain about Bristow. They appealed to the
President for BHstow's removal and were on the
eve Of succeeding when the bubble burst and
tie PostofIice frauds became matter Of public
knowledge. So it has been in a measure with
Secretary Hitchcock.
And foremost in the line Of General
Bristow's assailants, as we had occa-
sion to point out not long ago, stood,
shoulder to shoulder with the precious
gang of postoffice rascals, our es-
teemed evening contemporary
"Star" On February 10, 1902, ii
said:
MR.. BRISTOW MAY NOT HOLD on.
1t is understood to be quite probable that
joseph l. Bristow, Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General, will not continue in the position for
much longer period. This state Of affairs
is lanZely due to the fact that the West Vir-
ginia delegation in Congress, headed by Senator
Scott has made trouble for Mr. Bristow at the
White House over Mr.. Bristow's action in send
ing a postofic inspector 10 Wheeling, ". Va.
TO investigate the private life Of a man who
was spoken Of for postmaster Of that city.
Whenever the President has secured 4 suitable
man for Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
the understanding is that there will be change
in the Office.
On the following day it returned
TO the charge, saying:
CHANGE PROBABLE.
Reasons Why Some One VIII Succeed Joseph
/. Bristow.
1t is safe to predict that Joseph L. Bristov
will shortly sever his connection with the Post
office Department. It is generally believed. as
stated in yesterdays Star" that this is due in 4
large measure to Mr.. BristOw's action in send
ing al, inspector to West Virginia for the pur-
pose Of investigating the character Of a man
who mentioned as postmaster for Wheeling
An investigation Of this charge has brought out
the fact that Mr.. Bristow made no defense Of
his action in this matter, explaining II by say
ing that it a blunder.
During McKinley's Administration there was
a protest entered at the White House against
continuing Mr.. Bristow in Office.
Ex-Postmaster General Smith was also cog
infant Of the opposition 10 his Fourth Assist
ant
When Senator Burton came to the Senate he
entered 4 vigorous protest against Mr.. Bris-
tow
A number Of Senator'S have called upon the
President and urged that a change be made in
this Office II would seem now, from inIica-
tions. that their request VIII be granted.
And so on for weeks. We haven't
the space to reprint all the ''Star" had
to say at that time on the subject OF
GenerGl Bristow's prospective re-
movsl from office, but the foregoing
extraC.s represent fairly our "unsel-
fish and philanthropic" contempor-
ary's attitude. And the "Star" is the
paper, we beg to remind our readers
which had the impertinence to charge
The Times with attempted blackmai
when, in December last, it began the
exposure of rottenness in the Postof-
flee Department!
We are still inclined to think that
an apology Is due us.