Evening journal., 1903-09-16
nAsrARnLY PoLlrIcs.

Postmaster General Payne yester-
day gave to the press another reason
Tor the removal Of Miss Todd from the
Greenwood postomce. He is quoted as
saying:
"One Of the state Senators and
other persons In Delaware had
represented to me that Miss Todd
had rendered herself so objection
able tho they would not even go
20 the postoffice Tor their mail. In
fact she even boosted TO me that
she and her brothers were taking
an active part IN the politics Of
delaware in opposition to the Ad
dicks faction. and that the post
office had been used as the head
quarters for the meeting OF poll
icians.
This is amazing. in view OF the faci
that MT Payne assured Miss Todd tha.
there were no charges, not even com
plants against her. II shows the
charges have been trumped up after
wards. and that IL Mr.. Payne is not 6
party to the dastardly act to injure q
woman, he has taken advantage Of ths
rasoality Of others. What has a State
Senator to do with the mattor7. Doe
Mr.. Payne propose to dismiss post
masters because a state Senator OF th'
Addicks brand wants places for po-
litical henchmen7
II Mr.. Payne were a man with an,
chivalrous Instincts he would not have
published the rumor OF such charge
without the accompanying statemen.
that they had been investigated and
proved. Let us ask a question that
we deem most pertinent: Is Il Mr.
Payne's habit to dismiss postmaster;
on mere rumor, without investigating
the chargesl
Then to further becloud the issue Mr.
Payne quotes a letter Of instruction.
from the President written nearly
year ago. This is quoted as justifyini
Miss Todd's removal Here is a sen.
tence which Is put into black type II
the papers:
Office holders must not USE
THEIR OFFICES TO CONTROL
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS, must
not neglect their public duties,
must not cause public scandal by
their activity.
That Is an outrage, a mean and con.
temptlble subterfuse. 1t assumes that
Miss Todd has offended in that man
ner when we know that Mr.. Payne de-
clared after her removal that there
was nothing against her II is th,
act Of an inquisitor who will not ALLOW
a defense. These charges are mad.
as an afserthought. and Miss Todd 81
given no chance for denial, and no per-
son is sent oinvestigatet them. Through
such mediums as she can command sh
denounees these charges as Hes, an'
she has a host Of friends and patron
who are ready to sustain her. She Il
proud Of her conduct Of the omceNyn'
naturally she is indignant, as she ha
a right to be that Payne. Alice and
State Senator should deliberatel.
manufacture charges to discredit he
omclal conduct Il is mean. cowardly
aastardiy,
But Miss Todd. though a woman. ha
rights. and we trust l,t she viii a.
sert them. It is her right to have
statement from the Postmaster Gen
eral that there were no charges asalns
her at the time Of her removal. II. re
fused this, she has right 10 demani
an opportunity 70 prove that she wa
assured by Mr.. Payne and by the clerk
OF the fourth assistants Office tha
there were no charges.
Then she has right to demsl,d tina
II charges have been made subsequent
sly that they be Investigated and that sh
be given a chance to disprove then
She Is a poor defenselcss woman, bu
her rights as an AItsrican citizcN can
not be abridged, even though the de
Tense OF Payne and the cause Of Ad