Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-06-19
HE DARE NOT DO TT.
At LEAST THAT is OPINION AT
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Postmaster General Payne Seems Quite Fairly
Seated in the Saddle - "Stand Together
Seems to Be the Northumberland Clay
Outlines His Idea Of Democratic Duty
More Bunsins of the Navy Department
1.-The Woodlot.'
| From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, June IL, 1903.
Will President Roosevelt have the
moral courage to call for the resigna-
ton of his political manager" Post
master General Payne? is the ques-
ton which persons familiar with the
postoffice scandal are asking each
other. 1t will be remembered that
while Mr.. Payne anticipated a per-
functory investigation, he never ex.
pected any thorough sitting of the
postoffice affairs, and during his
absence First Assistant Postmaster
General Wynne made representations
to the President which caused the lat.
ter to order Fourth Assistant Bristow
to make a relentless investigation of
the alleged frauds. The result was
that when Payne returned from Porto
Rico he found the Department in a
turmoil and was besieged by the guilty
ones to put a stop to Bristow's activity.
This he was unable to do, since Bris-
tow was acting under direct orders
from the President and had already
been furnished wealth of informa-
ton by Wynne. About this time the
President left for the west and now
that he has returned he has been
placed in possession of extensive evil
dence showing that Payne has done
everything possible to thwart the in.
vestigation, as has been related in
these letters, and that the Postmaster
General has even retained in the ca.
pacity of his confidential clerk"
man. H. H. Rand, who is hand in
glove with the Machen crowd, who has
used his Office to further his private
ends and has generally abused his Of
fetal position. From remarks dropped
by the President there is no doubt that
were he not on the eve of an election
he would summarily dismiss Payne,
but that he will have the courage to
do SO under the circumstances is
doubtful, especially as Payne is the
fond protege OF Hanna.
The President and his Postmaster
General have just been to Cleveland to
attend the wedding of Miss Ruth Han
ma, a daughter of the Senator. and it is
regarded as especially significant that
Mr.. Payne went to Ohio "a hours be.
fore tho President. his purpose I'M
doubtediy being to talk over the situa.
ton with his real chief before the Pres
ident arrived. 1t has been ascertained
that Payne now has on bis desk re.
port made by Bristow in regard to the
Tulloch charges, which places former
First Assistant Postmaster General
Perry Heath in q most unfortunate
light. Your correspondent, among
many others. has made daily demand
on the Postmaster General for q copy
OF this report, but 30 anxious is Mr..
Payne to protect his friend and fellow
member of the Republican National
Committee, that he 10 even mourning
the condemnation of the most loyal
Republican newspapers, rather than
permit the report to become public.
Senator Clay, of Georgia, is in Wash.
ington. and when seen by your CORES.
pondent talked Interestingly of Demo.
cratic affairs. He said, d" The names
most mentioned for Democratic candi-
date in my State are German and Par
ker. At one time / thought Parker
would be sure of the nomination but
German appears to be gaining ground.
do not believe Cleveland will be .
candidate, and I think that, If it be.
comes necessary, he will make an an
nouncement to that effect. l do not
think any man can secure the nomi.
nation by attempting to swerve Demo-
cratic sentiment. The candidate will
be that man whom the convention re-
CARDS IS most available at the time it
meets. With regard to issues, be.
lieve We should present conservative
platform. / would not exclude the
tariff issue but would not favor sweep
ing changes that would disturb bust
ness. Silver should be omitted en-.
tirely. 1t belongs to the past. was
an advocate of silver and believe in it
now, but realize that the time is at
hand for Us to make a conservative
platform on which all can stand, deal.
ing only with issues of the present
day.
An illustration of the bungling man.
ner in which naval affairs are handled
these days is furnished by the recent
order issued by Secretary Moody for
four war ships to proceed to Chill.
Immediately the story was circulated
that the ships were sent at the re-
quest of the British Ambassador be.
cause of the labor troubles in Valpar-
also and numerous rumors began to
fly. The Gillian Minister. DR.. Walker.
Martinez, promptly filed a protest say
ing there was no occasion for such an
expedition and that there were 20 seri.
Gus labor troubles in Valparaiso.
Other South American Ministers be-
sieged the State Department, which
knew nothing of the proposed expedi.
ton, and the upshot of the whole at.
fair has been that the orders have been
recalled and that no vessels::will 60 to
Chill.
Speaking Of naval affairs, it has just
been learned that the Nevada has been
injured in the same manner as was the
Maine. recently. The two 12.inch
guns in the forward turret were fired
simultaneously and the recoil burst off
the flanges of the wheels on which
the turret revolves and the turret it.
self became jsmmed and useless. The
usual investigation will follow and
will, of course, disclose the usual in.
incompetence in preparing the plans
for this vessel. As the blame will be
on the Navy Department the public
will be informed that the accident was
unavoidable. As the Arkansas and the