The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-01
THE POSTAL FRAUDS.

The complete report of Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow on the inves-
tigation of the postal scandals is so volu-
minous that it will probably never be read
except by those who are personally inter-
ested in the case or whose official duty re-
quires them to read it. The general public
will be content with the abstract of the
report which has been given out, with the
Presidents memorandum upon it. These
show beyond any doubt that there has been
a great deal of corruption in some Branches
of the department. beginning in 1893 and
continuing down to about a year ago
An attempt will probably be made to
break the force of Mr.. Bristow's report by
attacking him personally, or by represent
ing that the report is biased and unfair.
Such al attack will involve all who have
Endorsed the report as able, thorough and
fair, including the President. Mr.. Bristow
was selected to conduct the investigation
on account of his reputation for integrity,
t~horoughness and fearlessness. Messrs.
Charles ]. B~onaparte and Holmes Conrad,
two lawyers of high standing selected by
80 oPCOA1- SOaND&A ~ ~
sent the government, pronounce the report
IAN exceptionally able. candid and impair
tial review of it's subject matter" and say:
w heartily commend the report and deem
its conclusions fully justified By the facts
it sets forth" The President quotes these
expressions and says he cordially agrees
with them.
In 4Aa fn. - -,,4I NJ
Bristow's report it's force cannot be broken
by personal attacks on him or by asser-
tons that the report is unfair. Humiliat-
ing as it is to have to make the admission.
the public will agree with the President
that there was "a condition of gross cor
ruption in the office of the first assistant
postmaster general Heath), and in that
Of the assistant attorney general for the
Postoffice Department (Tyner). The cor
ruption did not reach all of the officials or
clerks in these offices. but 1t involved sew
eral to a very damaging degree.
Two Of the indicted parties have been
tried and acquitted, one of them a govern
ment employee and the other an attorney.
The charges against some of the others are
much more serious than were those In this
case. and judging from Mr.. Bristow's re-
port, it would seem that the evidence
against them is much stronger. Public JUS
tice requires that the other cases be brought
to trial as soon as practicable. The Presi-
dent evidently intends that that shall be
done, for in his memorandum on the report
he says:
The case against both those within and
without the Postoffice Department, who, by
their acts, have brought themselves within
the grasp of the law, will be pushed with
the utmost vigor. Every effort must be
made to see that both the delinquent official
and the outsider who shares his guilt are
punished to the limit of the law. In pur.
suance of this policy the individuals above
enumerated have been indicted. In no case
has the indictment been sought save where
the officials of the government were con
WINGED of the mans guilt; and in every case
the government will exhaust every expe
dent in its power in the effort to see thai
justice is melted out to the offenders.
This has the spirit Of Let no guilty mar
escape" and that is all the public demands
If any of the indicted persons are innocent
it Is as important that they should be vim
dicated as that the guilty should be pun
ished. The case calls for strict justice, t.
the entire exclusion of sympathy or preju-
Iszz