The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-21
MAY BE IN EUROPE
Joseph L. BristOw Likely to 60
to Paris.
Necessary to Secure Information
About Panama.
HE MUST SOON DECIDE.
Question Is Will He Return to
Kansas.
Senatorial Boom Is Awaiting His
Attention.
HE MUST SOON DECIDE.

washington, March 21--There
have been any number of interesting
stories about Joseph L. Bristow of
late. but none of them have been cor
rect.
For instance, a Kansas City news
paper which is given to playfulness at
times had a piece week or SO ago
facetiously suggesting that Mr.. Bris-
tow be "unsmothered,' as it was
termed, and brought back from Pan
anna to be put to work Investigating
Commissioner Garfield of the bureau
of corporations and his famous beef
trust report.
In due time the story reached
Washington, but when it did it had
lost its playful features, and had as
sumed serious proportions. It had
also changed to this extent: that
Bristow was to go to Kansas and help
Garfield investigate Standard OH:
The piece was seriously printed in
all the Washington papers, and it took
a statement from the White House to
effectually dispose of the foolish story.
Inquiry being made there it was
of work, and was performing his du-
ties satisfactorily; and that Mr.. Gar
field had his niche, in which he
should stay and do his duty which
of the administration, which had full
confidence in him.
Then there arose another Bristow
story-from the west Hnis came, also:
That it had developed since Bristow
left the office of fourth assistant post
master general and chief investigator
for the administration, that he had
maliciouSly prosecuted clerks during
his investigation of the postal frauds,
and that he, himself, was to be in
vestigated-" The story had the same
source-the Kansas City paper with a
kittenish and playful attitude not alto
soft balls of the feet do but barely
hide the claws, and then not alto
gether, where ]. L. BristoW is con-
cerned.
This story was runlored here Just as
Robert J. Wynne was leaving the office
of postmaster general. Now of all men
in official life, perhaps Mr.. Wynne had
done more to work his vengeance
against Bristow than any other; and
yet he, when approached for conffrma-
ton of the story that Bristow was to
be investigated called it rubbish"
and sat on the story very hard.
The return of Joseph L. Bristow, the
late investigator, the Kansan, and the
trusted friend of the a administration,
from his Panama trip where he went
on his important and responsible errand,
has been eagerly awaited here by the
president and secretary of war under
whose direct supervision he is working.
Bristow was given the appointment to
se special fanaTna railroad commission
er because of his developed sagacity
and energy, and the trust the admins
tration had in him. He has accumu-
lated much that is useful and valuable
in the way of Information that will
count in future canal plans, and needs
no vindication.
The silly Bristow stories seem to bid
fair to keep up just as when he was
fourth assistant postmaster general
papers in Washington and Kansas City
and elsewhere removed" him from
office once a week regularly
When Mr.. Bristow has compiled and
tabulated his important information
here, which he has so recently obtained
in New York on the isthmus of Pana-
ma, in the City of Mexico, and the
Mexican and Pacific coast. and has
made his formal report to the president
and secretary of war, he may be called
on to go to Europe further to investi-
gate the rate question. For the Pana-
ma railroad stock was formerly largely
held in Paris and London
When this special task is finished,
which will be inside of a year. in all
proba bility. there will then come up for
Mr.. BristOw to decide whether he will
return to Kansas to take up his news
paper work-and possibly the loose ends
of his senatorial bOon1-or still be con-
nected with the administration which
he has served so well and valuably