The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-11-22
Coming Home to See What Can
Be Done to Save Polit-
ical Prestige.
DISAPPOINTED IN POST OFFICE
Congressman Expected to Have
Plenty of Jobs to Give Out
to His Friends in the
Tenth District.

Congressman Richard Bartholdt is ex-
| pected back from the special session of
Congress within few days. Indications
are that he will be a very busy man
| and not as one bearing personal mes
sages' from the President. a role which
| once occupied a great deal Of his time,
! but forming new alignments In his fight
| for denomination.
| According TO reports which have
reached st. Louis from Washington. no
| one was more surprised at the announce
ment that Frank p. Wyman had been
| named Postmaster than Congressman
Bartholdt. When he called on the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Roosevelt casually asked Mr.
Bartholdt if he knew man named Frank
not suspecting anything, replied that he
did and added that he was good man.
Il have decided to appoint him Postmas ..
ter to succeed Baumhotr." the President
Is said to have remarked. Il am glad you
think so highly of him"
Then MIR. Bartholdt began to think
Outside the White House he gave an IN, N;
MIR. Wyman had been. He scurried
around in an effort to appear solicitous
regarding Mr.. Wyman's confirmation,
foregone conclusion. All Of this was on
Privately, Mr.. Bartholdt saw what had
been done in a few days. He had expected
to control the patronage of the Post Ot-
fee by naming the successor ns sterrett Sf
He made no secret of the fact that he
needed the appointments TO secure q re-
nomination. He told his friends and enc
mics as much, and gave 1t out that ne
would control 1t.
Now, however. 1t is generally understood
that Bartholdt will have hard time keep.
ing his present constituents In their Post
Office jobs. Not only will he be unable to
secure additional positions for many
clamoring constituents who nave oeeh
put off from time to time, but his enc
niles are expected to get most Of the
plums.
ATTACKED BACMHoFT.
One of the chief reasons assigned for
this position of the powers that be under
the new regime, is said to be the fact that
a year or so ago Congressman Bartholdt
had published letter stating that while
the President had the Baumhoff case un-
der advisement, he would not take any
action one way or the other.
Since then there has been every evidence
that he and his friends have been the
most active in fighting the Postmaster.
Bartholdts paper In the county has pub
lished editorials denouncing Baumhon: He
has had Il candidate to succeed Baurnhon.
These things, together with his particu-
lar connection with the Barrett case, have
alenated some OF the most influential men
III the party. lueSSS IHeu dIc LOW lABhl-
ing him. 1t is said that some Of the brew
cry interests, which have been his friends
in the past, are not in the least appeased
by the fact that he has introduced can
teen law.
But no one has ever accused Bartholdt
Of being dead one" He is usually up
and doing when others are sleeping. Like
Wise,rhis ,old enemies. the kerens-Ziegen- ]
helm faction. while apparently out of the
game. have never been accused of sleeping
at their post. They may be a little raw
in their methods at times. but they man
age to get results where others fail.
Now, 1t IS said that Overtures are being
made between the old kerens-Ziegen-
helm faction, and Bartholdt, looking to
an effort to beat out the st. Louis Re-
publican Club element in the next con-
gressional fight. Communications have
passed between the opponents Of the lat
ter organiza ton. Bartholdt will person.
ally see these men when he returns.
Yet, at the same time, both Bartholdt
and the observation-disclosures faction have
their knives up their sleeves. Only last
year Bartholdt came near losing q re-
in convention which was
to pe unanimously for him.
That either side should be willing to put
any trust in the other at this time Is one
of the Inconsistencies of politics that has
become common among the Republican