Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-10

Quoted honestly. Before he had entered
official life he had heard, as a newspaper
man, rumors that all in the department
was not as 1t should be- but the rumorS
were intangible and ill-defned. Quietly,
he set about to determine for himself what
foundation there was for the charges In
vestigation convinced him that rascality
was rampant in the department. He OBJ
tanned definite information bearing upon
the matter. This he laid before Postmas-
ter General Payne and the President He
was so positive of the accuracy of the in
formation that he insisted that an investi-
cation should be made, at least Of his own
bureau, 1t was there he had made his
discoveries. After a cursory inquiry, the
President and Mr.. Payne decided to act
upon Mr.. Wynnes recommendation and or
der an investigation. The result of that
inquiry now is matter of record. 1t has
passed from the hands of the department
officials and is before the courts for ad-
judication.
The first Postmaster General, Benjamin
Franklin, was directly connected with
newspaper work. and both Frank Hatton
and Charles Emory Smith, who successive
ly held the Office, were famed for their con-
nection with that profession Mr.. Wynne
makes the fourth newspaper man to hold
this Office.
Record as First Assistant.
Mr.. Wynne's administration of the Office
of first assistant postmaster general has
been characterized by care for every de-
tail Of the vast machinery with which he
was entrusted, and during the investiga-
tions of the scandals in the department he
was one of the leading spirits in the prose-
cution of the parties who were afterward
proved guilty of conspiracy and fraud
against the government.
He has been loked upon as a highly eff
cient official. who declined to allow small
matters In his division to pass his desk un-
noticed and whose insistence upon a per-
sonal acquaintance with every part of the
work of his office was the basis of his sue
cess That he found and retained the con-
fidence of the President is amply testified
to In the appointment made today to a
seat In the Cabinet, an honor coming to
comparatively few.
Congratulations have all day been nour-
Ing into his office, and every prominent Of
nclal or the department who is in the city
calied 10 offer personal congratula tions 1t
10 etHAoeeted mat this informal recognition
OF the appointment will be followed by a
Iormai call by all the employees of the de-
partment who are in the local offices.
Sketch of His Career.
Mr. Wynne was born in New York city in
November, 1852, and was there educated In
the public schools. He removed to PhiIa-
delpma and learned telegraphy, working in
ehe gold and stock board, eventually becom-
ing chief operator of the Pacific and Allan
tlc Telegraph Company. After living eight
years In Philadelphia Mr. Wynne came to
washington His first newspaper work was
on the Cincinnati Gazette under General
Henry V. Boynton, who trained him as a
washington correspondent He wrote for
the old Gazette and the Cincinnati CONNER
clal Gazette until 1891, and he was appoint
ed private secretary to Secretary of the
Treasury Charles Fos,er of Ohio. On the
election of President Cleveland Mr. Wynne
returned to Journalism as a correspondent
OF the Cincinnati Tribune. His letters and
dispatches on national politics. the tariff
and the finance obtained for him recogni-
ton and exclusive engagement on the New
York Press an ultra protection and gold
standard paper Mr.. Wynne has been
president of the Gridron Club ard a mem
ber of the Loyal Legion and the Army and
Navy Club. His father served in the Mexi-
can and civil wars Mr.. Wynne's Oldest
son is a captain in the Marine Corps and
has served with distinction in Cuba, the
Philippines and China.