The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-28
"a great state trial.


And this trial resulted from the
singie-handed efforts Of The Washing
ton Times 20 improve the conditions in
the postal service.
In the face OF r'dicule or silence The
Times persisted in its campaign against
the grafters in the Postofice Depart
ment until its exposures could no longer
be neglected or its charges ignored.
Beginning with the fact that Machen.
an employe OF the department. Vas an
active member of a coal firm which OBJ
tanned contract for furnishing coal
TO the Postoffice. The Times unearthcd
a series OF offenses whose ramifications
spread like an octopus over the coun-
try.
Thirty persons have been indicted. and
OF these seven have been convicted.
Ex-Representative Edmund briggs OF
Brooklyn. n. Y. has paid a fine OF &c.,
900. and spent one day in Jail.
G Ellsworth Upton. a former clerk
under Machen. is now serving a SEN
tence OF one year in jail and was fined
81 600
Thomas W. McGregor is appealing
from a sentence Of two years in jail
and fine of 1900 imposed upon him
when Upton was sentenced.
Machen. Lorenz. and Croft have each
penitentiary and a fine OF $1,000.
So much has one paper. with the pub
lie interests at heart. been able to do
for the people Of Washington and OF
the country at large.
"A great state trial. the defense has
characterized the trial OF A w Machen.
George 2 and Mrs. Lorenz. and Diller
3. and Samuel A. Croft. on the charge
of coespiring to defraud the Govern
rnent in the sale 20 the Postoffiee De
partment OF large quantities of GroH
patent Ietter-box fasteners at an ex-
orbitant rate, while Machen was super
intendent Of free delivery
Trial for Conspiracy.
The prosecution has insisted that It
was not "a great state trial." but an
ordinary trial for conspiracy. The pub
lie will agree with the defense that II
was a trial worthy OF the name of a
state trial. The conviction will go down
in history as the conclusion Of one Of
the most important attempts TO punish
graft among high officials that has yet
marked the annals Of this country
GroI box fasteners had been on every
letter box in Washington for seven years
when the great upheaval and investiga-
ton in the POstoffice Department began
70 ferment and breed trouble last Feb
ruary.
At that time A. W Machen was gen.
eral superintendent Of free delivery.
An official autocrat. hedged I'm by a po-
Htical machine Of Senators and Repre-
sentatlves who were bound 20 him 10y
ties Of self-interest. ne was one OF the
most powerful subordinates who ever
held a position in Washington.
1t was known that he aspired 10 have
an additional assistant Cabinet officers
position created for his special benefit
namely. the pOsitiC n Of Fifth Assistant
Postmaster General. under which SHOULD
come all matters relating TO the de-
livery OF the mail And this place he
expected TO Ill under a Republican Ad-
- ministration. although he entered tho
Government service as a Democrat un.
der President Cleveland I'm 1893.
Rumors of Graft.
In the latter part Of 1902 rumors OF
wrongdoing in the Postofice Depart
ment began 10 be heard on all sides. AZ
frstfnO attention was paid to them, but
they were Investigated by The Wash
inKtOr Times. and such d mass OF eyi
dence was published that at lats It wa.
no longer possible TO ignore charges sup
ported by columns Of publicly printed
proofs. President Roosevelt was In
formed Of the condition OF affairs. and
In March ordered that an investigation
be begun.
The direction Of the work was place,
IN the hands Of J. l. Bristow. Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General a shrewd
determined man with a reputation o.