The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-09-11
PRESIDENT ORDERS
RIGID INQUIRY
Takes Position That Investigst ion
Will Hurt No Honest Man.
iNSTRnCTS THE DEPARTMENTS
Says HE VIII stand Behind Invessi-
satcrs and Heads Of Depa "a nents
I'm Pursuing Their Omces where
Purgins q Needed.

Washington, Sept THE president
believes that the house cleanings in
the government departments will
strengthen his administration and help
the party. This is what he told g
number OF callers at Oyster Bay after
a conference relating 10 the inyesti-
cation now in course in the post office
department. and proposed in the de-
partment OF justice and the interior de-
plrtmenL
The president takes the position
that no amount OF investigation will in
JUre an honest man with a clean rec
ord. He thinks il there are dishonest
men who will suffer. this should be the
price of their dishonor Both the at
torney general ard the secretary of
the interior have been told to proceed
TO purge their department. il it is
found that they need pursing. and the
president Will stand behind them.
All suggestions that political consid-
erations will have the effect of staying
the hands OF the investigator shall
come from those openly arrayed
against the administration. or from
those who hope TO see the overthrow
OF the dominant party at the comins
general election.
False Cry of Whitewash.
There was much hue and cry in the
early stages OF the post Office depart
ment investigation, and bowls that the
big fellows" would be whitewashed.
Developments have shown the sinceri.
~ Of the post master general in his
original declaration at the time of his
return from the West Indies, when he
said that the whole scandal would be
sifted to the bottom. and no guilty man
would escape. The same will prove
true of the investigations in the in
terror department and the department
OF justice.
The president has carefully weighed
the possible political effect that such
action will have. He consulted with
Mr.. Root. the secretary of war. before
his departure for London. and IL was
lr. Roots advice that the investiga-
fions be carried on. Mr.. Root gave an
example of such proceeding when the
glove contracts were brought into
question. He holds that when that in
vestigation is complete and the results
are made public. there will remain nc
question in the minds Of any fair
minded person as TO the exact char
ecter of the transactions which have
been brought into question. and tina.
not only the interests of the govern.
ment have been fully protected, bur
- ynst - l.. H..
spirit have been carried out
Insists on Rigid Inquiry.
II is well TO make clear the fact tia;
the president made up his mind as
soon as the rumors of fraud and the
necessity for an investigation was
brought to his attention that there be
. rigid inquiry. The consideration Of
come quite as an afterthought. and
within the past week and long after
the decisions as to the Investigations.
The president is. however, pleased to
0nd that his politNal advisers beneve
as he does that both the administra-
ton and the party will be benefited in
stead OF harmed by the proceedings. He
was told by one of the most practical
politicians in public life that his course
was one which would DO more TO es-
tablish confidence in the party than
any course he could pursue. The adj
wiser was one who. 1t has been popu-
iarly supposed. would have something
To lose in connection with at least one
tine Of inquiry which has been pro-
posed.